Thanks to Ross at SAC for providing IPMS USA this review set. Keep on producin’, amigo! We need these!

Although the Tamiya landing gear for its new “wunderkit”, the F4U, is just fine as is, there is always the opportunity for improvement.

Enter SAC full-metal landing gear! This upgrade is one that fits well with the new kit. Here’s why…

The Tamiya gear incorporates two plastic strut halves with a metal rod in the center. This does two things: (1) provides detail; and (2) provides the necessary (but basic) strength for a large kit.

The difficulty is, you still need to clean up the seam line, and the actual wheel and axle assembly can be a bit weak in full plastic. The SAC gear, being one-piece full metal, fixes both issues nicely. Strong, and just as detailed as the kit plastic, the SAC gear will provide peace of mind down the road, particularly if heading off to a contest with the model in a car.

Also included are the drag struts on the main strut assembly, and the prominent A-frames for the aft portion of the strut.

Same with the tail wheel fork/strut assembly, and the arrester hook. The new fork is far more robust, as is the strut assembly. The arrester hook is frequently a target for ham-fists and snapping off in plastic. In metal, it bends…just bend it back!

Therefore, SAC gear is impressive as a strong, simple upgrade to an already excellent kit. As usual, I give SAC gear 10 of 10. Thanks, Ross! And thanks to IPMS USA for providing the set for review.