1:72 Mikoyan MiG-15bis Fagot (late) / MiG-17 Fresco wheels w/ weighted tires

Wheels for the late MiG-15bis and the MiG-17 Fresco in 1:72 scale (Armory)

This cast resin set replaces the landing gear wheels during a build. It is an accessory, not a kit of the aircraft. What makes it interesting is that it covers two related types at once: the late MiG-15bis and the MiG-17. If you are building both subjects, the set can be bought once and what you learn from the first build used again for the second. The tires are made with the compression caused by the weight of the aircraft.

The real subject

The MiG-15 was a Soviet jet fighter of the late 1940s; the bis version received a more powerful engine and a range of changes. The MiG-17 grew out of it in design terms, differing mainly in a revised wing with a greater sweep angle and a lengthened fuselage. Both types were built in large numbers and under license as well, and they have many design features in common, the landing gear included.

Fitting and painting tips

Wash the castings, cut off the casting blocks and level the surfaces. Orient the deformed part of the tire square to the base. On machines with a light lower fuselage it is a good idea to paint the wheel separately and fit it only after the model has been finished, otherwise you will waste time masking the surroundings. We recommend a dark gray for the tire with a light touch of dust; paint the hub according to the particular machine and emphasize the transition with a dark wash that runs into the groove around the hub.

Who the set is for

• builders of early Soviet jet hardware in 1:72 scale
• modelers who are building the MiG-15bis as well as the MiG-17
• anyone interested in a faithful stance for the model on its base
• users accustomed to working with small resin parts

The set is a modeling accessory, not a model of the aircraft. It is supplied unpainted and without glue; the base kit is not included in the package.