Ultracast Mosquito Wheels (5 types) - 1:48

[Mike]

Mosquito Wheels (5 types)
1:48 Ultracast

Ultracast are a well-known Canadian aftermarket company that produce top-quality resin, as well as stocking a range of items from a number of other companies. This month sees them release a gaggle of resin replacement wheels for pretty much all 1:48 De Havilland Mosquitoes, with a variety of tread and hub patterns that should cater for most needs. Casting is first rate, and detail is very crisp indeed, with only a small casting gate to cut through to liberate the wheels from their blocks, which is situated on the very slightly bulged and flattened weighted bottom. A pair of triangular support "wings" are there to assist with casting and the easy removal of bubbles, and there is a little bit of clean-up needed where this intersects the tread pattern.

The five types are as follows:

Spoked wheels, block tread
Spoked wheels, diamond tread
Standard wheels, Australian Z-block tread
Standard wheels, block tread
Standard wheels, diamond tread

Tread patterns are very well done, and all but the Australian tyres have Goodyear logos, plus tyre data on all sets. The spoked hubs are heavily cut-out to give the illusion of depth, and they even have tiny valve cut-outs with an almost invisible valve cap projecting from the rim. Some very good casting, to be sure!

Conclusion
These sets give the Mosquito modeller a great way to both improve the look of their model, in the Revell kit's case do something about the over-large wheels, and add a little individualism to the finished model. Quality is very good, and once the casting block has been removed they are a drop-in replacement for the kit parts.

Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Troy Smith]

Hi Mike

nice photos.

I posted a thread up a while back pointing out how NO 1/48 Mosquito tyres are accurate, http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234944213-mosquito-tyres-in-148th-are-any-accurate/?hl=%2Bmosquito+%2Btyres

So these are a really useful item.

In photos I looked at when researching the above thread the only ones I have seen have the Standard block tread, I don't know what the Diamond tread pattern was used on [Canadian? ] and I presume the Australian ones are only for the Australian built planes?

No info that I can see on the Ultracast site as to use.

As for getting Ultracast, well, post from Canada is painful for even a couple of items, and then dicing with import charges on a larger order,

so a quick FYI that 3D models seem to be the cheapest place to get Ultracast in the UK, note £1.50 flat post rate.

http://www.3d-kits.c...index&cPath=2_4

If items are not in stock Stewart orders on a regular basis so just ask for items.

HTH

T