Metal landing gear for 1/18 SBD Dauntless

[rschaap]

I was reading my current issue of Finescale Modeler and saw that Scale Aircraft Conversions (Scaleaircraftconversions.com) is offering metal landing gear for the 1/18 SBD Dauntless. I am hoping this is the start of things to come. I would like to see metal landing gear for most of my 1/18 scale aircraft that are earth bound.

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings:

I really didn't think the Dauntless had that weak or unstable of landing gear. It'd be nice if they offered the conversions for the aircraft that did have unstable or weak gear like the F-18, F-16 and F-104

Corey

[rschaap]

I really didn't think the Dauntless had that weak or unstable of landing gear. It'd be nice if they offered the conversions for the aircraft that did have unstable or weak gear like the F-18, F-16 and F-104

Corey

It's a start. I emailed the company to see if they have any future plans on releasing landing gear for some of the airplanes prone to having issues like those mentioned. I will let everyone know what they have to say.

[pizzaguy]

Those are nice and good price.

I would be interested in the F18 gear as well. I got started on making them, then lost interest after the response I received. Understandably, no one wants to disassemble their plane to install the metal gear and that was the only way I could see how to correctly. I couldn't see trying to cut off the plastic gear and Frankenstein something over a stub.

I have one side pretty much done minus the linkages.

[rschaap]

I recieved this message from Scale Aircraft Conversions.

Thank you for your interest in our products. If the SBD gear sells well we will certainly consider expansion of 1/18 offerings. It is too soon to tell at this time but we should have a clearer picture by mid-2014.

Best Regards,

Scaleaircraftconversions.com

[pickelhaube]

I have never taken my Dauntless out of the box but have never heard issues with the landing gear.

I am glad that they are after market parts for our 1/8th scale but it is a project that has come out of left field.

[rschaap]

I believe they are probably testing the waters to see if there is a demand for their product. Like a lot of things dealing with 1/18 scale time will tell.

[tmanthegreat]

The only issue with the Merit Dauntless landing gear is that one has to insert a very tiny pin so that the gear cover/door connects to the strut. Its not really necessary to install for the integrity of the aircraft. Otherwise, I never had an issue with them and think they look fine. Now the JSI F-14, that was a plane with landing gear problems