1:48 F-16I Sufa weighted wheels

The real subject

The F-16I Sufa is the Israeli version of the F-16 combat aircraft. In photographs of machines on the ground it is clearly visible that the tires are not perfectly round: under the weight of the aircraft they flatten where they touch the ground and the sidewall of the casing bulges slightly. A model with perfectly circular wheels therefore looks as if it were only touching the ground.

What the set contains

Replacement wheels with bulged tires for a model in 1:48 scale. The flattening is shaped in production, so there is no need for risky sanding of the original wheels, where it is easy to go too far and ruin a wheel. The number of parts and their breakdown are given by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Building and painting tips

The most important thing is the position: the flattened part must face the ground. Fit the wheel dry first, stand the model on a flat board, level the position and only then let the glue set. The parts are not polystyrene, so cement for plastic does not take on them; use cyanoacrylate. Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting. The rims and the casings are easier to paint separately while the parts are still loose; the edge of the rim is then clean and you do not have to rescue it with a brush.

Who it is for

For builders who build a model standing on the ground and want that to show at first glance. The package holds this set only; the model of the aircraft, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.