1:72 Su-17/22 wheels set

The real subject

The Su-17 and its export version the Su-22 are Soviet ground-attack aircraft with a variable-geometry wing, that is with a fixed inner section and pivoting outer panels. They served in a whole range of countries including Czechoslovakia and are among the perennially popular subjects. This is a heavy machine that also took off from improvised surfaces, so the landing gear and the wheels are conspicuous on it and draw attention on a model at once.

What the set solves

In a plastic kit the wheels tend to be the part where the age of the mold shows first: the tread pattern is soft, the lettering on the tire is missing and the rim tends to have only suggested shapes. Replacement wheels remove this weak spot and bring a sharper tread pattern and clearer detail on the rim. On a finished model this is one of the few changes that are visible even from a distance, because the wheels are the first thing a viewer sees when looking at an aircraft on the ground.

Usage tips

• Try the wheels dry before gluing and carefully drill any hole for the axle out to the diameter needed.
• Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remnant down.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting, otherwise the paint will not hold on the surface.
• Paint the tire and the rim separately; it is worth masking the transition between them.
• Choose the glue and the exact assembly procedure according to the material of the parts and according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Terms of supply

This is an add-on set for a kit. The model, paints and glue do not belong to it, unless stated otherwise. Check the exact kit the wheels are shaped for against the manufacturer's data.