1:48 Bell P-39 Q Aircobra Wheels under load

Wheels with flattening for the Bell P-39Q Airacobra

An accessory pair of wheels for building a model of the Bell P-39Q Airacobra fighter in 1:48 scale. The tires are shaped the way they look under the weight of a standing aircraft, that is with a flattened contact area.

Why a weighted wheel changes the impression a model makes

A perfectly round wheel gives a model away sooner than anything else. A real aircraft stands on tires that settle where they touch the surface, the sidewalls bulge slightly and the machine gains weight by it. On the Airacobra that shows especially well, because it stands on a nosewheel and holds its whole fuselage level, so both main wheels carry the load evenly and the viewer has them straight in the line of sight.

• Replacement wheels for the Bell P-39Q Airacobra in 1:48 scale
• The tire is shaped with flattening under load
• It gives a model on the ground real weight
• A separate part in place of the wheel molded in the kit
• The flattened area has to face the ground when seated

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the rest smooth, on a wheel best of all by turning it on abrasive paper laid on a flat board. Wash and degrease the surface before gluing and before painting, and choose the glue according to the material of the parts. The most important thing is the seating: the flattened area must point vertically down and the axis of the wheel must be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, otherwise the model stands crooked. Paint the tire dark gray; pure black in this scale looks like a hole. Separate the hub with a circular mask or with a patient brush.

The package contains the wheels named. The kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.