Recently built a FW-190, first build in a long, long, long (I think you get the hint) time. While placing the wheels on the strut, I did a few dry fits and when I was happy with that I used testors liquid cement and glued those suckers on. After 3 days without weight, I couldnt help but notice the wheels would flex with weight on them. I thought things have cured so I put it back in the air again for a few more days with better but the same results. The only thing I thought of doing was directing some CA near the the axle where the wheel mounts. My plan worked but I a bit confused “why” it happend. Did I over glue and trun the plastic too soft?
So wise ones of the fourm, did I miss something in preperation? Is there a “pre-fix” that needs to be done before gluing wheels to the struts?
Hey Kevin its possible that you got the plastic too soft,depending of course on how much glue was applied. I’m geussing you used the tube form of Testors? Also did you clean the paint off the mating surfaces? Paint left on the mating surface can sometimes cause a ‘soft’ glue join. I use the Tamiya thin for axles with a solid tight dry fit,if they are a bit loose on the dry fit I use medium ca,thin can set too quickly and not allow a little wiggle time to get proper alignment. Hope that helps cheers Trey
I’d recommend trying Gel CA. It is gap filling, and does a good job, like Trey suggested. Only problem is that it sets fairly slow, so you might get tired holding wheels at proper angle till then. Solution to that is CA accelerator. A touch of a little drop hardens the CA immediately. Only problem is that sometimes you need three hands or more than ten fingers See my thread in the Techniques section about that.
I will sometimes lay a bead of CA in there and sprinkle it with baking soda, too. Baking soda acts as an accelerator. ‘Course, if you’re picky about the look this may not be for you, but on the mains, on the inside usually, under the plane, well…gets dark enough in there to hide a lot, ifn’ you know what I mean. LOL
If doesn’t make the plastic brittle, but CA itself is pretty brittle when cured. It will break if given a strong enough shock. But if we take reasonable care when transporting a model, like bubble wrap on floor of container, it survives fine.
See my thread in the Techniques section about that.