1:48 Avro Lancaster Early Production Wheels With Weighted Tyres - Universal Set

Wheels of the early Lancaster series 1:48 with weighted tires, Armory

A resin set of replacement main landing gear wheels in 1:48 scale, the manufacturer's part number ARAW48422, from the Ukrainian brand Armory. The manufacturer describes it as universal, that is, it is not cut for a single kit. The tires are cast weighted: at the point where they meet the ground they are flattened and slightly bulged to the sides, which gives the model the impression of real weight. Armory carries early, middle and late Lancaster wheels as separate sets, because the rendition of the hub and the tread pattern of the tire changed during production. Choose therefore according to the period your model represents.

The real subject

The Avro Lancaster was a British four-engine night bomber of the RAF, powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engines. It came out of a reworking of the not very successful twin-engine Manchester and from 1942 it became the main heavy bomber of Bomber Command. A long undivided bomb bay made it the only machine that could carry the heaviest British bombs. The landing gear retracted into the nacelles of the inner engines.

Preparation and painting

Separate the casting from the casting block with a saw and level the seating face on abrasive paper laid on a flat support. Degrease the parts before gluing, as resin holds on cyanoacrylate glue. A primer coat is mandatory with resin, otherwise the paint peels easily. Separate the hub and the tire by masking or with a patient brush.

Who the set is for

• builders of the Lancaster in 1:48 from the early part of production
• modelers who want to see the weight of the machine on the wheels
• dioramas on an airfield apron and in the grass
• collectors who are bothered by split plastic wheels with a seam

It is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.