1:35 Scammel Pionier Road wheels (Firestone)

The real subject

The Scammell Pioneer is a British heavy vehicle with drive on the rear axles which served in several forms during the Second World War: as an artillery tractor, as a recovery vehicle and as a tractor for the lowboy semi-trailer that hauled damaged tanks away. The machine was meant to carry a load even in deep mud, which its sturdy running gear with massive wheels matches, and those wheels are clearly visible on the model from every side.

What the set offers

Replacement wheels in 1:35 scale with a tread that follows the tire brand given in the name. The tread pattern is carried right around the circumference, so there is no need to correct flat spots and the broken pattern that comes with kit parts because of the joint between the two halves. Vehicles of this kind ran with tires of several origins, so the choice of tread is one of the details that bring a model closer to one particular subject in a period photograph.

Building tips

Dry fit the mounting first and take up any play by sanding the stub axle, not the wheel. The material of the parts is not stated here, so choose the glue according to what they are made of; on parts that are not polystyrene ordinary modeling cement will not hold and the joint should be made with super glue. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting. All the wheels have to stand in the same plane, otherwise the vehicle visibly limps on the base; on the doubled wheels of the rear axle watch the alignment as well.

• a set of replacement wheels in 1:35 scale
• the subject is the British Scammell Pioneer heavy vehicle
• the tread matches the tires of the brand given in the name
• the tread pattern is carried right around the circumference
• dry fit the mounting and degrease the parts before painting

Terms of supply

The vehicle model, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.