Tri-motor nacelle mounting

Modeling Subjects Airliners and Civil Aircraft
1

I am working on that Airfix 1:72 Ford tri-motor.

I am tearing my hair (and I don’t have much left to tear out) trying to fit struts to the engine nacelles. Each nacelle is suspended from the wing by seven struts. The plans show an adequate view of which struts go where on the nacelles, but not where they fasten to the wings.

I have made a template from clear plastic sheet to match the holes in the wing, so I can glue the struts to the nacelles. I must have such a jig because the pins on the ends of the struts are very short- basically hemispheres, and do not hold the struts at a definitive angle. I made a guess at which struts go into which hole in the wings, but the struts are not the correct length to go into those holes, so apparently the arrangement of the struts is different than I supposed.

I know this is an old kit, but I am hoping someone has built this kit and has it still around and can tell me which struts go where.

2

Don, I never BUILD a Tri-motor (WALKED through a couple!), but…

Try these: http://airfixtributeforum.wonko3.myfastforum.org/Airfix_1_72_Ford_Trimotor_04009__about4258.html

and http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1318904688/Ford+Trimotor+mini+walk-around.

3

The propellors go on the front…that’s all I know about this one!

4

I found that same picture. Unfortunately it does not quite sort out the struts well enough. It helps. I am starting to wonder if the kit struts are just not quite the right length, and will have to be modified to fit :frowning:

5

Don, checking through my files I found a build review here where the gentleman apparently had the same difficulty with the nacelles as yourself. Not a lot of detail on his solution, but maybe it’ll help.

6

Thanks, Greg. I am getting more convinced that the rearmost strut in the kit just has one or both of the arms the wrong length :frowning:

7

Take good pictures and post them when you are done, Don, I have one of these to do.[whstl]