Thanks to Ross at SAC for sending us improved metal landing gear for the new 1/72 Airfix Victor, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it to me….

Another of SAC’s expansive line of white metal upgrades to the basic kit plastic! The set consists of 17 parts: Two duplicate sets of main struts and nose gear, and bomb bay door actuators. The bomb bay actuators were not used in this build but may come in handy if they ever release this kit with the free-falling “dumb” bomb load to show off in the cavernous bomb bay.

The main gear is improved by two parts replacing a three-part assembly; the central strut has been modified, in that the SAC strut is not split like the airfix strut, which has the central trunnion top part and side bearing arms slide into the plastic. The metal trunnion part requires you to drill out the top of the strut oleo leg to accept the metal oleo leg; just check the picture of the basic parts, where the Airfix gray strut is split. It’s self-explanatory. Just be careful drilling the metal and you’ll be ok. The walking beam fits between two trunnion bearers, and the SAC gear has this molded as an integral part of the set verses having to glue them together. The lower gear axle trucks are split, and one gear strut is integral with one truck half; the other half is cemented to the other truck making a strong assembly. The nose gear is a direct copy of the kit gear with the steering cylinders and mounting trunnion fitting at the top of the nose gear strut. Very tidy.

Installation of the SAC gear involves replacing all the kit parts with installation of the SAC gear parts. The nose gear requires installation during assembly as the gear pins fit into trunnions within the nose gear structure. This is not a problem as the metal can take the abuse.

I did test the gear by banging the kit on the workbench while painting it; one of the main gear strut and trunnion halves popped free and I had to clean off the superglue and re-do it. The gear did not break off the model, and only a bit of hand straightening was required. Ah, the benefits of metal gear…