SAC continues its prolific output of gear to handle the loads on our models. Thanks to Russ at SAC for providing IPMS/USA this set, and IPMS for sending it to me for review!

This is yet another drop-fit set designed for the Hasegawa P-39/P-400, an aircraft that can use it – metal replacements on a long nose-gear-legged bird…particularly true if you choose to put weight in the nose (and the P-39 needs it) to keep the aircraft sitting on all three tires.

Everything was a perfect fit. Main gear legs fit tightly into the square attachment points. The nose gear slid into place as easily; the actuating ram was from the kit in plastic, but it all went where it needed to, and I have no complaints. One thing I really like about metal gear is the ability to expand parts and attachment points to fit around trunnion lugs and fittings, and then squeeze them together to help hold them in place.

History

There is so much out there on the Zero that I will not take up too much time with the history of it. The A6M2 Model 11 went into operation in 1940. After a short production run it was modified in November, 1940, to have folding wings (Model 21).

The Kit

This kit is made up of 2 sprues of grey injected plastic and 1 clear. The parts are flash free and have very fine detail and I did not notice any sink marks. The decal sheet gives you markings for 3 different aircraft of the 2nd strike unit and was flawless.

Scale Aircraft Conversions comes to the rescue again with another of their white metal landing gear upgrades. One of their latest upgrades is for the Czech Model F2A-3, Special Hobby F2A-2, and the Model 239 & 339 Buffalo kits.

The replacement parts included are the main landing gear (MLG), retraction struts for the MLG, uplock roller brackets (not in the kit), barrier guards for MLG, and three different tail wheel assemblies. There is one tail wheel assembly for the F2A-2 and -3 and the Model 239 & 339.

I will say that the MLG that SAC provided is a step above the kits’. Yes, there is a small seam that you will have to clean up, but it would be not even be close to the work that is involved in the two kit pieces that make up the kit MLG.

The fit of the MLG also seems a lot nicer than the kit part in gear well.

I would recommend this to anyone that has these kits as an upgrade to the kit parts.