Kinetic 1/48 Kinetic E-2C 2000 kit

DaveStar

Member since
March 2015

Kinetic 1/48 Kinetic E-2C 2000 kit

Posted by DaveStar on Sunday, March 8, 2015 5:38 PM

This may be a common problem? This carrier based "AWACS" has folldable wings. The barely adequate instructions specify 50 gm weight in nose, but that is clearluy with wings extended. With wings folded, there's much more weight aft and suspect it will be a tail sitter.

I'd rather not assemble the whole plane with tape & rubber bands to answer this question, and getting the fuselage halves apart after gluing is a pain. Anyone have a hint to avoid guesstimate the correct amount of weight with folded wings, or do I just cut a hole in the nose after it's done?.

Reply

Squatch88

Member since
September 2012
From: Indianapolis

Posted by Squatch88 on Monday, March 9, 2015 6:38 PM

If you are going to have it on a dedicated base then you can skip the weight all together. Put it in its final resting place, drill 2 tiny holes next to the nose gear and tie it in place with fishing line.

Reply

Devil Dawg

Member since
March 2005
From: Lancaster, South Carolina

Posted by Devil Dawg on Monday, March 9, 2015 7:18 PM

I have seen where, after a model was built, but before paint was applied, a hole was drilled in the nose and weight added in the hole slowly until enough weight was in the nose to get the plane on it's nose wheel. The hole was then plugged, sanded smooth, and paint applied. Hope this helps.

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

Reply

Devil Dawg

Member since
March 2005
From: Lancaster, South Carolina

Posted by Devil Dawg on Monday, March 9, 2015 7:21 PM

I forgot to add: 5-minute epoxy, or even white glue, can be pushed through the hole to secure the added weight, too.

Devil Dawg

On The Bench: Tamiya 1/32nd Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke For Japanese Group Build

Build one at a time? Hah! That'll be the day!!

Reply

jeaton01

Member since
December 2002
From: Northern California

Posted by jeaton01 on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 12:47 AM

Weigh the wings, and measure to the midpoint of their length to the center of the main gear axle with the wing in it's folded position. Measure from the center of the main gear to the center of the position where the nose weight will be. Divide the wing distance by the nose distance you just measured. Multiply the wing weight times that number and add that weight plus the 50 grams in the instructions to the nose. Better have some room for weight!

You can send me $50.00 for the analysis Big Smile