1:144 Sukhoj Su-24 Fencer wheels w/ weighted tires, late

Armory 1:144 - Su-24 Fencer wheels with weighted tires, late version

This product is not a model but a detail set. The resin wheels replace the landing gear wheels from the plastic kit of the Su-24 bomber in 1:144 scale. The tires are cast with a weighted contact patch and the release corresponds to the late batches of the machine.

The real subject

The Su-24 is a twin-engine two-seat combat aircraft of Soviet design with a variable-geometry wing. It is built to operate from lower-quality runways, which is reflected in its sturdy landing gear. The treatment of the wheels and the tires differed between the early and the late batches, which is why the castings are made in two versions; this one is intended for late machines.

Usage tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm water with dish soap and let them dry, and only then spray the primer. In a small scale, painting the wheels goes fastest with masking: spray the whole wheel in the shade of the tire, cut a circle the diameter of the rim out of a disc of self-adhesive masking film and spray the metal through it. Anyone who does not want to cut can work the other way round and finish the rim freehand with a fine brush, because in 1:144 scale the area is small and a slight inaccuracy will disappear. Do not breathe the resin dust from sanding; sand wet instead. They are attached with cyanoacrylate glue, which should be applied to the plastic gear leg with the tip of a wire so that it does not run onto the surrounding surfaces. Before it cures, check that the flattened contact patch sits on its whole area and that the wheel is not skewed.

Who the set is for

• Builders of combat aircraft in 1:144 scale
• Modelers building late versions of the Su-24
• Modelers who want a sagged contact patch instead of a perfectly round tire
• Builders used to working with resin

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