broken gear

Modeling Subjects Airliners and Civil Aircraft
1

Hi all, I dropped one of my 1/48 builds, broke both gear off. Not enought surface to reglue well. Any suggestions? Was a nice F8F-2 Smimnoff racer. Very sad. Any help would be appericated. Thx. Aardvark

2

You can drill out the mounting stub and also the gear leg, then use a piece of very stiff metal wire or rod to pin it back on. I’ve had to do that several times over the years.

3

Yeah, do that. Gel super glue works good for this method.

4

I concur on trying the drilling and piece of metal, but if that doesn’t work, I did an article a number of years ago for FSM on working with metal, and described making a gear leg from brass tubing. I will try and find the issue number.

5

thanks for the ideas, appericate . Aardvark

6

Or better, order an aftermarket metal landing gear set for the thing. I’m sure someone makes a set.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland Texas

7

Do an inflight model if possible.

Toshi

8

I can concur on the drill and wire technique. I had to do it to my 1/144 A380. Worked like a charm. That F8F strut is a good bit thicker than what I had to drill, I’ll bet it would work really well.

Chris

9

Ardvark, I absolutely agree with the drilling and pinning of the broken gear - sorry to hear about the accident!!!

Depending on the scale, I’ve used guitar strings, pieces of sewing needles, sewing pins, and thin stainless rod. The toughest thing is getting both drilled holes lined up perfectly…I often drill the holes a few sizes larger than the pin, so when I put it together, I have a little “wiggle room” to get the best alignment. Slow setting CA seems to work best for me.

Good luck!