1:48 F-16I Sufa weighted wheels (GY production)

Wheels with flattening for the F-16I Sufa

A replacement set of wheels for a model of the Israeli F-16I Sufa fighter in 1:48 scale. The tires have a flattening suggested where they meet the ground, so a model set down on its landing gear looks as though the weight of the whole machine were resting on the wheels. The letters GY in the name set apart one of the tire variants that appear on the real aircraft.

The real subject

The F-16I Sufa is the Israeli two-seat version of the F-16, derived from the F-16D variant. It is told apart from the American pattern above all by the enlarged dorsal spine behind the cockpit, which took the additional equipment. The word Sufa means storm in Hebrew. On aircraft of this class the wheels are a rewarding detail: the tire is visibly compressed on the contact face under the weight of the machine and the rim tends to have finer division than the parts from an ordinary kit offer.

What to keep in mind

• the flattened face of the tire has to point down toward the ground when fitted
• before you glue the parts on for good, stand the model dry and check that it stands level
• the set deals only with the wheels, the rest of the landing gear stays from the kit
• the tire variants differ on the real aircraft, so compare them with a photograph of the particular machine

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene, so solvent cement for plastic will not join them; use cyanoacrylate glue. Cut the surplus material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest away carefully so that the shape is not damaged. Before painting, wash the parts in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent and let them dry; primer holds considerably better on a degreased surface. The exact way to prepare them is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

A set of wheels is supplied. The model, the paints and the glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.