B-52D outriggers:
I've never been happy with the way they did the outrigger wheels on this model - the wheels are molded together with the strut yokes. I know they did this for strength so the outriggers could support the pressure from the sloped wings. Any type of plastic axel that could support the weight would have to be oversized - anything smaller would break.
I decided to remedy the problem. I happened to have the main gear wheels from an old 1/72 F-4 model that were just about the right diameter. They are a little thick, but I you can't have everything .
For the axels, I used a common sewing pin. I inserted a pin through each wheel with the head on the outside hub and glued it into the wheel, making sure the pin was perpendicular to the wheel all around.
Next, I carefully cut away the wheels from around the yokes. If you use a spru cutter, be careful not to deform the yoke. Then I cleaned out and sanded the yokes. I drilled a hole the size of the pin through each yoke at the axel point.
NOTE: If you plan to flatten your wheels, do not glue them to the struts at this time. Wait until the model is ready to stand on its feet and then attach the wheels so you can match the flat spot to the tilt of the wings.
Once the glue around the pin is hardened, insert each wheel through the hole in the axel and cut off the excess pin, then glue it in place. I also plan to glue the inside of the wheel to the strut for added strength. You will also need to file down and finish the hub on the outside of the yoke.
Cheers,
Russ