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

The real subject

The pattern of the tread is one of those details that catch the eye at once on a model of the B-17F Flying Fortress, because the machine stands on its landing gear and the wheels are at the viewer's eye level. An oval tread pattern is made up of elongated pads arranged in rows and is told apart from the other patterns of the period at a glance.

What the set contains

Replacement wheels with an oval tread pattern for a 1:48 model of the B-17F. They take the place of the parts from the kit; how many pieces the package holds, and whether the tire and the hub are separate, is given in the enclosed manufacturer's instructions. The material is not polystyrene, so the parts are glued with cyanoacrylate glue and ordinary cement for plastic will not bond them.

Building and painting tips

Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the rest with fine abrasive paper so that you do not spoil the tread pattern. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting. Dry-fit them on the axle and adjust the seating if necessary so that the wheel stands straight. The order of the steps, and any departures from the kit parts, is described in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

The set is meant for a modeler building the B-17F in 1:48 scale who wants the landing gear more accurate than the kit makes it. Pick the pattern from a photograph of the machine you are building; the manufacturer also makes wheels with a cross and a block pattern, so it pays to track the real aircraft down before buying. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.