CrankyCrafstman

Hey Anthony This is the wrong post to answer in you should go to the other one thats the right one. To late already have the legs built up, would be very difficult to fix them know. Are you saying Airfix molded the legs to long, or they have them mounted to the nacelles to low? Ron G

Great! Glad you got it figured out. Ron G

Looking good Ryan. Did you check to see if you can get a different fuselage from Trumpeter? My F6F-3 isn't warped like that. It's fine except for the improper shape of the rear fuselage that everyone complains about. Ron G

Hey all I was getting a little burned out on the Hellcat, so thought I would work on something else for awhile. I've had this kicking around in my head since I picked up the Airfix 1/24 Mosquito kit. It's been bouncing around in there with my one brain cell, or so I've been told...lol. We all know that these big 1/24th kits need metal (make that brass) landing gear to support there weight. Well since nobody makes brass ones what do you do, you say? Well I think I can fix this problem with some creative scratch building. First] Here are the tools I used, mostly. Just your basic stuff. Secind] Here are the materials I used. Tamiya glues, regular, extra thin and extra thin quick set some super glue. 1/8" dia. Brass tubing, 3/32" dia. Brass tubing, 1/16" dia. Brass tubing and some 1/32" dia. Brass rod, akso some 1/16" x 1/16" square plastic rod. Lets start: Step 1 First you need to cut (4) pieces of 3/32" (0.09375") dia. brass tubing 1 9/16" (1.5625") long. Next you need to cut (4) pieces of 1/32" (0.03125") dia. brass tubing 1 9/16" (1.5625") long. Then you need to put the 1/32" dia. Rod into the 3/32" dia. Tubing ~ use super glue. Next you need to cut (4) pieces of 3/32" dia. brass tubing 1 3/16" (1.1875") long. I used aluminum tubing because i didn't have enough brass tubing to go around. Insert the previous two pieces you already assembled into the 3/32" tube you just cut onto one end (see pictures)These go together to make an assembly. You need to make four of these assemblies, one for each leg. Step 2 You need to remove parts 18H, 21H and 10H from both of the "H" sprues. Next you need to cut off the small stub axle from 21H so you can drill a hole for a new brass tube axle. You need to drill it with a 3/32" drill. Drill through, be careful to stay centered. Next (this is critical) you need to drill into part 18H in the area where the axle will go, caution only go in about 1/32", just enough for the axle to sit in. When you glue 18H and 21H together this will make sure they stay lined up together. (See pictures)As you can see you go through 21H on the right and just barley into 18H on the left. Heres what they look like before you modify them. step 3 Now you should have four inner and four outer legs drilled out and ready to go. Next take a piece of the 1/16" x 1/16" square plastic and cut (8) pieces 1 1/8" k1.125") long. Now comes some assembly. Take 18H and add one of the brass tube assemblies you made previously and align with the depression in 18H and add (2) of the 1/16" square plastic pieces on either side of the tube assembly (these are to kept everything lined up) and glue in place, I used extra thin and super glue. (See pictures)It should look like this when assembled correctly. Then you need to add 21H to 18H and glue together. You need to make (4) of these assemblies. (See pictures)They should look like this when done. At this point I deviated from the kit. I used BarracudaCast 1/24 resin wheels/tires. I highly recommend these they are superb castings and put the kit parts to shame. I drilled out the resin wheels with a 1/8" drill makeing sure i was centered and straight. You can do this to the kit parts, you just need to drill out the four wheel parts 40H and 41H with the 1 1/8" drill. Step 4 Now you need to cut a piece of 3/32" (0.09375 dia. Brass tubing 15/16" (0.09375") long for the axle that will go between the two legs. You need to cut two of these. Next you need to take part 10H and add it to one of the legs per the kit instructions. Next add the axle you just cut into the leg, then add the wheel/tire then add the other leg. Once your satisfied that everything fits correctly you can go back and super glue it together, just don't glue the wheel/tire yet, do that when you are done and ready to set it on its wheels. This way you can line up the flats on the tires with the ground. You can hold it together with tape until then. Thats pretty much it. Make another assembly from the peices you already cut and you have two reinforced under carriage legs. Pretty simple actually I think most competent modelers should be able to accomplish this. If your not that good try it anyway just be very careful and take your time and follow what I said and you can be proud of accomplishing something that will improve your modeling skills. I cant get rid of this picture so ignore it. Once this is glued together it will be very solid. Now I have to look at fixing the rest of the landing gear to see if theres a way to stiffen them up. Ron G

Hey all I was getting a little burned out on the Hellcat, so thought I would work on something else for awhile. I've had this kicking around in my head sunce I picked up the Airfix 1/24 Mosquito kit. It's been bouncing around in there with my one brain cell, or so I've been told...lol. We all know that these big 1/24th kits need metal (make that brass) landing gear to support there weight. Well since nobody makes brass ones what do you do you say? Well I think I can fix this problem with some creative scratch building. First] Here are the tools I used, mostly.

Happy B day

Check with Stevens International and see if you can get a new fuslage. Ron G

Ok the windows are in. I need to wait for the glue to dry, then its clean up time. Took a ding out of the fuselage so a little putty to fix. Need to add some pipe work to these area. Vent tubes for the water injection tank system. They will be visible thru the windows on both sides, also from the lower hatch. Thats it for now. Ron G

Will be adding these from Alistair at Aerocraft. These are going to be made out of brass, there shown primed. these will be cast in grey resin. Not sure which ones I'll be using, probably will get all three. Ron G

Hey all Just got this from Alistair at Aerocraft. They look really superb. Landing gear and three different types of tires. https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/airfix-hellcat-brass-undercarriage-and-wheel-doors https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/airfix-hellcat-tyres-cross-hatch-type https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/airfix-hellcat-tyres-straight-running-tread https://aerocraftmodels.bigcartel.com/product/airfix-hellcat-tyres-cruciform-block-pattern Ron G

Hey all Ok, well there's no turning back now. I've cut out the rear windows behind the pilots head. Now I need to get some clear plastic card, probably around 0.04" thick to make the windows glass. It took me about four to five minutes starring at it before I could get up the gumption to start cutting. I think they came out nice. Here's some pics.

Hey crazypoet Check out my build of this kit as a 325 fighter group "Checkertail" I went for BigStud. Still have to finish it need to add the checkertail decals to the tail. I used HGW seatbelts, Eduard interior kit and Zots decals. Ron G

Hey all just found these on Ebay. They look better then the kit parts. We'll see when they get here from the Ukraine. Since I now have two kits I ordered two sets. They run about $25.00 US dollars including shipping. As soon as they get here I will post some pictures. Ron G

Just some pictures to show how good the fit is on all the cowl panels and wing to fuselage. It does fit together really nice, and will be much better once finally glued in place. I found these on Ebay. They look really good and are better then the kit parts. We will see when they get here from the Ukraine.

Be aware. There are two different types of rocker covers for the engine, one works the other one doesn't, by this I mean once assembled it doesn't fit inside of the cowl. I had to grind the heck out of mine to get the engine to fit, and it still doesn't fit well. I don't rember which one is correct one to use have to dig through my photos and notes to find out. Ron G

Just watched "Strategic Air Command" so I'm ready. are you going to do a B-47 to go with it Ron G

Hey Martin Good luck and have fun, but when you get off of the Buffalo don't step in the Buffalo chips... I said chips not %*#^... lol Ron G

He also has a resin crankcase that is actually round. He now has replacement rocker covers and tha small oil cross-over tubes, to replace the cast on ones. His videos on how to put the 1/24 Airfix F6F-5 Hellcat together are very informative. They show how to apply the Airscale instrument panel and how to detail out the cockpit. He also shows how to detail out the rear fuselage area and how to reinforce the undercarriage legs. He's doing one as a FAA bird and one as a US Navy one. Ron G

Went into my hobby store to get some CA glue $3.49 and walked out $173.00 bucks shorter. I got the glue and somehow another 1/24 Hellcat followed me out the door. Ron G

Way to go Ernie!!!

Hey Graham Is it possible to purchase just the trolley without the cookie bomb. I'm going to use it to scale it up to 1/24 scale to use with my Airfix Typhoon 1b as a rocket trolley, I already have a tractor to pull it and some figures to us on a diorama. If I can figure out my sons software I can model it up and try to 3D print it on his 3D resin printer. Ron G

Here are a couple more pictures. the head rest plate has been modified to a F6F-3 style. The rivets on the side were added with a toothpick (cocktail stick) and Perfect Plastic Putty mixed with some superglue, then just dabed on. These are the reinforcements for the -3 version. Plastic angle and rod. You will be able to see these through the side windows that I still have to add. have to add the water tank and oxygen bottle. Still have to prime and paint. This will be done in Grumman interior grey. Thats all for know have to get back to modeling. Ron G

Works for me. The LEDs are from Ebay cost about $20.00 bucks. I now have them ducked to the window, used the piece of pink foam board in the window to route the ducts through. Ron G

That Lanc looks great Ernie. Ron G

Damn! I didnt think about using zip ties. See it does pay off being on these forums you learn sumpin' new every day. Thanks Bill. Ron G