1:48 A-26B/C (B-26B/C) Invader wheels & paint masks late - diamond pattern

Aires 1:48 A-26B/C (B-26B/C) Invader – wheels and masks, late version

Resin wheels in 1:48 scale with paint masks enclosed, for a model of the Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft in the B and C versions (later designated B-26B and B-26C). This item presents the late form of the wheels with a diamond tread pattern; the manufacturer keeps the early variant as a separate set. It is not a kit – the castings replace the plastic wheels from the base model.

Why change wheels for resin ones

A wheel is one of the few parts on a model where a sharp tread, fine lettering on the sidewall and deep engraving on the hub all come together. An injection mold manages that only up to a point and moreover splits the wheel with a seam around the whole circumference, which has to be sanded away – and part of the tread goes with it. A casting deals with both: the surface is finished and the only area to be worked is the casting block.

Usage tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm water with detergent. Cut the casting block off and sand the surface back wet so that the wheel seats square to the gear leg – a wheel standing at an angle is what shows most on a finished model. Sand with protection for your airways and glue with super glue. Stick the masks onto the dried paint of the tire, spray the hub over and take the mask off while the coat is fresh; overruns then have no time to form. For the tire, choose a dark gray shade rather than pure black.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the Invader in the late configuration of landing gear wheels.
• Modelers who want a sharp tread without the seam left by an injection mold.
• Those who do not want to mask the tire-to-hub transition with tape.
• Builds with the landing gear extended, where the wheels are clearly visible.

The set is an accessory for a kit, not a model in its own right. It is supplied unpainted, and paints and glue are not included in the package.