Frog JU88

The other landing gear from the Airfix JU88 kit, shown from the inside.

Kit assembly done.  I usually build up a number of kits of the same type and then paint and decal them together as a unit so I can coordinate colors and decal markings.

I also got a 1/72nd scale Frog JU-88.  It was used and came in a plastic bag.  The only thing wrong was it was missing one wheel.  Don't throw stuff away, it often comes in handy years later.

So I found a similar size wheel in the spares box and added a little white plastic shim to make it a tad larger.

This is the original wheel, it is a much better landing gear system than the Airfix.

Here are the two original Frog halves for the wheel.

Frog made pretty good kits, too bad they are long gone.

Ju-88 and Glue

Some of the tubing I used was Plastruct, it requires a special glue and it works just like regular model glue and will bond both Plastruct and styrene.

The wire does not glue with regular glue so I used some gap filling super glue.

Gluing dis-similar materials together sometimes requires special adhesives.  I used Goo contact cement from Walthers.  It's sold in model railroad shops.

These tiny bits of the original landing gear were saved for use on the new landing gear.  I used the Plastruct glue to hold them onto the plastic coated wire.

Here's a close up photo of the improved new landing gear.

Landing Gear

Airfix JU-88 landing gear bits.

I replaced the bits and kept the original wheels.  Here they are propped up while they dry.

Plastic coated wire was bent to hold the wheel.

The wire was inserted into a plastic rod which went into a plastic square rod.

Then I used Goo rubber contact cement to hold it all together.

Airfix JU 88 1/72nd Scale

The landing gear legs were too weak in my opinion.

So I cut them down and replaced them.

I used a few different types of plastic, including plastic coated wire.

Plastruct Plastic Weld was needed for the plastic coated wire.

Here is the landing gear opening, looking a bit like a bomb bay.