Eduard F-35B Wheels (648819 for Italeri) 1:48

[Mike]

F-35B Wheels (648819 for Italeri)

1:48 Eduard Brassin

 

 

Kit wheels are generally moulded in two halves, which means you have the resultant joins to deal with, possible mould-slip issues on single part wheels, and sometimes less than stellar detail due to the moulding limitations of styrene injection technology, especially in the tread department.  That's where replacement resin wheels come in, with their lack of seamline and superior detail making a compelling argument.  They are also usually available at a reasonable price, and can be an easy introduction to aftermarket and resin handling, as they are usually a drop-in replacement.

 

 

As usual with Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE), small Brassin and Mask sets, the set arrives in a flat resealable package, with a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between.  Inside are three wheels on separate casting blocks, plus a sheet of kabuki-style masking tape, cut to shape to allow you to cut the demarcations between the tyres and hubs with ease. 

 

 

Detail is superb, with crisp raised Michelin maker’s mark and statistics on the sidewalls, and circumferential tread on the contact band.  They are attached to the casting blocks via the contact patch for ease of removal without ruining any detail, and there is a slight bulge there to depict the weight of the airframe on the tyre.  They are a drop-in replacement for the kit parts, and are patterned specifically for the new 1:48 Italeri kit, but could probably also be adjusted to fit any other F-35B kit you may have on hand.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of