1:48 Lockheed F-117 "Nighthawk" wheels set

The real subject

The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a single-seat subsonic attack aircraft built around a single requirement: to be as hard as possible for radar to detect. That is where its faceted shape made up of flat panels comes from, which has no parallel in aviation. It was powered by two turbofan engines without afterburners, and its service with the US Air Force ended in 2008. On a black aircraft the landing gear is one of the few places where other colors appear, and so it draws attention to itself.

What the set contains

A set of replacement wheels for an F-117 model in 1:48 scale. It replaces the wheels supplied in the kit and is intended for finishing the landing gear. The parts are not polystyrene, plastic cement has no effect on them and they are joined with super glue. Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the cut smooth with fine sandpaper, keeping an eye on the round shape of the tire. The detailed procedure is given in the maker's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Wash and degrease the parts before painting. It is worth setting the tire and the hub apart in color, otherwise the whole landing gear will merge into the dark aircraft. A dark gray tone with a lighter dry brush on the sides suits the tire. If the wheel is molded with a flat spot, turn the flat toward the ground and, before the glue sets, check that the model does not sit crooked.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the F-117 in 1:48 scale and want the landing gear to match the level of the rest of the model. The kit of the aircraft, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.