F-16I Sufa Weighted Wheels
Michelin Production

Aires Wheelliant, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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Wheelliant is a new line of aftermarket resin aircraft accessories from the Polish company Airies.

This set, 132 006 is designed to used on the 1/32 Academy kit of the F-16I Sufa.

The set comprises 9 resin parts and a single piece of brass wire. The breakdown of parts is:

• A single nose wheel tyre.
  

• A pair of main gear tyres.
  

• A pair of inner and out wheel rims for the main gear, and
  

• A pair of inner and out wheel rims for the nose gear.
  

Airies have used their mid grey type of resin used to cast the parts. I am a fan of this type of resin as is both reasonably flexible and easily worked.

The casting is first rate indeed and the detail provided on the wheel hubs will respond well to a light wash to pop the details out once the parts are painted.

The very subtle bulge has been well captured to simulate the weight exhibited by the one-to-one-scale F-16I. The tyres themselves have been cast to replicate the details of the sidewalls including the tyre size and manufacturers name (Michelin) and the circumferential tread is also included.

Airies has cast the wheel hubs on a single plug with the inner edges of the hub proud of the plug which will make the task of separating the parts a breeze. They have also cast a ‘key’ onto the outer wheel rim and a corresponding hole on the inner rim to positively lock them together when two are glued. The casting plugs on the tyres simply snap off with a minimum of fuss.

As you would expect, the wheel rim parts in this set are the same as those in their 132 005 set for the F-16CG/CJ set with different tyres.

The verdict? The detail on the sidewalls is a little too proud for my liking but this will be easy to adjust to your particular taste with sandpaper. Not so easy to adjust though are the shoulders of the tyres as they look a little too “square” to me.

Instructions on preparing the wheels and bending the brass wire to detail the gear legs are provided via a small ‘exploded view’ CAD drawings and written instructions.

Packaging is via a cellophane baggie with the folded instruction sheet and a stiff piece of cardboard.

Thanks to Aires for the sample.

Text Copyright © 2012 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 4 June, 2012
Last updated 4 June, 2012

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