Correct Tail Sitting Dilemma Without Lead
Many a modeler of the Black Widow whether in 1/48 scale or 1/72 have had to come up with a way to alter the plane's front to rear weght ratio to keep it from tilting back on its tail instead of riding on all three tricycle landing grear.
Commonly referred to as "tail sitting" this balancing act must be dealt with by each and every one of us. Most apporach the problem by leading in the nose using shotgun pellets or lead sheathing from a roofing project In all such cases, you are fooling around with what the FDA calls a poisonous substance, lead. There is another way.
My diorama of a WW2 Saipan airstrip will include an uncharaterisitic Neodymium Block Magnet right where I figure the nosewheel will rest. No, magnets will not attract plastic or rubber wheels. They will atrract the two steel washers inside the wheel. These magnets measure 7/8ths of an inch wide by 17/8ths on length and they are 3/8ths of an inch thick. That is the same thickness as my diorama base. The magnetic idea came to me when I tried to solve the dilemma of where to place the needed 50-60 grams of weight without displacing critical detail. Many opt to deep-six the rather neat looking radar inside the nosedome in favor of the lead. I plan to model the Black Widow with radar intact as this plane was the first night fighter to carry such radar, it had a designated radar operator and radar was responsible for its successful nighttime kills.
What is your Black Widow balancing act?
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