Fw-190D Red 3 Problem

[Gusthebus]

Does anyone have the problem of the landing gear breaking with the Fw-190D Red 3 plane? I have had 2 break. Does anyone know how to fix it? Thanks

[Teamski]

You sir, have found the fatal problem with the S1 FW-190. They are notorious for their gear snapping due to the really thin hinge pins that were used. All FW-190s S2 and up were fitted with beefier hinges to fix this exact problem. My gear broke on the first opening! I took the wing apart on mine and heated up a cut-down nail. I then drove it into the strut and let it cool. It worked like wonders. Here is a photo of the fix:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/127 ... 8193kEXZNY

I hope this helps. With a bit of effort, you can get your plane on it's gear again!

-Ski

[Gusthebus]

Great, I'll try that. Any hints on opening up the wing? Thanks for the help.

[Teamski]

It's pretty easy to get off. Just pop the screw caps off the bottom of the wing. There looks to be 2 on each wing. Remove the screws and the wing comes apart. Note that the flaps are held in by tabs, so they will drop out. The gear is now loose. Do the repair and reverse the process. Take care to ensure that the flaps are in their slots. Good luck!

-Ski

[Gusthebus]

Thanks for all the help. I'll try it this weekend.

[Morian Miner]

Yeah, thanks for the info! My one year old just busted this part on my Red 3 and my Spitfire. Amazingly, that's the only thing he busted palying with those two planes (had to keep him occupied during the move). The XD planes proved to be surprisingly durable.

[aktiger]

Instead of heating a nail, I drilled a hole with a small bit and glued a cut nail into the hole. Was able to use a longer pin and didn't risk heat damage to the strut.
I've fixed four 190 gear struts that way. Works great. Start with a bit smaller than the nail (pin) and ream out the hole as needed to insure a tight fit. A good dremel tool or drill is required.

[The Old Man]

When mine snapped, I drilled a hole through the leading edge of the wing the same size as coat hanger wire (great stuff for all kinds of use) and extended the hole through the gear bay walls. While I had the strut out, I measured the correct angle for gear stance, and drilled the hole through the strut at an angle that allows the strut to "set" at the correct stance. Just make sure its a tight fit throughout. Then added strut retract rods at the correct position. Popped the flaps out and put in hinge pins at each end of the flap and an oblong hole in each flap bay wall so the flaps drop to full flaps and retrack into the wing via a pressure fit. Then set the angle of the wheels. Covered over the hole in the wing with correct painted decal patches. The struts do NOT retract into the bays but if that's your gig, then use the same angle as originally set.

A lot of detrimental comments have been made about the 190 but its actually a very accurate representation with lots of "little things" that speak well of it. Course you have to always remember all this stuff are "toys" - but outstanding starting points for scale work - and when you consider its $130.00 for a 1/32 airplane with 300 parts, you can't beat these things.

Of course, that's just an Old Man's opinion.

[ostketten]

All FW-190s S2 and up were fitted with beefier hinges to fix this exact problem.

Hi Ski...... I just bought a Fw-190D-9 S2, so you are saying a fix like yours is uneccessary on my bird?? If so that's great to know. BTW, hats off to you on this fix, very clever, but then XD guys are like that eh?

[Teamski]

All FW-190s S2 and up were fitted with beefier hinges to fix this exact problem.

Hi Ski...... I just bought a Fw-190D-9 S2, so you are saying a fix like yours is uneccessary on my bird?? If so that's great to know. BTW, hats off to you on this fix, very clever, but then XD guys are like that eh?

You should be good to go. Oh, and a big welcome to the board Old Man! Happy to see another XD collector hit the forum!

-Ski