1:48 Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress wheels with block tread the pattern

The real subject

The tires of large American bombers of the Second World War differed not only in size but also in the pattern of the tread. A block tread is made up of rectangular pads separated by grooves, and on a model it reads even from a distance, because the wheel of the B-17F stayed partly exposed in the inner engine nacelle once the gear was retracted.

What the set contains

Replacement wheels for a 1:48 model of the B-17F with a block tread pattern, meant to take the place of the parts from the kit. The number of pieces in the package, and whether the hub and the tire are separate, is given in the enclosed manufacturer's instructions. The parts are not polystyrene, so they are glued with cyanoacrylate glue; modeling cement for plastic will not hold on them.

Building and painting tips

Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part, sand the rest with fine abrasive paper and take care not to rub away the tread pattern. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting. Check how the axle seats by dry-fitting it and adjust it if necessary so that the wheel sits in the right position. The detailed procedure is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

The set is for a modeler who picks the tread pattern from a photograph of a particular machine, and equally for anyone who simply wants a crisper pattern than a kit part offers. The manufacturer also makes versions with a cross and an oval pattern, so check which one you need before buying. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.