1/18 Merit Dauntless Landing Gear Small Parts

[Coreyeagle48]

Greetings:

As everyone remembers, we got those small little landing gear parts that are supposed to replicate a pushrod type device that pushes the landing gear door away from the tire on the real SBD Dauntless with our 1/18 scale model. If everyone remembers because of their minute size no one could install these when we got the planes. I figured out how to get them on.

You need one of those small round files with the point on the end to do it.

I took this file and gently opened up the hole in the tab on the landing gears and then the two holes on the pushrod part (the black plastic one). Do this gently as 1.) not to make the hole to big and 2.) to break the part itself. The entire problem with this part is that Merit made the holes too small for the parts to fit properly.

Then take the black part and line the holes with the hole on the tab on the landing gear. It should be able to be pushed into place and stay put so you can do the next part of this.

With a pilers I grabbed the end of the little metal pin...then just lined it up and shoved it through...if the holes are big enough it should go right in. If they aren't and you feel resistance, go back and make the holes a bit bigger with the file.

***Do all of this with the wing unattached from the plane. It will make things much easier***

Corey

[tmanthegreat]

Thanks Corey! Glad someone figured it out. I know I saved those pins, but I think they are in the boxes that went to my aircraft, packed away in my attic...