1:48 Sukhoj Su-25 Frogfoot wheels w/ weighted tires & mudguard

Armory 1:48 Su-25 Frogfoot wheels with weighted tires and a mudguard

A set of replacement wheels in 1:48 scale for a model of the Sukhoi Su-25 ground-attack aircraft from Armory. It is not an airplane model but an accessory that replaces the wheels from the plastic kit. The larger scale means that more is visible on the wheel: the tread pattern, the lettering on the sidewall and the shape of the rim, and the compression of the tire is noticeably more striking on the finished model than in smaller scales. According to the manufacturer's marking the nose-wheel mudguard is included as well. Check what exactly the package contains on the box.

The real subject

The Su-25 came about as the Soviet answer to the need for an aircraft for close support of ground troops. The design bet on toughness instead of speed: an armored cockpit, separated fuel systems and the ability to bring a damaged machine home. The aircraft operated from field airstrips close to the front line, for which it had tough landing gear with low-pressure tires and mudguards. Its use in Afghanistan in the 1980s showed both its strengths and its weaknesses and led to progressive thickening of the armor and to further versions that serve to this day.

Use and tips

• Level the contact area of the wheel on a sanding pad once the casting block is cut off
• Degrease the resin before painting, otherwise the paint holds badly
• In 1:48 scale it is worth bringing out the tread pattern with a dry brush
• Paint the rim and add any lettering before the wheel goes into the landing gear leg

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the Su-25 in 1:48 scale
• Builders who want to get the most out of the detail of the larger scale
• Modelers with experience of resin castings

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