An-22 - More progress

It is 1:72 scale - span is 36 inches - fuselage length is 32 inches.

Fuselage diameter is 3 inches and those massive undercarriage sponsons make it look even fatter!

Imagine a 1:32 scale C-130 and you just about have it!

I have just tried to add the wheels - and encountered a major problem.

There are 12 main wheels - six either side in 3 rows of two - plus twin nosewheels.

Each wheel is in two halves - so I stuck them together, filed a 'flat' on each one and attached them to the legs with brass rod axles for strength. All looked fine - they all touched the ground and I was quite pleased with myself - until I added the nosewheel.

This is too tall - and lifts the front two pairs of mainwheels off the ground.

I have modified the nosewheel by reducing its height (I reduced the length of the oleo - which is too long anyway - and re-attached it with a brass rod insert for strength).

It is now the correct length - but still lifts the front pair of wheels. I can't reduce the height any further - otherwise the front wheels will be touching the bottom of the fuselage.

Luckily I hadn't glued the mainwheels in place, so what I intend to do is to sit the model on its nosewheels and the REAR pair of mainwheels.

Then I will have to somehow adjust the height of the front two pairs of wheels until they all touch the ground - sort of adjusting as I go.

Luckily most of the mainwheel legs are hidden inside the sponson when the doors are added - so I should be able to get away with some 'fiddling!

Watch this space.............

why not mount it on a base and adjust the ground to fit? a little fudge and who will know?

That's a pretty good idea. Many of the Soviet / Russian taxiways and parking aprons aren't all that smooth and flat and it would be more accurate that way anyway (particularly those from the mid-late 80s).

"The world would be a much simpler place if every one could pick and choose their obligations, but we can't and we shouldn't." Major Charles W. Whittlesey

Must you keep flashing pics of your huge C*ck over the 'net weekly?? :) Good job. Can't wait 'til I have time to start messing with my C*ck.

That would mean making a HILL between the main and nosewheels.

I have only dry-fitted the wheels/axles in place - so I can remove them and re-set the front pair (on either side) a little lower by adding spacers between the axles and the wheels.

Not very elegant - but it is mostly hidden away anyway.

Thanks for the input anyway.....