1:48 F-35A wheels

Eduard 1:48 F-35A wheels

A resin wheel set for a model of the Lockheed Martin F-35A in 1:48 scale. It is not an aircraft kit but an accessory with which the wheels from the plastic mold are replaced. Wheels are among the parts where the mold seam in the middle of the tire is hardest to remove, because it runs straight across the tread; a resin casting is in one piece and that problem falls away. Check the number of parts on the box.

The real subject

The F-35A is the version of the Lightning II with conventional takeoff and landing from a runway, intended for the air force. Alongside it there are the B version with short takeoff and vertical landing and the C version for operation from an aircraft carrier. Each of them has its landing gear arranged differently, including the dimensions and design of the wheels, so the set for the A version is not interchangeable with the sets for the B and C versions. A separate set is therefore made for each version.

Building and painting tips

Wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent to free them of mold release agent. On wheels the casting blocks are usually placed on the contact face of the tire, where they show least once cut off and sanded; sanding can be done wet, and protect your airways while doing it. They are bonded with super glue. Apply a primer before painting. Do not make the tire black but rather dark gray, otherwise it looks flat on a model. It is more comfortable to paint the hub and the tire separately, or to mask the edge of the hub.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the F-35A Lightning II in 1:48 scale.
• Modelers bothered by the mold seam across the tread of plastic wheels.
• Those who want to fine-tune the landing gear of a display model as well.
• A quick improvement in detail without altering the structure of the model.

This is an accessory, not a kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.