Metallic Details 1/48 SR-71 Blackbird Landing Gear Set First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | July 2019 | Manufacturer | Metallic Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | SR-71 Blackbird Landing Gear Set | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | MDR4824 | Media | Resin, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Interesting update | Cons | See text |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $62.95 w/free shipping |
First Look
Metallic Details is an aftermarket detail company from the Ukraine that produces some really impressive updates for current as well as older kits. This release is one of several detail sets designed for the Testors/Italeri 1/48 SR-71 and YF-12 kits. This set provides a complete make-over of the wheel wells, gear doors, and landing gear struts/wheels on the kit.
Where the intake cone set we previously examined was a relatively simple conversion, the instruction booklet in this set is 23 pages. This set builds up into three highly detailed landing gear wells which are drop-in fit replacements for the kit's wells and provide some amazing details in the process. The set consists of the three replacement wells, gear doors, landing gear struts, down-locks, and separately cast wheels and wheel hubs. The photo-etch set provides nose gear doors, wheel well structural frames, brake assembly brackets, up-locks, and more.
This set will work with any of the Testors or Italeri 1/48 SR-71A/B or YF-12 kits and you'll want to park your model on a mirror to show off these details. While the set is a bit pricey, it is tailored to the SR-71 fan who wants to capture all of the unique details of this fantastic aircraft.
You can order this set on HobbyZone USA's website.
My sincere thanks to HobbyZone USA for this review sample!