Need to Know How to Fix a Tail Dragger!

MigMan

Would love to see how you do that! If you get a chance, please show your work on the forum so we could all learn from you. Thanks for your response! Joe

 

This example is AccuMini's 1/48 B-25. Even with the supplied weights, it BARELY rests on the nose...the slightest whisper of a breeze and it drops to its tail.

You can see the pin here (in this case, I used a small piece of old guitar string) at a slight forward angle...

...And the hole in the wheel...

Hello!

There are many things to try here... First of all, it's good to check how much weight you need balance that baby. If it's too much, you have to try non-invasive methods like fixing the model to the base. If the amount of weight is manageable, you have some options. You might try adding the weight to the drop tank fronts. You might flatten the main gear tyres a little - that moves the support point a little to the rear, a small move in the right direction. You could also glue wheel chokes to the mian gear wheels - gives you even a few millimeters more. You could buy metal front landing gear (a company called Scale Aircraft Conversions likely has one), maybe cast the front landing wheel in lead. Last resort could be drilling holes in the hull and putting length of soldering wire (lead!) in those holes - that could be later filled, sanded smooth and repainted.

I hope it helps - please post some photos! Thanks for reading and have a nice day

Paweł

I just bought some "Liquid Gravity" which apparently works the same way that you just described.  Will give it a shot when it arrives!  Will let you know!

Bish

All my aircrfat are on bases so i don't bother adding any weight. To add to Don's suggestion, i drill a hole the nose wheel and insert a piece of metal rod. I then drill a hole into the base and glue the rod into that.

 

I have never...(and probably never will)...glued an aircraft to a base. However, on an off-shoot of Bish's response... I have drilled and glued a short pin/rod to the base, angled slightly forward...then drilled a hole in the nose wheel, also angled slightly forward. The angle helps hold the nose down without having to glue the wheel to the pin. This way, it is still easily removed from the base...for whatever reason it may need to be.

All my aircrfat are on bases so i don't bother adding any weight. To add to Don's suggestion, i drill a hole the nose wheel and insert a piece of metal rod. I then drill a hole into the base and glue the rod into that.

I second Don's suggestion, put it on a base and fix the nosewheel to the base.  You can glue it, or maybe even use a small bolt, if the wheel is big enough.

You might want to put this in the Aircraft forum, though, too.

It pains me a bit to admit...I just did a pair of Mig-15s and completely forgot to add any nose weight. I ended up using pieces of lead sheet shoved down the sidewalls of the intake. Ya don't see em at a glance, but you will if you go snooping around.

MailDude

If there is any opening at all, I have squeezed finishing nails(brad nails) in and shook them to the front. If no opening drill a hole  the diameter of small finishing nails and insert them. Then patch the hole. You might be surprised at how little weight it may need, maybe just a couple nails. 

 

MailDude, why didn't you post this before I painted my Predator! lol! That is a great idea!

If there is any opening at all, I have squeezed finishing nails(brad nails) in and shook them to the front. If no opening drill a hole  the diameter of small finishing nails and insert them. Then patch the hole. You might be surprised at how little weight it may need, maybe just a couple nails. 

I have the same problem with a MQ-1 Predator that I hastily forgot to add ballast in the front. Anyway, I planned anyway to put it on a base. I'm going to drill a small hole in the front and one rear wheel. Then drill and add a piece of brass rod to the base, and insert into the wheel. I'm hoping the wheel (if I do this correctly) will just stay connected to the brass rod. If not, I'll glue it. I will most likely attempt this this weekend.

Not sure if this is an option for you, but, I figured I would share.

You might consider displaying it on a base, just a small section of a ramp/tarmac.  Then glue the wheels to the base.  That is generally what I do when I cannot get a trike to sit properly.

I feel your pain Bro. I think we all have had this happen at one time or another. The easiest way to fix the tail dragger is put a little poster tack ( Blue Tack ? ) under the front wheel and stick it down to your shelf. easy peezy