Well, I learned a good lesson recently. Never affix landing gear until your build and paint job is complete!
I was working on applying a decal on top of the starboard wing of Tamiya’s 1/32 F4U-1, when it goes “crunch” and the wing drops down a half inch. The landing gear had broken at its thinnest part, just a little way above the wheel axle. Next day I repeated the stunt by breaking the other gear off in the same way!
The area available to glue is very small, just the matching surfaces of the broken parts. I was planning to use epoxy, but can anyone suggest a good way to hold the parts in position while it cures? The wheels are on the part of the gear that broke off, which makes an awkward problem to hold them in place on an aircraft lying on its back.
As a last resort, I could cut both landing gear off completely, throw them away, and display it in a flying configuration on the stand provided, but the bay doors are open which would look strange.
I can’t believe that, with all my experience, I made such a blunder!
Depending how small the strut area is you may be able to drill small holes in each piece and place wire rod in each piece. That will reinforce the strut and give you more area to glue to.
Thanks, MKelley, I’ll consider that. It may be difficult to drill holes in that thin strut, but I know it would work if I can manage to drill the holes.
Is there any way you can drill out a small hole on both sides of the broken parts so a pin could be inserted? I`ve repaired 1/48 landing gear using strait pins or sewing needles.
I have several finger drills I use for such occasions. I have a few more that are even thinned than these but they don’t photograph well. I takes time but I slowly drill out a hole for some thin wire to fit into as a support. Use slow cure cyanoacrylate, after the pin is installed on one side let the glue dry completely before gluing the other. I have a F/A-18A that has a landing gear that was broken and I drilled through the tire and strut to put in a pin. Be sure to prefit everything twice.
Chuck, sorry that happened and I sincerely hope you don’t take this wrong, but… with your level of experience, it is somehow reassuring to know I’m not the only one who ends up in modelling messes like this. Thank you for making me feel less of a inept modeler, my friend.
I hope you get this sorted and am very confident that you will. Likely stronger and better than new.
I’ve had a similar debacle happen before and as long as you can get the struts to line up correctly, I’d first try gluing them on, letting it setup and CAREFULLY let it sit…perhaps part of a fixed dio base.
Hi, Chuck - That’s nothing new in my world, done it plenty of times. I have used the finger drills for placement of wire, usually works well. But my favoured way is to carefully fit the broken bits together, scribe lines on both sides 180 degrees apart, both strut pieces, while held temporarily together. Then with the strut bits apart, using a VERY fine miniature saw blade I cut lengthwise into both strut pieces, carefully following the scribed lines. 1/8th to 1/4th inch seems plenty of depth.
Then I place appropriate size strip stock piece into one strut part, placing the other part onto it to check for correct length of strip stock. If it’s too long I just file or sand, to ensure strut pieces fit together accurately. The strip stock should be protruding slightly, from both sides of each strut piece.
Your choice of thin liquid cement, (I use Testors or Tamiya Extra Thin,) with strut pieces aligned and fitting well just flow cement into the strut joint, and along the saw cut, to cement strip stock throughout the repair area. After a curing length, (two or three days,) just file/sand the excess strip stock flush with the strut sides, always works well for me.
