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White Metal Replacement Undercarriages

Scale Aircraft Conversions
1/48, 1/72 and 1/144 scales

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number

14406

B747-800

72045

F-14

48178

Ta-154

48177

P-51

48179

F9F

48180

T-50B

Contents and media

White metal replacement parts

Scale

1/144

1/72

1/48

1/48

1/48

1/48

Price: from SAC

Also available from Squadron, and

Lucky Model

USD$16.95

USD$14.95

USD$16.95

USD$12.95

USD$14.95

USD$16.95

Review Type

First Look

Advantages:

Strength over plastic kit parts, without the brittleness of plastic.

Disadvantages:

A different medium to what the average modeller may use.

Recommendation:

Recommended to modellers with a minimum of a moderate level of experience.

Reviewed by Phil Parsons

Also see Brett Green’s Previous SAC review


HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

FirstLook


There are many reasons why you may choose to go down the path of using SAC metal replacement products:

  1. You are worried about the weight of the aircraft and how the plastic landing gear will survive over time. I know most people think of using SAC products for 1/32 and 1/24 due to weight, which is true, but don’t forget that a 1/144 scale 747 will put a lot of stress on the plastic gear, hence why SAC also produce conversion replacements in all scales.

  2. The white metal casting process has advantages over plastic. Forks for nose wheels/tail wheels can be cast as single piece with added strength as is the case with the Ta 154 Moskito.

  3. As Brett pointed out in a previous review, the white metal has more give, allowing a small amount of movement to allow some massaging of the landing gear so that all wheels sit flat.

  4. There are errors in the kit landing gear and SAC provides corrections to the kit plastic.

  5. Finally, you have managed to bust up the landing gear on a completed model and you are looking at trying to save a treasured model in your display cabinet.

In all cases you need to do your homework, look at the plastic kit and then at the SAC website, to see the benefits that white metal will bring to your next build.

 

  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
  • SAC White Metal Undercarriage Review by Phil Parsons: Image
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The individual review kits:

1/144 scale

4406 Boeing 747-800 landing gear for Zvezda

Replaces kit parts


 

1/72 scale

72045 F-4(SIC) Tomcat Landing gear, for 1/72 Hobby Boss

Replaces kit parts


 

1/48 scale

48178 Ta 154 Moskito landing gear (for Revell/ Monogram, DML)

I do not know much about this aircraft, but after some research the replacement metal covers Ta 154 V4 (and later) aircraft nose gear. With some modifications it looks possible to achieve V3 and earlier.

48177 P-51 Mustang landing gear for Hasegawa

Replaces kit parts.

48179 F9F Panter (SIC) landing gear for 1/48 Trumpeter

As well as a direct replacement for the landing gear the great thing about this set is the white metal wing fold parts, these are a direct replacement when you intend to display your Panther with the wings folded.

48180 ROKAF T-50B Landing gear for 1/48 Academy

Replaces kit parts.

 



Conclusion

 

As with a lot of aftermarket, they all have their niches and Scale Aircraft Conversion aims to provide white metal replacements for the kit supplied plastic. The reasons for going down this path are varied and up to the individual modeller.

I use SAC parts for the strength that they provide, and in some cases the extra weight they provide (see their F-111 nose wheel replacement).

I highly recommend these for modellers with a minimum of a moderate level of ability.

Thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions for the review samples..


Review Text & Images Copyright © 2012 by Phil Parsons
Page Created 25 September, 2012
Last updated 25 September, 2012

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