Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced white metal replacement landing gear for the recently issued Italeri H-21 “Flying Banana” kit. I have reviewed several of these sets, and purchased a few more on my own, because in all cases they have been superior to the kit items. The white metal gear typically provides a much greater weight tolerance than kit-supplied plastic parts.

These white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kits’ plastic parts. The set includes main gear and nose gear struts and supporting hardware. Detailing has been improved over the kit parts (mold lines removed, etc.). The supplied items also include all main and nose gear braces, the nose gear oleo scissor assembly, landing lights and a pitot replacement.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates identical or improved cast replacement parts that should provide a greater strength assembly, significantly improved weight capacity, and abuse tolerance. The kit parts are positioned below the SAC parts. I will be using the SAC gear in my build of the Italeri kit as a part of an arctic radar line support base diorama.

My experience shows that the parts will take any brand modeling paint I have tried, after a soapy water wash and clear rinse, followed by a coat of Tamiya primer. In some cases, if your subject’s gear is natural metal, painting may not be necessary.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the IPMS Reviewer Corps and Scale Aircraft Conversions for the opportunity to review this item.