BBI hellcat assembly

kimtheredxd · Post by **kimtheredxd** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 4:45 pm

O.K I finally found one at the Tacoma WA tru YEAH! Now for the question. I have seen on the site here, as people bought them that there was some tricks to assembling it. I have tried to search the forum but I must not be entering the right search criteria for it.

If any one could help me out and shine a light to the way to the right thread it would be much appreciated thanks

Black Lion VF-213 · Post by **Black Lion VF-213** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:39 pm

I can give you tips quicker than I can find the thread.

1. The prop and horizontal stabilizers are pretty straightforward. No issues there.
2. The fuel tank is a little tricky. Gotta be delicate when inserting the thin cradle carriage into the small holes.
3. The big problem: the main landing gears. You'll notice that as the landing gears are attached to the center wing section hang loose. You may think this is bad. Actually it's okay as it turns out. When you insert the rotating stabs from the wings into the slots on the center wing section you are essentially LOCKING in the landing gears into whatever position you want them to be in. In other words, if you want to move the landing gears from let's say, down position to the up position, you MUST remove the wings by pulling the stabs ALL the way out of the center section. Then position the landing gears where you want and re-insert the stabs. Basicall the stabs keep the landing gears in their respective position. If you try to move the landing gears while the stabs are in place, you run a high risk of breaking something. Bad engineering from BBI, I know.
4. The flight control surfaces are very very loose and dangle. However, you can push them into the wing and by friction they will stay in straight flight position.
5. Big gripe: wing dihedral. engineering wasn't very good at holding the wings in place to give the hellcat its proper dihedral. however, I've found that if you work with filing some of the alignment grooves to get the wing to fit tighter to the center section it will hold position and actually give dihedral.

hope this helps.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:17 pm

Black Lion pretty much said it all, but I'll empahsize again that the wings are tricky. You need to push them in carefully yet forcefully. (That's almost an oxymoron, isn't it?) The wings actually do have a tight seam and will maintain dihedral when extended. If they are not, you need to push them in further

kimtheredxd · Post by **kimtheredxd** » Sun Dec 09, 2007 9:21 pm

thanks!