1:48 A-4 Skyhawk Wheels

The real subject

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a small carrier attack aircraft of the US Navy and Marine Corps that stayed in service for decades and also flew with a number of foreign users. Operating from the deck of an aircraft carrier meant rough treatment for the landing gear, which is why the wheels are sturdy and clearly visible on a model.

What the set contains

Landing gear wheels for an A-4 Skyhawk model in 1:48 scale, intended as a replacement for the parts from the kit. The gain is a crisper tire tread and a cleaner shape of the hub. The material is not polystyrene, so make the joint with super glue; cement for plastic models will not join these parts.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the remainder down with fine abrasive paper. Then wash and degrease the parts so that the paint holds. When painting, it helps to spray the whole wheel in the tire shade and then mask the hub with a circular mask or paint it in with a brush. Dust on the landing gear tends to be pronounced on carrier machines, so light highlighting with dry pigment suits the real subject.

Who it is for

The set is for a modeler building the Skyhawk in 1:48 scale who wants the landing gear crisper than the plastic offers. Before gluing the wheels in, check dry that the model stands level and that the wheel pin seats into the fork without strain.

The package holds only the parts named. The model, paints, glue and masking material are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.