1:72 A.W. Argosy wheels w/ weighted tires, early version

Early-version wheels in 1:72 for the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, Armory

A resin set of replacement wheels in 1:72 scale, the manufacturer's part number ARAW72422, from the Ukrainian brand Armory. The manufacturer lists it as the early version, that is for machines from the first part of the service life; the later version of the wheels differs and forms a set of its own. The tires are cast weighted, with a flattened contact patch and a slightly bulged sidewall. It is a detail accessory for a finished kit, not an airplane model and not a main part of one.

The real subject

The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, listed as the AW.660 type, was a British transport aircraft with a high-mounted wing, twin tail booms and four Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines. The cargo hold had doors at both ends, so it could be loaded straight through. It flew in civil transport and with the RAF, where it served to carry freight and paratroops. Among the crews it earned a nickname, thanks to the piercing sound of the engines and its unusual shape, that caught on better than the type designation.

Preparation and painting

Wash the resin parts first in lukewarm soapy water and separate the casting blocks by cutting, not by snapping them. Glue with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Apply a primer before the paint; on a transport aircraft it is worth setting the rim apart from the tire, because the landing gear shows well against a light finish.

Who the set is for

• builders of British transport aircraft in 1:72
• modelers building the Argosy in the early version
• dioramas with loading on the apron
• builders for whom a plastic wheel with a seam is not enough

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