Scale Aircraft Conversions 1/48 F-105 Thunderchief Landing Gear First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | October 2009 | Manufacturer | Scale Aircraft Conversions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | F-105 Thunderchief Landing Gear | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48036 | Primary Media | White Metal |
| Pros | Corrects main retraction cylinders; provides stronger gear for the Monogram kit | Cons | None noted |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $16.95 |
First Look
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) produces an impressive array of white metal replacement landing gear for a variety of models. Some of these sets correct different issues that appeared in production kits, while others are simple common sense replacements to have stronger landing gear on your model.
This release is one of more than 60 landing gear sets available in 1/48 scale and is targeted for the Monogram releases of their F-105 Thunderchief. You can see the nicely cast strut assemblies which are drop-in replacements for the Monogram kit. This set includes replacement main struts, nosegear strut, and retraction cylinders which have been corrected from the kit versions. This set will work in the F-105D, F-105F, and F-105G releases of the Monogram kit as well as the re-boxed Hasegawa Thuds. This set isn't designed for the HobbyBoss Thuds, but you could adapt them for those kits.
One nice aspect of aftermarket landing gear like these from SAC is that you can make the change anytime, even after the kit's gear buckles for whatever reason. Unlike an aftermarket cockpit or other details that need to be incorporated during construction, you can easily extract the old styrene gear and plug in these replacements once you've got them primed and painted. Of course you can plan ahead and use them during your build-up and avoid the problems in the first place.
You can obtain SAC landing gear from your favorite hobby retailer or online hobby shop. If your retailer can't get these for you and you can't this set at your favorite online retailer, then you can get quick service from Scale Aircraft Conversions directly.
My sincere thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions for this review sample!