1:35 SPARE STEEL WHEELS FOR M46/47/48/60/103/ T54 FAMILY, TYPE 1

Spare steel wheels, type 1, 1:35

A resin accessory for tracked equipment in 1:35 scale from the manufacturer Elefant. These are steel wheels of the type 1 version, of the kind carried by vehicles of the M46, M47, M48, M60, M103 and T-54 family. It is not a vehicle model but separate wheels with which you replace the plastic parts on a model or add a spare wheel stowed on the hull. The number of pieces in the package is stated on the box.

Painting wheels is a discipline of its own

A wheel is made up of two materials with completely different behavior. The metal hub is smooth, it rubs to a sheen on the edges and quickly picks up rust where it is scuffed. The rubber tire is matte, dusty and in scale it never looks good when painted pure black. The proven approach is to spray the whole wheel in the shade of the vehicle, repaint the tire a very dark gray with a brown admixture and finally suggest wear on the outer edge of the hub with a dry brush. It is precisely the distinction between these two surfaces that is the main reason for buying detailed wheels at all.

Building tips

First wash the castings in warm water with detergent, otherwise mold release agent will stay on them and the primer will peel. Separate them from the casting block with a fine-toothed saw and level the surface on abrasive paper laid on glass. Check dry that the hub seats on its pin. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue; plastic cement will not join resin. Sand wet and with your airways protected; resin dust does not belong in your lungs.

Who the set is for

• builders of postwar tracked equipment in 1:35 scale
• modelers who want a legible difference between metal and rubber
• anyone after a spare wheel stowed on a vehicle
• more experienced builders used to working with resin

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package.