[SodamnInsane78]

Trying to fix the forward landing strut on an 86 Night Raven where the two opposing hooks hold strut cover in place, but the lower hook has bent inward so the panel falls off when the landing gear is up. I just need the hook to move back out/down like 2 millimeters. I've tried warming the plastic by letting it sit in just-boiled water for a minute, apply steady pressure, refresh the water, repeat half a dozen times, but it doesn't budge, and I'm afraid if I apply any more pressure I'm going to snap it off.

Short of buying an adjustable heat gun (i have an old one but the only two settings are Off and Nuclear Furnace), anyone know any other tricks for warming old Joe plastic *enough* to be just slightly malleable?

[280-CUSTOMS]

Bud I’d like to give you a suggestion but you tried the only way I’ve ever known that works I know that plastic is very rigid even for old plastic .. a heat gun I’m not sure that would work any better I would just bite the bullet and buy another piece cut the aggregation off immediately .

good luck sir

[CodeNameRebel]

When you put it in the water, does it bend and then just return to its original shape? Or will it not budge at all?

[SodamnInsane78]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodeNameRebel

When you put it in the water, does it bend and then just return to its original shape? Or will it not budge at all?

Not budge at all.

[Sataninjaku]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SodamnInsane78

Not budge at all.

That means you're going to need to get it warmer.

[BizCopperhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SodamnInsane78

Trying to fix the forward landing strut on an 86 Night Raven where the two opposing hooks hold strut cover in place, but the lower hook has bent inward so the panel falls off when the landing gear is up. I just need the hook to move back out/down like 2 millimeters. I've tried warming the plastic by letting it sit in just-boiled water for a minute, apply steady pressure, refresh the water, repeat half a dozen times, but it doesn't budge, and I'm afraid if I apply any more pressure I'm going to snap it off.

Short of buying an adjustable heat gun (i have an old one but the only two settings are Off and Nuclear Furnace), anyone know any other tricks for warming old Joe plastic *enough* to be just slightly malleable?

Use a heat gun at 250 or so, the plastic will slowly go back into place on its own, and any stress marks will also disappear.

[SodamnInsane78]

Leaving a note for anyone who might see this in the future, a solution I found:

Went back to boiling water, but what I did was use a lot MORE water in a broad, shallow dish, deep enough to submerge the landing gear assembly. By using the broad dish with just more overall water it retained all the heat longer. Then when I pulled the gear out it was still hot enough to scald myself, so I wore mechanic's gloves to avoid getting burns while still being able to work the plastic while it was as hot as possible. It took a few passes (and reheating the water twice) but firm-but-not-sharp pressure, I was able to bend the hook back and reattach the landing gear cover. Looks beautiful and doesn't even have plastic stress marks.

[CodeNameRebel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SodamnInsane78

Leaving a note for anyone who might see this in the future, a solution I found:

Went back to boiling water, but what I did was use a lot MORE water in a broad, shallow dish, deep enough to submerge the landing gear assembly. By using the broad dish with just more overall water it retained all the heat longer. Then when I pulled the gear out it was still hot enough to scald myself, so I wore mechanic's gloves to avoid getting burns while still being able to work the plastic while it was as hot as possible. It took a few passes (and reheating the water twice) but firm-but-not-sharp pressure, I was able to bend the hook back and reattach the landing gear cover. Looks beautiful and doesn't even have plastic stress marks.

That's great to hear. Working with the old plastic always makes me nervous.