Small Scale Military Headquarters

I just bought the BBi Corsair "Marine's Dream", and I have put it all together, but the tailwheel and the tailhook are giving me fits. I cannot get the gear to stay up for display, and the tail hook falls off easily. I have looked at pictures and just cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks, Rawjinks....

Hello RawJinks:

Welcome to the board. You might not be doing anything wrong.

Shine a flashlight up inside the tail wheel compartment and look to see if any plastic has broken off. There is an overcenter lock that can be felt when operating the gear to either end of its travel limits. The lock makes a disctinct "click" noise when the tail wheel is fully extended and also when it is fully retracted.

As for the tailhook you might try to gently squeeze together the small "U" shaped end on the forward part of the tail hook. This will allow it to pinch the tailwheel structure somewhat better.

Hope that helps.

I had the same problem, but a fellow collector told me to push the tail wheel all the way forward until if "pops" into place. It should be vertical and up against the front of the tail wheel door.

Horsa

I took a look at the Corsair last night and need to revise my advice. Turn the plane over and look into the tail wheel bay. There is a bar inside that the tail wheel will lock onto when in place. The TW will NOt rest against the side of the bay as I mentioned before.

Horsa