Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement landing gear for the Czech Model 4814 / Encore EC48004 Douglas F3D-2 Skynight. The 17 parts supplied include the nose gear bay, nose gear, main gear, and additional retraction arms and braces. One of Ross MacMillan’s passions is the Douglas Skynight, and he spent several hours taking photos underneath one to get this set right.

A side by side evaluation of all the SAC parts shows the initial similarity with the kit parts. The nose gear bay, in addition to helping keep the Skynight on its nose gear, has been modified by including mounting points for the nose gear strut and the nose gear retraction arm. The nose gear torque link, missing in the kit, has been provided. The nose gear strut has been lengthened. The nose gear retraction arm has been modified and relocated to where it belongs.

The main gear struts have been shortened to allow the Skynight an improved stance. The main gear retraction arms and braces have been modified so that they actually fit to the proper mounting points in the main wheel gear bay. The main gear torque links actually look like torque links instead of the triangular blobs provided in the kit. The coiled spring actually looks like a coiled spring. I ended up drilling a hole in the main gear well resin where the main strut goes to avoid doing a butt join. The main gear struts fit well into the Encore kit supplied resin wheels, a noticeable improvement over the injected versions in the kit.

This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and are somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not have to be concerned with that perceived hazard.

There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white metal items. You do need to be very careful to assure proper alignment on all three axes. The SAC main gear struts may need to be slightly adjusted to be straight (a benefit of using metal is that you can bend it slightly). Smooth jaw needle nose pliers work wonderfully.

Before painting, you may wish to remove and polish the faint seam lines. I scraped some of the mold lines with an old #11 blade then used a Dremel to polish up the parts. Although most paints will adhere to white metal alone, I would recommend that you prime the parts first. The landing gear will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the white metal.

As always, check your reference photos for alignment.

The SAC pieces fit quite well and are a significant improvement over the original parts, and will keep your landing gear from sagging over time.

My thanks to Ross MacMillan, Scale Aircraft Conversions, and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great set of replacement landing gear.

Highly recommended!