F-14A Wheels Late
for Tamiya kit

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Marcus Thornley

Eduard's 1/48 BRASSIN F-14A Late Wheels are available online from Squadron.com

Long the US Navys poster aircraft it has since been retired and replaced by the Hornet in its now many various guises. Never truly superseded it was a victim of budgets and politics. Now this iconic and powerful fighter is in (perhaps limited) service only with Irans IRIAF.

Follow this Wikipedia link for comprehensive details on the Tomcat

Packaged in the standard 2 piece blister with the instructions as the header card this package is much the same as all the Brassin sets in overall appearance.
The wheels that are packaged inside are to detail the superb Tamiya kit Brett built here.

The wheels when complete are a drop fit item for the kits wheels. Note these are specified as the late wheels for the F-14A so should only be used for aircraft carrying them, check your references. There is also a set of early configuration wheels if you should require them.

  
All castings on my set were perfectly cast in the standard grey Brassin resin. The main wheels have a slight weighting effect on them the twin fronts do not.

Then it comes to removing the pieces from their respective casting block some care is required. A razor saw I would suggest as being the correct tool. The main wheels have a large circular poor stub and a web running parallel with the ribs. The fronts are smaller version of the same. The hub and brake pieces are pared up on a block, with these a little care as you finish the cut will prevent the saw carrying across and damaging the other piece still waiting to be removed.

With Brassin wheel sets I have used before a small bench vice has helped to hold the casting blocks while sawing. Not strictly necessary but it does prevent the tips of your fingers going numb while you are holding onto the casting block. As you dress down the cut face of brake and hub detail, do ensure it stays parallel to the exposed face. These pieces are keyed to the tyre and the hub is keyed to the Tamiya gear leg axel so with no effort at all the weighted section of the tyre will down, neat.

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As is Eduards practice the painting instructions call out Gunzie colours from the Aqueous and Mr. Color ranges. The instructions call out the assembly steps and show the masking useage with respect to painting. In essence the wheels where required are assembled unpainted. The tyre black is first applied and once dry the masks. Then the hub and brake colours applied followed by washing or detailing as you prefer.

They may then of course be fitted to your model when required

A very noticeable improvement over the standard of injected plastic items. Recommended for the Tamiya kit where the later type of wheels are required.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2017 by Marcus Thornley
Page Created 3 July, 2017
Last updated 3 July, 2017

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