1:72 Airbus A319 wheels set

Airbus A319 — wheel set 1:72 (Reskit)

An add-on resin wheel set for building a model of the Airbus A319 airliner in 1:72 scale. It replaces the kit wheels with parts that have a more accurate tire profile and a more legibly rendered hub. It is not an aircraft model — the kit itself has to be obtained separately. The number of parts in the package is given on the packaging of the set.

The real subject

The Airbus A319 is a shortened version of the narrow-body A320 family. It shares most of the structure, the systems and the flight deck with it, and differs mainly in the shorter fuselage and therefore the smaller passenger capacity. Operators put it on shorter and less busy routes, where a full A320 does not pay off. The landing gear is of the nosewheel type, retractable, with twin-wheel legs — on a model in this scale it is a very conspicuous part.

Usage tips

Airliners are weathered differently from military vehicles. The landing gear of airline machines tends to be maintained and fairly clean, so keep it restrained: a base matte shade on the tire, a gentle darkening around the hub from brake dust and only a hint of grime on the sidewalls. Overdone rust and mud look unconvincing on a civil aircraft. Paint the hub separately after masking the tread. Wash the parts in warm water with dish soap before painting and apply a primer. Cut the casting block off with a fine-toothed saw, level the surface on abrasive paper and glue the parts on with super glue.

Who the set is for

• Builders of civil airliners who want to take a model further in detail.
• Modelers bothered by the soft profile and the parting line on the kit wheels.
• Those who build a model for a display case with restrained weathering.
• Modelers with experience of resin and super glue.

This is an accessory, not a complete kit. It is supplied unpainted; paints, glue and the base model are not included in the package.