1:72 FH-1 Phantom Mainwheels and Nosewheel for Special hobby kit

The real subject

The McDonnell FH-1 Phantom was a carrier jet fighter of the US Navy from the second half of the 1940s. It entered the history of aviation as the first jet machine to take off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier and to return to the deck as well, and so opened the way for jets into naval aviation. It served only briefly, but its smooth, simply shaped silhouette makes it a rewarding subject that modelers keep coming back to.

What the set contains

This is an add-on set of wheels: main wheels and a nosewheel in 1:72 scale, meant as a replacement for the parts from the Special Hobby kit. Wheels are among the parts where a replacement shows most, because on a finished model they are at the viewer's eye level and carry a distinct tire and rim shape. The exact number of parts and the recommended way of fitting them are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene; they are glued with cyanoacrylate. Cut any excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder down, so that the seating surface stays flat. Wash and degrease the wheels before painting and apply a primer. Do not spray the tire pure black; a dark gray shade with a slight lightening on the crown looks more natural. Separate the rim with a circular mask or paint it on its own before gluing it in place. If the wheels have a weighted flat molded in, turn the flat toward the base and check before the glue sets that the model stands straight.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who are building the model mentioned and want to improve a part that is visible at first glance. The kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.