1:144 Concorde wheels w/ weighted tires, early

Wheels for the Concorde 1:144, the early execution — a resin set from Armory

The set replaces the wheels of the landing gear on a plastic model of the Concorde in 1:144 scale. It is therefore not a model of an aircraft, but an accessory of cast resin. The tires are executed as weighted, with a flattening in the contact patch corresponding to a machine standing on a surface. The designation in the name distinguishes the early execution from the late one, which the maker offers as a separate item.

The real subject

The Concorde is a supersonic airliner developed in French and British cooperation. It has an ogival delta wing, a drooping nose improving the view during the approach and four jet engines placed in paired nacelles under the wing. It flew in regular service from 1976 to 2003 and its cruising speed was around twice the speed of sound. The landing gear is of the nose gear arrangement and the main legs carry multi-wheel bogies. On a model of the Concorde the wheels and the tires are a conspicuous element — the aircraft is practically always built as standing on its landing gear.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts with lukewarm soapy water, so that the mold release agent disappears from the surface. Cut the casting blocks off, do not break them out, and level the surfaces with abrasive paper with protection for your airways. Resin is glued with cyanoacrylate glue. The tires look better in a dark gray, slightly dusty shade than in pure black; paint the wheel rims separately and join them only once they have dried. A fine application of pigment in the contact patch of the tire will lend the impression of contact with the runway.

Who the set is for

• Builders of civil airliners in 1:144 scale
• Modelers who want to get rid of the mold seam and the soft relief of plastic wheels
• Collectors of iconic machines of air transport
• Modelers with experience of resin and cyanoacrylate glue

This is an accessory set for modelers, not a model of an aircraft. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.