1:32 Saab 35 Draken wheel set

The real subject

The Saab 35 Draken is a Swedish supersonic fighter with a double delta wing: the leading edge is kinked into two different angles, so the plan view resembles a drawn bow. The Swedish Air Force intended it to operate from dispersed sites away from large bases, including stretches of road. The landing gear therefore had to take hard touchdowns and a short rollout, and that shows in its structure.

What the set contains

Replacement wheels for a Draken model in 1:32 scale. The parts are resin and are fitted in place of the wheels from the kit. In 1:32 scale the landing gear is a large and clearly visible part of the model, which a viewer at a display case has at eye level, so it is worth spending time on it.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a short distance from the part and sand the remainder carefully so that the shape of the tire is preserved. Resin is not polystyrene and cement for plastic has no effect on it, so use cyanoacrylate glue. Clean the hole for the axle out with a drill and fit the wheel dry first. Wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint flakes off during handling. Do not spray the tire pure black; a gray-black tone looks more faithful in scale. Separate the hub from the tire with masking tape or a template stuck down before spraying. The particular procedure for preparing the parts is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Draken in a large scale and want the landing gear more finely worked than the kit parts allow. A model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.