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Nose weights

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  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by rangerj on Monday, December 29, 2014 6:28 PM

Some thoughts: I have used lead sinkers as well as lead shot and lead solder. I have also made a mold for lead weight of an area in the airframe as far forward of the models center of gravity as possible so as to minimize the weight needed. I once filled each cylinder of the eighteen cylinder radial engine, times two, for this purpose. It hid the weight and made the aircraft set on its nose gear. I put weight in the nose and the spinners  and engine compartment of a P-38. The one problem is the weight on the landing gear, but with the advent of aftermarket metal gear this is no longer a problem for most popular models.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Monday, December 29, 2014 12:14 PM

Rex, thanks for the link to the nose weights.  Very handy indeed.Beer

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: near Nashville, TN
Posted by TarnShip on Monday, December 29, 2014 10:59 AM

From fitting nose weights are a very good idea.

modelingmadness.com/.../terryweights.htm

Another way to reach him is to go on Hyperscale or Modeling Madness and put his name in the thread title.

Edit, here is one source of a "weight Powder"

http://www.bulletswage.com/prtung.htm

just cut a plate to hold it, fill the nose, glue in the plate,,,,,,,,,,,or cut a plate, drill a hole, glue in place, funnel the powder in, glue something in the hole

Rex

almost gone

  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by Sandbox on Monday, December 29, 2014 10:38 AM

I use fishing line sinkers.  They are made of lead and come in a variety of sizes.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Monday, December 29, 2014 9:28 AM

I generally use one of two methods for weighting the forward end of aircraft.  I add shotgun "shot" to two-part epoxy and mix that together into a paste that can be packed into all manner of spaces.  And, I use spent bullets, found in the berm at my shooting range.  I've epoxied 9mm and .45 ACP bullets into the nose-cones of jet fighters (and perhaps drop tanks too) and I've also epoxied longer spent rifle bullets into or onto available spaces.   For instance, for my 1/48 Monogram F-84F, a .308 bullet fit onto the top of the intake splitter like it was designed for it.   ymmv...Big Smile

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Jay Jay on Monday, December 29, 2014 9:00 AM

I use lead.  It's the lowest temp. melt of any heavy metal, It's readily available at tire shops, in the form of used disgarded tire weights, and i can usually get them for free.  Also you can melt them down to any shape you need.  Failing tire weights, fishing sinkers work well too and come in many shapes and sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Nose weights
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, December 29, 2014 8:53 AM

As the gear wells become more and more detailed, I am finding it harder and harder on tri-gear ships to keep them from becoming tail-sitters!  There just doesn't seem to be enough room for enough B-Bs.  It would be nice if the mfgs would include metal castings to fit the empty space- a casting would have a better density (packing factor) than spherical objects like b-bs and ball bearings.

It seems these days they cast the aft fuselage areas pretty thick, which makes it necessary to put more weight in.  With the high quality molding the major mfgs are going to these days, couldn't they make them thinner except at the seams?

I had heard of a clay like stuff that was filled with a heavy metal powder used to weight pine box derby cars but never have been able to find the stuff.  I find solder doesn't pack any more dense than bbs.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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