Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Eduard 1/48 Lavochkin La-5. Of course this set will also work with the Zvezda kit since that is what the Eduard kit is based on. The supplied items include two main gear legs, two main gear retraction struts, and one tail gear. (Photos 1016, 1005, 1018, 1020)

This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is 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 following the instructions in the Eduard kit, particularly with the tail wheel assembly.

A side by side evaluation of the main gear (see photos) shows the similarity with the kit parts (1037, 1038). You can easily see how the main gear leg and struts sit in the main gear well between the Eduard part and the SAC part (1035, 1036). The Eduard main gear legs do fit into the main gear bay slightly tighter than the SAC main gear legs, but even the Eduard main gear legs are somewhat loose. It remains to be seen if the main gear legs can be installed once the upper wings / wheel wells are set as the lower wing tends to lock the main gear leg into its mount. Regardless, because of the main gear leg play in the mount in the gear well, you will probably need to use slow setting super glue to make sure the main gear are properly aligned. Both the SAC and Eduard main gear legs fit nicely onto their mounts for the plastic gear doors (Photo 1039).

The main gear struts are nearly identical (Photos 1032, 1033, and 1034). You can easily see how the SAC main gear struts will need to be slightly adjusted to be straight (a benefit of using metal is that you can bend it slightly), but you will have to be extremely careful separating the SAC main gear struts from the metal sprue so as to not lose any length in the strut. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way….

A side by side evaluation of the tail gear shows the similarity with the kit parts (1030, 1031). The good news on the tail gear is that there is very little seam work to be done. The more interesting news is that you will have to carefully separate the tail gear strut from the main gear on the SAC replacement part. A brand new #11 blade worked for me, but you will want to be careful to keep the blade perpendicular to the strut and the main gear lug it’s attached to. The photos also show that the tail wheel yoke is in two halves connected by sprue. Again I would recommend using a brand new #11 blade to cut through the SAC metal sprue.

Before painting, you may wish to remove and polish the faint seam lines. You can easily depict the bare metal portions of the strut by masking those areas to remain in bare metal. 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 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!