1:72 Yakovlev Yak-3 wheels

Yakovlev Yak-3 wheels (1:72, Armory)

This is a resin wheel set in 1:72 scale for models of the Soviet Yakovlev Yak-3 fighter from the Ukrainian brand Armory. It is not an aircraft kit but a replacement for the landing gear wheels, with a better detailed hub and tread than injection-molded plastic can manage in this scale. The manufacturer does not state tire flattening for this set. Check the contents on the box.

The real subject

The Yak-3 was a Soviet single-engine fighter from the end of the Second World War, derived from the Yak-1 and Yak-9 line. Its designers consistently cut weight and reduced the wing, which produced an exceptionally light and agile machine that excelled in combat at low and medium altitudes. It was powered by a liquid-cooled Klimov V12 engine. The French Normandie-Niemen unit also flew the type. The aircraft had tailwheel landing gear with retractable main legs.

Usage tips

• Wash the parts in warm soapy water before building; mold release residue keeps the paint from adhering.
• Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc, and do not snap the resin.
• Glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue); solvent cement for polystyrene does not hold on resin.
• The easiest way to separate the rim from the tire is a circular mask or narrow masking tape.
• The wheel is small in 1:72 scale, so hold the part in a piece of modeling clay while you cut the gate, to keep it from flying off.

Who the set is for

• collectors finishing a model for a display case
• builders for whom the wheels from the injection-molded sprue are not enough
• builders of Soviet aircraft in 1:72 scale

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.