Loose wheels on landing gear, is there a good fix?

Hey Kevin its possible that you got the plastic too soft,depending of course on how much glue was applied. I'm geussing you used the tube form of Testors? Also did you clean the paint off the mating surfaces? Paint left on the mating surface can sometimes cause a 'soft' glue join. I use the Tamiya thin for axles with a solid tight dry fit,if they are a bit loose on the dry fit I use medium ca,thin can set too quickly and not allow a little wiggle time to get proper alignment. Hope that helps cheers Trey

I'd recommend trying Gel CA. It is gap filling, and does a good job, like Trey suggested.  Only problem is that it sets fairly slow, so you might get tired holding wheels at proper angle till then.  Solution to that is CA accelerator.  A touch of a little drop hardens the CA immediately.  Only problem is that sometimes you need three hands or more than ten fingers :-)  See my thread in the Techniques section about that.

I will sometimes lay a bead of CA in there and sprinkle it with baking soda, too. Baking soda acts as an accelerator. 'Course, if you're picky about the look this may not be for you, but on the mains, on the inside usually, under the plane, well..gets dark enough in there to hide a lot, ifn' you know what I mean. LOL

---Chris

TREYZX10R

 Also did you clean the paint off the mating surfaces? Paint left on the mating surface can sometimes cause a 'soft' glue join. 

Something I never thought of. I tried not to lay paint on that area but overspray might be a factor. Something to remember for the next build!

Thanks!

Kevin

Don Stauffer

I'd recommend trying Gel CA. It is gap filling, and does a good job, like Trey suggested.  Only problem is that it sets fairly slow, so you might get tired holding wheels at proper angle till then.  Solution to that is CA accelerator.  A touch of a little drop hardens the CA immediately.  Only problem is that sometimes you need three hands or more than ten fingers :-)  See my thread in the Techniques section about that.

 

 

Don,

 Too much CA dosent make the plastic brittle? Maybe I'm getting using CA with something else.

THanks!

Kevin

dirkpitt77

I will sometimes lay a bead of CA in there and sprinkle it with baking soda, too. Baking soda acts as an accelerator. 'Course, if you're picky about the look this may not be for you, but on the mains, on the inside usually, under the plane, well..gets dark enough in there to hide a lot, ifn' you know what I mean. LOL

 

---Chris

 

XF-15DCC

 

 

Don Stauffer

I'd recommend trying Gel CA. It is gap filling, and does a good job, like Trey suggested.  Only problem is that it sets fairly slow, so you might get tired holding wheels at proper angle till then.  Solution to that is CA accelerator.  A touch of a little drop hardens the CA immediately.  Only problem is that sometimes you need three hands or more than ten fingers :-)  See my thread in the Techniques section about that.

 

 

 

 

 

Don,

 Too much CA dosent make the plastic brittle? Maybe I'm getting using CA with something else.

THanks!

 

Kevin

 

If doesn't make the plastic brittle, but CA itself is pretty brittle when cured.  It will break if given a strong enough shock.  But if we take reasonable care when transporting a model, like bubble wrap on floor of container, it survives fine.