Model Airways CURTISS JN-4D JENNY Instruction Manual page 32

to hold the gear rigid. The turnbuckles for
the landing gear are the long ones, R3B, and
are located at the fuselage end. Refer to Plan
Sheet 6 for wire details.
Completing the details (Figure 6-5):
To complete the basic gear structure, glue
the photo-etched end plates (L6) to the end
blocks (L3). Keeping the center of the fit-
tings vertical (where the long axle hole is
located), bend the ends down onto the front
and rear struts and glue. On the real aircraft,
the fitting is actually made of three different
plates, with the plates bolted to the struts
and to the horizontal fairing struts.
Installing the axle rod (Figure 6-6):
Insert the 3/32" steel rod axle through the
long slots of the photo-etched parts L6. Cut
the rod to the correct length shown on the
plan and locate it so it has the same amount
of rod projecting from each end. Tape it
down so it stays put. Then glue the shock
cord fittings (L9) on top of the axle on each
side of the L3 block and end fitting L6. Final-
ly, wrap the fake shock cord ( 0.021"-diame-
ter white nylon cord) from one side under L3
to the other side, back and forth until you fill
the space on top of the L9 fittings.
Building and installing the wheels
(Figure 6-7):
The wheels on a
spoked wheels. The spokes are often canvas
covered, but for the model why cover up the
nice looking spokes? The kit contains simu-
lated wheels using a britannia cast hub
(L12), rim castings (L13), and photo-etched
spokes (L14). Since the spokes go outward
from the rim to the hub, it is essential that
the hub be properly centered. A simple
wooden jig can be used to keep the parts cen-
tered. Use a 3/32" wood dowel through the
hub, and tape or clamp the hub in the cen-
tered position as shown on the sketch.
First, glue the half-rim castings together and
sit the assembled unit on the jig. Bend the
spoke plates as shown on the sketch, so the
spoke plate will contact the hub and rim. You
will notice there are four gaps around the
photo-etched edge. This permits bending the
spokes without buckling. Glue the spoke
edge plates to the rim and center to the hub.
Take your time.
When one side is complete, flip the rim and
hub on the jig and do the other side.
Important:
When doing the second side,
rotate the spokes so they are staggered
halfway between the spokes on the other
side. This is shown on the sketch.
When the wheel assembly is completely dry,
stretch the O-ring tires onto the rim.
Insert the completed wheels on the final
model axle. From most photographic evi-
dence, the wheels were retained on the axle
by a simple large cotter pin. For the model,
wrap a wire around the axle to represent
the cotter.
Landing gear with spoked wheels on the
restored Jenny at the Smithsonian Institution
FIG. 6-5 INSTALLING GEAR PLATES
FRONT STRUT
L3
GLUE, THEN FLIP OVER
FOR OTHER SIDE
Jenny
are
REAR STRUT
LEAVE CENTER OF
PLATE VERTICAL
BEND
ENDS
DOWN
ONTO
STRUTS
PHOTO-ETCHED
PLATE L6
FIG. 6-7 WHEEL ASSEMBLY & INSTALLATION
BEND
BEND
HUB CASTING L12
SPOKES ON THIS SIDE
STAGGERED SPOKES
ON OTHER SIDE
STRETCH RUBBER O-RING
TIRES ONTO RIM
32
FIG. 6-6 AXLE INSTALLATION
CASTING L9 –
L6
GLUE TO AXLE
L3
RIM HALF L13
GLUE
PHOTO-ETCHED
SPOKES L14
WOOD
SET JIG SO HUB AND
DOWEL
RIM CENTERLINES
ARE THE SAME
JIG BLOCKS
INSTALL WHEEL ON AXLE
TWIST WIRE TO FAKE
A COTTER PIN
AXLE
STRUT
3/32"-DIA.
STEEL ROD
AXLE
.021"-DIA.
WHITE
NYLON –
FAKE SHOCK
CORD