1:144 Mikoyan MiG-25 Foxbat Wheels w/Weighted Tyres

MiG-25 wheels with weighted tires 1:144 (Armory)

An accessory set of replacement landing gear wheels for models of the Mikoyan MiG-25 in 1:144 scale. It is not a model of the aircraft but an accessory to an existing kit. The tires are shaped with a flattened contact patch, so that once the model settles onto its base it really does come across as loaded; in a small scale this is one of the few details that lift the impression a finished piece makes straight away.

The real subject

The MiG-25 was a Soviet twin-engine interceptor and reconnaissance aircraft designed for flight at high speed at great altitude. Because of the thermal loads its structure was for a substantial part welded from steel, which showed in the high weight of the machine. The landing gear therefore carried a considerable load and the tires of a standing aircraft were noticeably deformed, exactly as the set shows.

Usage tips

First separate the cast parts from the casting blocks with a fine saw or a cutting knife, and never break them off. Level the remains of the blocks with abrasive paper on a flat surface, so that the wheel sits correctly and the model does not stand crooked. Then wash and degrease the parts, because paint holds badly on an untreated surface. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue applied spot by spot. Lay a thin filler primer on before painting, paint the hubs and the tires separately (you can even make masks or a stencil out of paper) and at the end dust the tire lightly with pigment. Fit the wheels only after the airframe has been painted.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build the MiG-25 in 1:144 scale
• Builders who are not happy with the coarse wheels from the basic kit
• Anyone interested in an aircraft sitting realistically on its base
• More experienced modelers used to working with small castings

The set is an accessory, not a kit on its own. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.