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Post by Beekster on Feb 8, 2024 12:29:16 GMT -6
Houston, we've had a problem... Not exactly what I wanted to see. The weight I added in the nose/cockpit area wasn't nearly enough. What you don't see here are just-added flattened chunks of lead fishing weights superglued to the nacelles behind the engine cowlings, which are just pressed-on here. There's no room for more lead behind the resin engines. There is room on the other side of the nacelle bulkhead, inside the very front of the landing gear bays. Four little pieces of lead, the last of my really small size weights, are installed there. I can probably fit about a dozen of the same size weights in there, and they'll never be seen. I hope that it will be enough, otherwise I have to drill through the top of the fuselage aft of the cockpit and drop more weights in there before making an epoxy putty plug. So it's off the the sporting goods store for more weights (which I will need anyway, building more airplanes). Stay tuned...
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Post by JCON on Feb 8, 2024 16:19:20 GMT -6
Oh my!!! Heavy indeed!!! Someone needs to make nose wheels out of lead!!!
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Post by Beekster on Feb 8, 2024 18:02:51 GMT -6
You said it. I went to Sportsman's Warehouse and got a couple of containers of round-ish split shot weights, and I've started filling the front of the main gear bays with it, up against the bulkhead. Won't be seen unless you put a mirror under there, but I won't know if I've done enough until tomorrow since the superglue needs to set up. I do have room for a few more, but not many.
I'll have to bear this in mind for the S2T Turbo Tracker. That one places the nose gear further forward, since you have to cut the fuselage behind the cockpit and add a resin plug to lengthen the fuselage. But right behind that, where I placed two big weights on this model, I will have to practically fill the cavity with lead. Can't put any in the engine nacelles since those are solid resin.
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Post by JCON on Feb 8, 2024 19:28:41 GMT -6
You said it. I went to Sportsman's Warehouse and got a couple of containers of round-ish split shot weights, and I've started filling the front of the main gear bays with it, up against the bulkhead. Won't be seen unless you put a mirror under there, but I won't know if I've done enough until tomorrow since the superglue needs to set up. I do have room for a few more, but not many. I'll have to bear this in mind for the S2T Turbo Tracker. That one places the nose gear further forward, since you have to cut the fuselage behind the cockpit and add a resin plug to lengthen the fuselage. But right behind that, where I placed two big weights on this model, I will have to practically fill the cavity with lead. Can't put any in the engine nacelles since those are solid resin. At least the resin is heavier then the plastic!
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Post by Beekster on Feb 9, 2024 7:56:24 GMT -6
Plenty more weight is in place, and it still sits on the tail. I'm considering a more radical approach. The nose gear is molded as fully extended, as if the plane is hooked up for a cat shot off a carrier. At rest on the ground, the oleo strut & scissors is much more compressed. I think that I will have to cut the nose gear apart to shorten the oleo and reconstruct the scissors.
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Post by JED on Feb 9, 2024 8:29:50 GMT -6
Wow wasn’t expecting that!!
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Post by JCON on Feb 9, 2024 11:53:42 GMT -6
Sorry buddy!!! Hopefully you can figure it out. Of course you could always build a bit of runway and glue it to the board... no one else would know on a small diorama that it was tail end heavy!
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Post by Beekster on Feb 9, 2024 13:40:53 GMT -6
Surgery is in process and will be successful. The model sits properly on a shortened (about forty thousandths) oleo strut; the weight of the model is holding it in place while the glue cures. Still reworking the scissors link at the front, which will tie things back together and strengthen the assembly. I'll always have to be careful how I move this thing, though.
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Post by BUCKY on Feb 10, 2024 20:49:34 GMT -6
Joining in a bit late for this fantastic project! Looking forward to it!
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Post by mustang1989 on Feb 11, 2024 7:28:14 GMT -6
Sorry to hear of the woes but it looks like you've got the problematic areas covered Greg. Will be watching for future updates. Bookmarked.......
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Post by Beekster on Feb 11, 2024 12:54:52 GMT -6
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Post by JCON on Feb 11, 2024 14:10:34 GMT -6
That looks great!!! Coming together nicely!!!
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