Bell P.39Q Airacobra

Kelly Wellington
A diversion in to a tangential player, the USAAF Bell P-39. Not really one of the stars of the USAAF stable, it was used to good effect by both the Russians and the French. I'm building it as a favor to my SO, who cares for a former USAAF P39Q pilot in an elderly care home. It's tricycle landing gear, so I'll need weighting for gears down.

Kelly Wellington
The alignment of the nosewheel column is such that the pushing struts contact on one side, rather than centered on the column. Then, I thought I'd put enough weights to keep it on the tricycle, but once assembled (but for the canopy) it was still tail-heavy. I tried through the instrument panel, but it was too tight. This craft now has balls; huge ones lurking in the nosewheel compartment....it took four small split ball lead weights behind the nosewheel gear and resulted in the poorly moving propeller being glued still.

Kelly Wellington
Well...the landing gear is a minor mess. The front wheel well is filled with weights. I had to file down the 'box' in the aft portion under the canopy to get the clear canopy to fit. But it is done, but for the decals.