1:48 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress wheels cross tread

1:48 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress — resin wheels with a cross tread pattern

A detail set in cast resin in 1:48 scale from the Czech maker Eduard. It replaces the landing gear wheels of the plastic kit of the B-17F bomber. The cross tread designation refers to the tire tread pattern with crossed grooves, which was used on aircraft of this era and which can hardly be brought out to the necessary crispness in injection-molded plastic. Resin wheels are also usually shaped more faithfully where they meet the ground. The package is an accessory and does not contain the kit itself.

The real subject

The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress was an American four-engine heavy bomber used from 1942. It had retractable landing gear with the main wheels partly hidden in the inboard engine nacelles — part of the tire stayed visible once retracted, so the way they are made shows even on a model built in flight. The tread pattern and the slight deformation of the tire under the weight of the aircraft are among the details judges notice first.

Building and painting tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm water with detergent so that no mold release agent is left on them. Cut the casting block off with a fine saw where it meets the ground, where the cut will not be seen, and level the surface with sandpaper on a flat board. Protect your airways while sanding. It is glued with cyanoacrylate. Painting: the tire is not black but dark gray — pure black looks unnatural in scale. Mask the hub with a circular mask or brush it. Suggest dust and deposits with a light shade applied with a dry brush around the circumference.

Who the set is for

• builders of American Second World War bombers in 1:48 scale
• modelers for whom the smooth plastic wheels from the box are not enough
• those building a model standing on its landing gear
• more experienced builders used to working with resin

The set is an accessory for a plastic kit, not a model or a substitute for one. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.