Spitfire Mk.VII to XVI
Four Spoke Main Wheels

SBS Model, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

S.B.S Model is a Hungarian company that specialises in high-quality 1/72, 1/48 and 1/35 accessories.  It also makes a smaller range of 1/35 armour decals and 1/72 mixed-media aircraft kits, such as the Macchi MC 72 that was recently and favourably reviewed here by Luke Pitt.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is this set of 1/72 resin Spitfire mainwheels. Tiny at 7mm (or just over ¼ inch) in diameter, the wheels are beautifully detailed with finely cast hubs, rims and tyres – the latter complete with manufacturer’s logos.  Casting quality is perfect, and the wheels are attached to their casting block with only a thin wafer of resin.

• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

The wheels are the common four-spoke hub design, and S.B.S recommends their use with Spitfire Mk.VII to XVI kits.  No specific kits are recommended, so you should be prepared to do some minor tweaking of the hub attachment points to accommodate different kit undercarriage legs.

Variations in the type of wheels fitted to Spitfires were not uncommon, so you should check your references to confirm the design used on the aircraft you are modelling.  If the four spoke wheels are inappropriate, S.B.S also makes 1/72 three spoke and five spoke wheels that are likely to be of a similarly high quality.

No instructions are included or necessary.

This little set will add a touch of finesse to your next 1/72 Spitfire project – highly recommended.

Thanks to S.B.S Model for the review sample.

References

• Robert Humphreys, The Supermarine Spitfire – A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller.  Part 1:  Merlin Powered (SAM Publications, 2000)

• Spitfire Mk.IX, XI and XVI – Variants Much Varied, http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-mk-ix-xi-and-xvi-variants-much-varied.html

Thanks to SBS Model for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2017 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 14 September, 2017
Last updated 14 September, 2017

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page