neu Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Hi there I've seen on many photos that some of the modelers are glueing the landing gears into place before the paint job. Why is it? I never did it, as I'm afraid it can broke easily while handling for airbrushing and weathering. Also cannot easily reach it to paint the details. So what's the secret? Greetings, neu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
D_IcarUS_ Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Also, never do that, the exception was the F-15E from Revell. :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MattCar Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Ditto, always do the main paint job, then paint main sections of landing gear and other details, glue together, then finally touch up afterwards. Only time I can remember doing it the other way round is where the landing gear is faired into the fuselage (i.e. westland lysander) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dreammh Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 I do not attach them permenantly. I fit them in so that I can dry the bottom paint or coat without have to lay the model upside down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Perry Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 (edited) I am a brush painter and have always attached the undercarriage legs (not the wheels) prior to painting. It makes it easier to align things - no finger marks in the paint. And the legs provide a handle while I am working. LAstly, it's also easier to set the model on its legs while the paint dries. Edited January 20, 2005 by Bob Perry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
madmike Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Unless I have too, undercarriage always goes on after the flatcoat is done. Cheers MikeJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smithery Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 I will sometimes do this, but not actually glue them in place. If the fit is a little on the loose side, a drop of white glue will hold them. Just for convenience really, especially during decal process. Keeps the plane from resting on its belly or having the wings resting on paint tins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackCat Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Landing gear? We don't need no stinking landing gear!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
StrangewaysTerry Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Nice Phantom, Blackcat. Arrestor hook looks a bit out of scale, though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackCat Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 Har Har!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
doctorpepper Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 his phantom's flying a really FAT guy, which is why the enlarged arrestor hook! i can't imagine the size of the cables!!! i mask and paint wheel bays and landing gears only after most of my painting is done... white is easier to cover than the rest of the colours! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The_Animal Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 I wonder why the "large" arrestor hook(s) are sticking out it's @$$? :lol: :unsure: But seriously, Black Cat, Great LOOKING Phantom. Almost makes me forget it's a Jolly Rogers 'Phantom... ::sniff:: just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. In answer to the thread question which we seem to have wandered off. My NEW policy as a more "advanced" modeller than I was when I was but a snotty nosed teen-ager, is to paint the landing gear first, then attach it to the PAINTED aircraft, but before weathering the landing gear and the rest of the aircraft. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volzj Posted January 20, 2005 Share Posted January 20, 2005 I'm with Madmike, it's one of the last things on before the dullcoat. Much easier to wash and weather everything OFF the model, including the wells that way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
neu Posted January 20, 2005 Author Share Posted January 20, 2005 Okay guys....I'm with the "landing gear after flat coat" team too....just asked, as I sew several times the other way, and cannot imagine the advantages of that method. BTW Really nice Phantom indeed! Greetings, neu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karl Sander Posted January 21, 2005 Share Posted January 21, 2005 Same boat as most of you - the only exception being the aforementioned Revell F-15 nosewheel and the occaisonal tailwheel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dragon Posted January 21, 2005 Share Posted January 21, 2005 Some of the 1/72 scale F-16s also need to have part of the landing gear attached before painting. Reason being: there is a cover over the one piece strut (for both wheels). PITA^3 if you ask me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uscusn Posted January 21, 2005 Share Posted January 21, 2005 Well it seems we all pretty much stick to the norm. Attaching the gear after most of the painting and decaling is completed. I think most of the F-15 kits are the same on the nose gear. I seem to remember I had the same problem with an Academy F-15C kit. I will at times pressure fit the gear at a certain point of the build as a stand. But not to often, you may break one off if it doesn't want to come off. Try to avoid those little mishaps. Chuck Fly Navy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalephantomphixer Posted January 21, 2005 Share Posted January 21, 2005 Rule = gear after paint job. But sometimes, the kit design requires the struts' attachement pins being inserted into the landing gear wells, the later glued to the wings (or body). I modify these parts, to be able to close the wells first, and slip the LG into place after the paint job. Look at my A380. HTH, Pierre Both struts, pre-assembled. To the left, the original Revell design, where the strut is attached to the well via tiny pins. The arrows point to where the strut is inserted into the well'. The modified parts, so I can slip in the LG at a later stage. I reduce the length of the attachment pins on the LG Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalephantomphixer Posted January 21, 2005 Share Posted January 21, 2005 The completed LG, ready to be slipped into the well - after the paintjob on the aircraft. Each kit has its own design. You will have to trigger your creative juices to find a specific solution for your own model. Cheers, Pierre Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Keeper Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Exterior items like landing gear are best left off till after painting. If you have a kit that demands installation before painting, try this: Install your gear and then you can mask it using aluminum/aluminium foil. No adhesive neccessary, just wrap and crimp. This also comes in handy if you leave a little sticking out as you'll have a "crush zone" before you break it off during handling. hth Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I always paint everything before assembly. Then touch up after everything is done. This way I never miss anything. Have done it this way for 20 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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