V, Rest assured. The kits that I receive are no different to anyone else's. In fact in many cases they are allot less developed than most. My F-86 Was a prototype kit ( thus why it is unpainted) My first large and small vipers were both pre production kits, as was my T33.
I get these and have them put together as quickly as possible, and openly share any issues that there are.. either in the build or in the flying. I will never sit here and say the Skymaster kits are perfect. Far from it. Instead I try and assist those that are having issues pre build, and even post build, with various good and bad points I find along the way. The harsh fact of it is that I just dont know of a model product thats anywhere near perfect. For example, I am currently flying a lovely F-100 ( See photos around here ) This package cost a fair bit more than lets say my Skymaster F-86. It came in kit form, needed allot of building, and then painting. All in I would say it stand me in well over double what my Skymaster F-86 cost me. I took them both out to test on the same day, and in my head I was thinking... I bet the F-86 puts up more of a fight, and is more troublesome than the 100. How wrong was I! To this day the 100 still has an issue with the main gear. Where as my F86 has been flawless. The F-100 took a hell of allot more lateral thinking in the build to get it anywhere near finished. I am waiting for the drop tanks still for the F-100 and thats over a year after getting the kit. I guess what I am trying to say is that these sort of "issues" can happen with many of the suppliers in this end of the business. Name me a manufacturer (especially one that is producing a variety of airframes ) and I bet you I can list faults with at least one of their designs ( I dont want to get into this on line as I really am not into bashing suppliers on line ) Is it right?? Hell no! but its something we just have to deal with I am afraid.
I tried working with suppliers and have offered my services in trying to develop models before they are released, but it just doesn't seem to happen. Allot of models that I listed on kets say the small and large Vipers, and the large Hawk did find their way into later production models, but that seems to be as good as it gets I am afraid. I would love it if it was the other way round, as it would save me a hell of allot of keyboard fatigue.
Gary. Thanks for working with Alex regards my F-86. Let me send an email to my contact at Skymaster and see if I can be of any help. it definitely sounds to me as if the actuator pin is picking up on part of the retract frame. Dont take this the wrong way.. but have you ever had a hard landing with your 86? I once bent a large set of ( Non chinese supplied) retracts and didnt know it. After a heavy landing I had issues with cycling the gear, and it turned out that I had distorted the frame where the pin slides. It was only a tiny amount, but enough to cause the same issues as you are having.
Regardless.. I will send a mail and see what I can do, as it's a bummer to have such a sweet jet sat on the ground not flying.
Regards Al