LANDING GEAR

There are two slotted hardwood landing-gear blocks built into the wing, and you have to cut away the covering to expose the slot that fits the music-wire landing gear. Two plastic straps are screwed in to hold the landing gear in place. There are also small pilot holes already drilled in the gear blocks, so you’ll have to look closely to find them. Two screws each hold the straps in place. The wheels are held in place and positioned on the axles with lock collars. Slip the inner collar into place, and tighten the screw; slip the wheel in place, add the outer collar, and tighten its screw. Be sure there is enough clearance so that the wheel spins freely.

Once the main landing gear is in place, you can attach the wing to the fuselage. There are two large nylon screws used to secure the wing in place. Two alignment dowels protruding from the leading edge align and hold the front of the wing in place. There are two holes in the aft section of the wing, and you cut away the covering to expose them. Also, the model comes with a plywood plate that is glued to the bottom of the wing to prevent the screw heads from digging into the wing sheeting. Position the plate so that the holes align with the holes in the wing, then trace around the plate. Remove the covering from the wing and the underside of the plate, insert the two screws into the plate, apply a small amount of CA around the perimeter, and position the plate while inserting the screws through the wing and into the threaded receptacles in the fuselage. Tighten the screws until they hold the plate flat against the wing, and let the glue dry.