1:48 Folland Gnat T.1 wheel set

The real subject

The Folland Gnat T.1 was a British two-seat jet trainer. It grew out of a small, light fighter as its training version, and the Royal Air Force used it for advanced pilot training. It is best known thanks to the Red Arrows aerobatic team, which flew it from the mid-1960s. On such a small aircraft the landing gear with its wheels makes up a prominent part of the silhouette of a parked machine.

What the set contains

The set replaces the landing gear wheels with separate parts for 1:48 scale. The hubs have a drawn-out outline and raised detail, the tires a readable surface. The parts are made for Gnat T.1 models; with a particular kit, check the diameter of the wheel and of the stub it fits onto beforehand and try them dry.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene, so bond them with super glue. Cut the surplus material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand off the rest so that the round outline of the tire is preserved. Before painting, wash and degrease the wheels, otherwise the paint may not take. Spraying the tire and the hub separately and touching up the line between them with a brush has proved itself. Fit the wheels only after the underside of the model has been painted, while you can still reach it. The exact way to prepare the parts is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Who it is for

The set will please modelers of British postwar aircraft and builders of display machines, where the model usually stands on a base and everyone looks closely at the landing gear. The swap calls for no changes to the structure of the model, so even a less experienced builder can manage it.

The package contains only the parts described. The kit, paints and glue are not part of it, unless stated otherwise.