Scale Aircraft Conversions has released a set of white metal front and rear main gear for the Hobby boss A-6E 1/48 scale. The set includes 12 parts, a front gear strut with actuators and scissors, two main rear struts also with actuators and scissors. These twelve parts are replacements for kit parts front gear parts # F58, F18, F33, F32, F52, F29, F45, F46, F49, left main gear parts F23, F27, F22, F15, F47 and right main gear parts F28, F56, F57, F55, F3 and there accompanying metal inserts.

The Hobby Boss A-6E landing gear is rather complicated. It includes a metal strut that is encapsulated within plastic half’s to add strength to the undercarriage. It would be hoped that the SAC gear would simplify the process of building the landing gear. For better an understanding see the photos of the kit instructions.

SAC landing gears are easily prepared using an X-acto, pin file and flex file. After cleaning and sanding my replacement gear I proceeded to glue the cast metal parts together with medium speed superglue using accelerant to speed the process. I then mounted the parts to spur using super glue and primed them using Tamiya Fine Surface Primer for Plastic and Metal (white). Next they were sprayed Tamiya X-2 Gloss White and allowed to dry in the dehydrator for and hour then detail painted using Model Master Chrome Silver. Once fully dry (about 4 hours in the Dehydrator) they were airbrushed with Testors Clear Lacquer to facilitate weathering. Relief details were drawn out using AK enamel wash for interiors. At this point the gear could be attached to the wheel wells again using superglue.

One issue which became very apparent during the parts clean up is that the oleo portion of the main gear struts are cast in more of an oval shape than round. This can be repaired by filing the surface round. Major hurdle in the gears clean up.

I feel the SAC gear is fair replacements for the kit gear but somewhat difficult to work with. The minuscule size of some of the parts lead me to have difficulty with their use. My main struggle came with two main gear in trying to get the oleo strut into a round configuration. I find it hard to recommend this kit yet for builders of greater experience with small white metal parts and in correcting kit shapes.

Thanks to Ross MacMillan and Scale Aircraft Conversions for the chance to review the landing gear and to the support staff of the IPMS/USA reviewers corps.