RE: landing gear problem
Re-install the wood gear plate using epoxy. If the area that it used to be in is polluted with exhaust residue and old glue, do the best you can to clean it up before replacing the gear plate.
After the plate has been re-installed, from inside the fuselage install a 1/8" lite ply doubler over the gear plate that is slightly longer than the existing gear plate.
Install 1/2" triangle balsa stock to the corners of the gear plate where it meets the fuselage sides. Re-install the gear with the nylon bolts.
The most important part comes now. Learn to land with the nose wheel touching down last, not first. That is the most common cause of the gear coming off, regardless of what type of bolt is used.