Review by: Geoff Coughlin (March 2012)
Products under review
- 48156 RQ-4B Global Hawk Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 Skunk Model MSRP $16.95
- 48157 F8F Landing Gear and Wing Hinges (HB) Replacement for 1:48 HobbyBoss MSRP $16.95
- 48158 F-8 Crusader Landing Gear (RM) Correction for 1:48 Revell/Monogram MSRP $16.95
- 48162 OS2U Kingfisher Landing and Beaching Gear Replacement for 1:48 Monogram MSRP $16.95
- 48163 SBD Dauntless Landing Gear (AcMin) Replacement for 1:48 AcMin/Italeri MSRP $9.95
- 48164 PV-1 Ventura Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 Revell MSRP $16.95
- 48165 T-6A Texan II Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 Ibex Models MSRP $12.95
- 48166 Messerschmitt Me 509 Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 H.B. MSRP $16.95
Our thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) for supplying our review samples.
All SAC products are available in the UK from www.a2zeemodels.com or directly from the manufacturer, as well as numerous reputable Internet retailers.
FROM SAC: “In November 2011 Scale Aircraft Conversions released #48154, a replacement set of white metal landing gear for the 1/48 Great Wall P-61A. It has come to our attention that the nose gear in the Great Wall kit and our set is about 5 mm too short. This seriously affects the final stance of the model. Working with Terry Dean, we have corrected the nose strut and the retraction assembly.
Any customers who have purchased our set containing a nose gear measuring 27 mm are requested to contact us at sacmactexas@aol.com and let us know where and approximately when you purchased your set(s). Please include your mailing address. We will send the replacement parts immediately at no cost.”
Using white metal replacements: A general note
I’m sure that you will be familiar with the extensive range of white metal replacement undercarriage detail parts for aircraft scale models available from Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC).
We have reviewed many of these before and it’s clear that this recent batch are all of similar quality.
Plastic moulding has its limitations (as Clint would say), but SAC have spotted a nice area that is attractive to us scale modellers.
The kit parts are frequently quite flimsy and unstable or unlikely to take the completed model in the long term after we’ve often added extra weight to it, so replacing the kit parts with stronger, sturdier metal replacements can often be an appropriate solution.
The parts from SAC have some flash, but this isn’t an issue, being easy to remove with a scalpel and then sanding sticks and buffers.
You’ll often find that some of the thinner parts such as oleo struts are malformed when you open the package; this is unfortunate. Better packaging would prevent this distortion assuming the parts have been packed at source undamaged. However, all is not lost as they parts can be straightened fairly easily by careful rolling and use of flat headed tweezers or pliers – but go easy!
Some useful information from Ross at SAC…
- As you know, one property of white metal is an inherent degree of malleability which is not found in styrene plastic, polyester resin or harder metals such as zinc or brass alloys. This quality affords the modeller the advantage of being able to “adjust” the angles of the landing gear and wheels once they are firmly cemented in place
- Another benefit of the combined attributes of strength and malleability is revealed when a modeller tackles a kit that requires the landing gear to be installed early in the assembly sequence. In this scenario, plastic kit parts can incur breakage even when handled with caution whereas white metal gear actually becomes a valuable ‘stand’ for the model throughout the subsequent processes (sanding, scribing, painting, etc.) employed until completion of the build
- The malleable nature of white metal can also more than justify its cost should one or more of the legs on a completed model be accidentally ‘bumped’ during handling. The more fragile nature of plastic can easily cause a kit part to snap. On the other hand, white metal will merely bend in like circumstances. A bend can usually be easily fixed when many times a break cannot. Our gear is often purchased by a modeller who has already experienced this problem and is seeking an alternative to purchasing a new kit in order to obtain repair parts.
48156 RQ-4B Global Hawk Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 Skunk Model
This set is designed as a replacement for the Skunk Model kit and will provide a straight replacement. The units on this type are quite delicate and are well moulded in white metal.
Detail is good, with crisply moulded detail on all parts. The long retraction arms are fine and minimal cleaning up of parts will be needed.
48157 F8F Landing Gear and Wing Hinges Replacement for 1:48 HobbyBoss
This set is designed to upgrade/replace the kit parts supplied in the HobbyBoss 1:48 scale kit. This is a sizeable model even in 1:48 scale and so this replacement set is likely to be more attractive than some in the range.
Detail and casting is good, so little cleaning up will be necessary. The white metal parts are stronger than plastic in this instance, especially the main gear legs and the wing-fold hinges.
There’s no distortion to the parts in this set, just some small straightening on very fine projections, but this is easily done – they look sturdy and well moulded.
48158 F-8 Crusader Landing Gear Correction for 1:48 Revell/Monogram
This set is likely to prove very useful because the aircraft is big in this scale and a strong undercarriage is essential. Altogether a better option than a plastic item, this is going to be a useful improvement over the kit parts. Very strong-looking replacement parts.
As with any parts, plastic or white metal, you’ll need to remove the thin mould seams but this is easy enough using an old scalpel blade and some fine sanders/buffers.
48162 OS2U Kingfisher Landing & Beaching Gear Replacement for 1:48 Monogram
This set is designed to upgrade/replace the kit parts supplied in the Monogram 1:48 scale kit. This is an old model, so this replacement set shuold prove popular.
Detail and casting is good, so little cleaning up will be necessary. The white metal parts – like the triangular ‘frame’ – will need straightening and care will be needed when painting and weathering. The parts look sturdy and well moulded.
48163 SBD Dauntless Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 AcMin/Italeri
This set is designed to replace the kit parts supplied in either the Accurate Miniatures or Italeri 1:48 scale kits. Detail and casting is good, so little cleaning up will be necessary.
The parts look sturdy and well moulded, although the model isn’t that large so I’m not sure the additional expense will be well made here.
Having said that, the new replacements are very strong.
48164 PV-1 Ventura Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 Revell
This set is designed to replace the kit parts supplied in either the new Revell 1:48 scale kit. This set is certainly hot off the mark as we have only very recently received the review sample of the kit from Revell!
You’ll see in the image within the Gallery Grid above the kits parts, so you can decide for yourself if it’s necessary to replace those provided by the manufacturer. The kit parts do look nice, if a little delicate, so this set looks like it will make a big difference to the build.
As for the white metal, detail and casting is good, so little cleaning up will be necessary. The parts look sturdy and well moulded and the model is quite large, making the option to use white metal more attractive. The new replacements are very strong.
48165 T-6A Texan II Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 Ibex Models
This set is designed to replace the kit parts supplied in the Ibex Models 1:48 kit. Detail and casting is good, so little cleaning up will be necessary.
The parts look sturdy and well moulded, although the model isn’t that large so I’m not sure the additional expense will be well made here. Having said that, the new replacements look to be very strong.
48166 Messerschmitt Me 509 Landing Gear Replacement for 1:48 HobbyBoss
This set is designed to replace the kit parts supplied in the HobbyBoss 1:48 scale kit. Detail and casting is good, so little cleaning up will be necessary. The parts look sturdy and well moulded and the new replacements look to be very strong.
In summary…
This is a good set of upgrade/replacement parts that in this scale can offer a significant advantage over the plastic kit parts.
Moulding is good and damage minimal, and, as Ross points out this is a strength most of the time as it enables you to bend the part back into position on your model when it might otherwise have snapped off!
You’ll have to decide if you are prepared to bear the additional cost that these products bring. Your call.
Recommended.
Geoff C.