1:144 F-104A/C Starfighter wheels, w/ optional nose wheels, weighted

F-104A and F-104C Starfighter 1:144 – resin wheels from Armory

This is not a model of an aircraft, but an accessory: a set of wheels cast in modeling resin for 1:144 scale. The main wheels have the sagging of the tire cast in, so that the model looks weighted on its base. According to the name the set also offers an optional execution of the nose wheel, so you can choose the variant corresponding to the machine you are building. The maker is Armory.

The real subject

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is an American single-engine supersonic aircraft with a very thin short wing and a slender fuselage, designed with the emphasis on high speed and a fast climb. The F-104A version was the first fighter variant brought into production, and the F-104C was then the form adapted for attacking ground targets as well. Given the thin wing the landing gear is very slim, so its detail is clearly visible on a model.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings with lukewarm soapy water. Cut the casting block off with a saw in the plane of the flattening of the tire and level the surface only lightly by sanding wet with protection for your airways – resin dust is not to be inhaled. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Before choosing the nose wheel, compare the shape with the subject you are building. Paint the tire in dark gray, the wheel rim separately, and add fine dust on the contact surface.

Who the wheels are for

• Modelers who build aircraft in 1:144 scale
• Builders of the F-104A and F-104C versions
• More experienced modelers used to resin
• Collectors who care about a faithful landing gear on a small model

This is a resin accessory, not a model of an aircraft. Glue, paints and the kit are not included in the package. Check the match with your own kit before buying.