[PappyB]

Okay, just got my $31 Wild Weasel Phantom from Monkeydepot -- whoop!

But... the screws that hold it into the packaging for shipping arrived stripped... I got one of the two out, but the other will not budge, it simply turns in place. It will tighten, but not loosen..... Frustrating to say the least!

Anyone else run into this one, and have a solution, other than returning the plane or destroying the packaging to get it out?

[admin]

Never, but I will say that who ever thought that it was a good idea to have anchor screws that penetrated the model should be shot. And then shot again!

Franklin just say no to the screw! Dragon and Hobby Master just say no to the wire! Design you packaging correctly and these band aids will not be necessary.

Sorry Pappy, that sucks.

[flyXwire]

That particular Phantom was probably taken out and displayed before, and I'll bet you that someone screwed up putting it back into the package, stripped one of the screws in the process. I know it really sucks, but I would return it if I were you.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Oh Pappy that really sucks that had to happened.
Now this is a Wild Weasel F4 that be crazy to send it back since they don't have anymore.
Have you tried to use visegrips ? Lock it on the screw and pull it down hard and see if it can start to slide off a little...use a little force pulling it out too.
I had to do this once with my FM F-86 i got last year and it worked.
Good Luck...
JP

[parsig9]

Yes I have had this and here is what worked for me. As you turn it with the screw driver with one hand pull gently with a pair of your best little needle nose pliars. Mine are really little. If you have them, I used a set that is spring loaded so when you lose the grip, they're still right there ready. Not sure exactly what your situation is but if you can get them between the plane and the plastic fastener and create a little downward pressure as you turn it I think it should come.

[PappyB]

Okay, so considering the fact I got this model for relative peanuts, and it's retired, and out of stock at MD, I figured returning is not an option. So, I decided to apply brute force to the problem.

There wasn't enough space to get pliers under the plane and turn the screw -- which comes with handle attached at the end. So... I bent the handle up so it was as verticle as possible and then pulled the entire screw down through the packaging and out the top.

Then, I could see that the entire threaded part of the screw had been pushed through the screw mount into the interior of the model -- the hollow space. Someone obviously torgued the handle down too much when securing the model...

So I bent the handle back to the l shape, and then tried to lift it to the opening and apply enough back pressure to back it out. I got it to go a little bit and then it got firmly stuck, to the point that when I turned the handle the screw bent and twisted rather than unscrewed! The result is the screw snapped off just under the level of the hole in the bottom of the model, effectively becoming a plug, which would be made very effective with a dab of the right paint!

I'm kinda bummed about it, but I don't think it will detract from the resale value, should I decide to let it go someday, which I doubt -- really like teh scheme. But at least the model is in one piece!

What a pain in the arse!

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Okay, so considering the fact I got this model for relative peanuts, and it's retired, and out of stock at MD, I figured returning is not an option. So, I decided to apply brute force to the problem.

There wasn't enough space to get pliers under the plane and turn the screw -- which comes with handle attached at the end. So... I bent the handle up so it was as verticle as possible and then pulled the entire screw down through the packaging and out the top.

Then, I could see that the entire threaded part of the screw had been pushed through the screw mount into the interior of the model -- the hollow space. Someone obviously torgued the handle down too much when securing the model...

So I bent the handle back to the l shape, and then tried to lift it to the opening and apply enough back pressure to back it out. I got it to go a little bit and then it got firmly stuck, to the point that when I turned the handle the screw bent and twisted rather than unscrewed! The result is the screw snapped off just under the level of the hole in the bottom of the model, effectively becoming a plug, which would be made very effective with a dab of the right paint!

I'm kinda bummed about it, but I don't think it will detract from the resale value, should I decide to let it go someday, which I doubt -- really like teh scheme. But at least the model is in one piece!

What a pain in the arse!

Pappy... just say NO to FM ! There now... I solved your future FM problems!

[aeroeng]

I was going to suggest if it wouldn't come out after all efforts to cut it off flush. Looks like you got the same effect. You got a great deal on this even with the problem.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Glad to see it all worked out for ya Pappy.
JP

[KG_Jag]

Some of the FM/Armour planes I ordered from the Monkey Depot sale had some odd packaging. Some had packing screw assemblies missing or partially missing. In one case, most were replaced by plastic bands to secure the plane in place.

Fortunately, none of these issues had any negative impact on the plane as received.