Anyone know how to fix wing droop on BBI Hellcat

[usmcchet9296]

any ideas?

[pcoughran]

I think this was covered pretty well in a thread under Custom Mods then look at the very top thread called Tricks, Tips, Tools, etc...
You'll have to search for it there. I remember seeing pictures and a decent amount of discussion.

[aferguson]

i havent' noticed any wing droop on mine..

[usmcchet9296]

Checked all 5 pages and nothing

[JOC]

OORAH!
I too haven't seen any mention of the droop on his bird. There was extensive discussion earlier on the drooping wings on the Avenger though. Mine was fixed with small amounts of tape on the upper half of wing, which you can't see when it is hanging from the ceiling.
One of my Hellcats wings has somewhat of a loose wing lock when the wheels are up, so I did the same thing with her. If is hanging, no problem with the tape, but if its being displayed on a table/shelf, I would just leave her in the folding wing configuration. Seems the weakest part is in the folding/unfolding configuration.
Just my experience with my Hellcats.
Good luck and hope I was of some help to you?
JOC
USN 64-93

[aferguson]

avenger wing droop can also be fixed by hanging it from its wings, rather than from the fuselage. Just adjust the fishing line loops position until the wing angle is to your liking.

[Folkwulfe]

The "droop" on the Hellcat can be fixed easily....but which one? There have been two areas where the wing droop has made itself known. One is at the wing/fuselage joint (big gap there) and the other is the outer wing panel outside the wing fold line. The first one can be fixed by taking the wing and fuselage apart. There are two alignment "wings" that fit inside the upper wing half. Loop a zip-tie (small ones) around the "wings" on opposite sides and tighten them a little at a time fitting the fuselage back on between tightening. That will solve the wing root droop because the zip-ties are inside and under the cockpit where they cannot be seen. The outer wing panel is usually drooping because the "I" beam connector where the fold pin is has not been incerted into the inner wing all the way. There is a loud "SNAP" when it clicks into socket, but be careful. Hold the outer wing panel from the leading edge and CAREFULLY add pressure. When it goes in you'll know it.

As for the Avenger.....easy too. Hold the wing tip up and push the trangular door (on the bottom of the wing) INTO the hole it covers...not just covering the hole....and it hold the wing straight (or reasonably straight) like it should.

[aferguson]

well actually the avenger wing should have a dihedral. If it's just flat it looks like a droop, even though it's not. The only way to make a dihedral, without gluing the wing, is to hang it by it's wings and then it's own weight makes the wings go up a bit, giving the outer wings the dihedral they should have.

[tmanthegreat]

I've experimented with inserting a thin piece of plastic onto the underside of the Avenger's wings, say between the inboard and outboard flaps. Depending on how wide of a piece I use, it will hold the wings with a tad more dihedral than what they came with. Folkwulfe's method of pushing in the doors has also worked well for me, though its a little difficult to fold the wing

In retrospect, I know the designers at 21c were trying to go for complete accuracy with the wing-folding mechanism on the Avenger, but for whatever reason, they just did not get it right. I would not have minded a slightly inaccurate wing-folding hinge if it meant they wings would have been sturdier and had dihedral. That was something BBI pretty much got right with their Hellcat. The wings are not perfect, but they are robust, have the dihedral, and do fold in more-or-less the correct manner.

On a related 21c Avenger note, I have one each of the three Avengers made and its interesting to see how the wings sit on all three. My "Atlantic" Avenger (with covered screws) has the worst wing droop and my "Flight 19" plane's wings are generally flat with only a slight droop that is most noticable on the right wing. My "Bunker Hill" Avenger is the best of the bunch with both wings sitting flat. That and the classic paintscheme are probably why I display my BH Avenger the most