A newer addition to Scale Aircraft Conversions ever-expanding line of metal landing gear is this set for the Zoukei-Mura 1/48 scale Focke Wulf Ta 152.

Like most of SAC’s sets, this is meant as a drop-fit replacement for the kit’s plastic landing gear. The set comprises of both main gear legs, the tail gear (with molded-in wheel/tire), and the accompanying actuators. All are made out of sturdy, white metal.

I could see no appreciable difference in the detail between the kit items and those in this set. They look to be almost exactly the same. All the brake lines and other details present on SAC’s gear are there on the original kit items as well. The kit and SAC both include the tail wheel molded onto its strut, something I am not a fan of.

I will say the SAC gear is considerably stronger than the kit plastic (which is a little brittle). As the Ta 152 has some long legs, the metal gear might prove a little sturdier. One disadvantage I noticed – the actuator arms in SAC’s set were slightly bent. I know this can be straightened out, but that can be one downside to thin metal parts. The gear legs themselves were nice and straight, just the actuators had some bending (see photos). On the plus side, should you wish to take the time, the oleos and any other moving parts can be polished up to look like metal (hey, they are metal so they should!). That is really the only advantage over the plastic parts that I can see in this particular set.

I would classify this in the “nice, but not necessary” category. These aren’t cheap, so I would rather spend this on a gear set for a kit that really needs it. SAC offers many sets for kits that really DO benefit from the metal gear. Unfortunately I don’t really see this as that situation.

I would like to thank SAC for the review set, and to thank IPMS for allowing me to review it.