1:48 CH-21 Shawnee wheels w/ weighted tyres

Armory 1:48 CH-21 Shawnee – wheels with bulged tires

A resin add-on set of landing gear wheels for the kit of the CH-21 Shawnee helicopter in 1:48. This is not a helicopter model but a replacement for the wheels from the plastic kit. The tires are cast with a bulge where they touch the ground, so the finished model stands on the surface under its own weight and the landing gear does not look stiff.

The real subject

The CH-21 Shawnee was an American transport helicopter with two main rotors in tandem and a characteristically curved fuselage, whose shape earned it the nickname Flying Banana. It carried troops and cargo, other countries used it as well, and in the early period of operations in Southeast Asia it was among the most common machines of its class. It stood on fixed four-wheel landing gear and its tires were markedly loaded under the weight of the machine.

Usage and painting tips

Before building, wash the parts in warm water with dish soap to remove the mold release agent. Cut the casting block off with a fine saw and sand the contact face flat, so that all the wheels stand the same and the fuselage does not lean. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue, and sanded wet and with your airways protected. Apply a primer before painting. Paint the tire a dark gray and add dust and a light wipe on the tread. On machines from field conditions heavier dusting and mud in the tread work well, but keep the shade subdued so that it does not overpower the color of the airframe.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the CH-21 in 1:48
• Builders who want a convincingly loaded landing gear
• Anyone interested in a quick upgrade without rebuilding the model
• Modelers with experience of resin parts

This is an add-on set, not a model kit. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package.