1:48 F-4B/N Phantom II landing gear with weighted wheels set for Hasegawa kit

Landing gear for the Hasegawa Phantom

An accessory landing gear set for models of the naval Phantoms F-4B and F-4N in 1:48 scale, cut for the Hasegawa kit. It replaces the landing gear legs and the wheels from the kit with finished parts whose tires are in the weighted form, that is with a flattening where they touch the ground.

Why it is worth replacing the landing gear

On a model on display the landing gear is at eye level and carries its whole weight. Injection-molded legs are usually split into halves, so the joint has to be sanded on them, and the small lines and rods on them disappear. A finished part has them drawn out and in one piece. A weighted wheel then adds the last piece of the impression: the tire of a standing aircraft settles into a flat patch at the bottom and the model stops pretending that it is floating a little above the ground.

Building and painting tips

• These parts are not polystyrene, use super glue to bond them.
• Glue the wheels on with the flattening toward the ground, and check the orientation dry beforehand.
• Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remainder down.
• Wash and degrease the parts before painting; the particular procedure is given in the maker's instructions.
• Let the model dry on a flat board, so that it sits on all its wheels evenly.

Who the set is for

For modelers who are building the Phantom F-4B or F-4N in 1:48 scale from Hasegawa and want the landing gear finished as well as the rest of the model. As it is a load-bearing part, builders of heavier models with accessories will appreciate the set as well. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package unless stated otherwise.