1:24 Supermarine Spitfire wheels w/ weighted tyres of linear pattern & 3-spoke hubs

Three-spoke wheels of the Spitfire in 1:24 scale

The third combination on sale from the Spitfire range that Armory offers in a large format. The tread carries linear ribbing and the hub has three arms. In 1:24 scale such a detail cannot be overlooked, because the wheel forms one of the most striking parts of a standing machine to the eye. The tires are modeled with a compressed contact patch.

The linear tread and the British airfield

British squadrons flew from grass surfaces that softened after rain and turned into mud. The linear ribbing on the tire helped hold the direction during the takeoff run and at the same time pushed the dirt out by itself. The three-spoke hub was an older and lighter solution; as the weight of the machine grew, more robust variants with a higher number of arms gradually replaced it. The wheel thus indirectly reveals which phase of the career your model comes from.

A detail that shows

Before fitting, check that both main wheels seat symmetrically, as otherwise the model stands visibly crooked in the display case. The ribbing of the tread stands out when, after the base tone has dried, it is gone over with a dry brush with a somewhat lighter color. The arms of the hub, on the other hand, can take a darker shadow where they pass into the rim.

Suitable for a collection

• builders of British fighters in a large format
• anyone interested in the older form of the landing gear wheels
• modelers who are building a machine standing at an airfield
• everyone who wants perfect running gear without alterations