1:72 Hawker Hurricane wheels set early type

Hawker Hurricane wheel set, early type, 1:72 (Reskit)

This item is not a kit but a resin detail accessory. The set replaces the landing gear wheels in a plastic kit of the British Hawker Hurricane fighter in 1:72 scale and matches the early type of wheel. The manufacturer offers the later versions as items of their own, so take care when choosing which variant you need for the machine you are building. Resin castings keep a more legible tire tread pattern and hub detail than can be reliably molded in plastic.

The real subject

The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter of mixed construction, with a fuselage of steel tubes covered in fabric and sheet metal. It had wide-track landing gear that retracted into the wing inward toward the fuselage, which gave it good behavior when operating from grass surfaces. During its service the type went through a number of modifications, among them changes over time to the design of the landing gear wheels, so choosing the right type matters for a faithful model.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent, so that the mold release agent is removed. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc, and do not snap them off. Level the cut with a file and a sanding sponge, ideally wet and with respiratory protection. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue. A dark gray shade suits the tires better than pure black. On an aircraft operated from a grass surface it pays to dust the wheels lightly with pigment at the end, suggesting clogging with mud and dust.

Who the set is for

• builders of British aircraft in 1:72 scale
• modelers who want to tell the early and the later wheels apart precisely
• more experienced builders used to working with resin
• display case models with the landing gear extended

This is not an aircraft model but an accessory for one. The parts are supplied unpainted; the base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.