Landing gear trouble

Sounds like a good place to make and use a jig.  I would think a simple one made from cardboard would serve here.  Make one jig, use for gear on both sides. I frequently make up simple jigs.  Most common one is fitting upper wing on biplane, but also often make one to glue individual wings on low wing planes to get dihedral the same on both sides.

When I glue landing struts, I lay my kit on a small piece of block of sort. That way the wheels don't shift/move while drying and sitting on the table.

The more I'm looking at your kit's landing gears the more I'm curious on how the landing gear ended up in that position. My guess would be maybe you glued them on and let it sit on the table to dry?

Maybe they're on backwards (wrong side)? Can't make out what kind of aircraft kit that is.

Don,

I am going to try the jig idea, thanks.

Black sheep,

It is a Polikarpov I-16 from Eduard. Mea culpa, I did left it on a table to dry... I just tough it was dry enough. Big mistake.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Two more pics:

This is why I like this forum, lost of good and new ideas to try.

Thank you again.

Jorge

Nice looking kit, Jay! I've done the same thing as you have - thought it was dry enough.  :)

Thank you! I did learn with this, I think my problem is to rush by the end of the kit, need to slow down. Finishing a P-47 is next! Amazing the difference in size between this two planes.

Jorge

I've done one P-47 Thunderbolt Razorback and found it was a fun build. I ended up giving it to my bro-in-law as a b-day gift. Currently working on my second one - the bubbletop for a group build.

I compared my 1/72nd scale F4-U1A Corsair to my 1/72nd scale S6B Supermarine seaplane. Wow! :)

I try to align the gears by sight and using a small ruler to check angles. I do this while the model is on its back sitting on two stacked rolls of masking tape that provide a cushion. I glue the gears on before painting and use Tenax or Plast I Weld to get a solid join. If you paint the join areas, the glue will not be able to provide a good bond resulting in gears eventually becoming loose. Once I have everything aligned and triple checked, its then left to cure over night without moving or touching to insure the alignment stays.

Thanks Palsticjunkie for the info, can I ask why you prefer Tenax or Plast I weld for this? I only use Tamyia thin cement for plastic, what are the advantages for using Tenax? I have seen that at my local hobby store but never bought it cause I really don't know what is the best use for it!

Thanks

Jorge

Jorge

I use Tenax and Plast I Weld in a Touch and Flow applicator for the majority of my gluing. These two products when used in a Touch and Flow applicator will let you deliver this water thin glue to joints with pin point accuracy and melts the two matting surfaces to create a solid and neat bond. It also fills in most of thin gaps reducing the need for fillers and cuts down on sanding. For example, I have used Plast I weld on a snapped gear strut with out the need of extra strengthening with a wire in a drilled slot in the center. It just melts the plastic at the join making a very solid bond.

Those gears do look a little off, but make sure you're not worrying about nothing.  I mean have a close look at some of the different WWII fighters.  Many normally looked like they rolled on the tire sidewalls.  

Gene Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

I generally finish painting before applying the gear, using small bit's of blu-tack to mask the gear attachment points. I do the same with the gear & assemble it as far as is possible before leaving it as one of the last thing to get done - take care when joining the wheels to the gear, as there is often room for misalignment between strut & wheel.

With the model on it's back I'll dry fit the gear to check for any issues & then glue in place & use lumps & "sticks" of blu-tack to support the gear, check alignment using a ruler, make adjustments if required & then leave overnight.

If the wheels have flat spots, lay something flat & light over then to check the alignment.

If I'm overenthusiastic when masking the gear location points with blu-tack (or cack handed with the glue), there may be some touching up to do, but it's usually not much if any.

Thank you all for your suggestions, I will definitely be more careful with my next landing gear and use the suggested techniques.

Thank you very much.

Jorge

Have you checked the hydraulic fluid,?

I did, it had low level and was dirty, I suspect there is a leak somewhere

Better put in the hanger then