1:72 P-39 Airacobra Wheels and Front Leg

Wheels and front leg for the P-39 Airacobra, 1:72

An add-on set of wheels and the nose landing gear leg for a model of the American P-39 fighter in 1:72 scale. It is not an aircraft model, only replacement parts. The P-39 was among the first fighters with a nose landing gear, so the front leg is a shape-defining element that stands in plain view on the model and cannot be hidden.

What it is for

• Replacing the plastic wheels with a finer part with a crisper tread pattern.
• A more accurate shape and breakdown of the nose landing gear leg.
• Removing the mold parting line that runs across the tread on a plastic wheel.
• Repairing a model with a damaged wheel or a broken-off leg.

Building and painting tips

Cut the parts from the casting blocks with a fine saw and sand the cut face smooth. Wash the resin in lukewarm soapy water before painting. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). The nose leg carries a substantial part of the weight of the model when it stands, so reinforce the joint with a wire pin glued into a pre-drilled hole. The tire is not black but rather a very dark gray, and once painted it comes alive with dust on the tread.

Who the set is for

• Builders of American fighters in 1:72 scale.
• Modelers who are bothered by the mold parting line across the tread.
• Anyone repairing finished models with a broken landing gear leg.

The set contains only the parts listed. Glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.