1:48 Beufighter Mk.VI/X/21 Mainwheels - Late Wheel Disk / Hexagonal Tread Pattern

The real subject

The Beaufighter is a British twin-engined heavy combat aircraft of the Second World War period with radial engines and a crew of two. It grew out of an earlier torpedo machine and proved itself in two entirely different roles: as a night fighter with radar and as a heavily armed attack aircraft against ships and ground targets. The Mk.VI and Mk.X versions were among the most widespread and the Mk.21 was built in Australia. The landing gear on this machine is massive and clearly visible on a finished model.

What the set offers

The set replaces the main wheels from a kit. It carries the late form of the disk and a tire with a hexagonal tread pattern, that is a pattern made up of regular hexagonal fields. Differences in the disks as well as in the tread pattern changed during production, so the wheel tends to be the detail by which it can be told which machine you are building. The number of pieces in the package and the kit the set is cut for are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

• the parts are not polystyrene and are bonded with super glue, not with cement for plastic models
• cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder
• paint the wheels separately and fit them only after the landing gear bay is painted
• wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint will not hold
• set both wheels in one plane, otherwise the model stands crooked

Terms of supply

The kit of the aircraft, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.