Once again SAC comes up with a solution to the problem of failing Plastic Landing gear on a “different design” landing gear situation.

The idea of “dead cockroach” landing gear is not new; it is a solution to a problem aircraft designers have had to deal with for years. My personal favorite are all the Cessna’s (Cardinal and Skymaster come to mind) which had the gear partially extend or retract, making for dicey and spectacular landings when the pilot runs out of fuel and absolutely HAS to land. Videos are out there, go to Youtube or whatever to see for yourself.

In this case, the MIG 23/27 series has a really interesting set of gear that pretty well folds up, around and in to the fuselage. On the real thing physics work differently than in model form Metal Origami is what I call it. I really like the ’27… it’s an interesting visual item to me and one which we were concerned about in the 1976-90 period. I sat in one at a “classified petting zoo” back in the Late ‘80’s, marveling at how the Russians worked out problems verses how “we” do it. (Like the sliding throttle on a bar with a lock lever…clever thing that). None of this “how far forward can you bend the throttle lever?” thing…it only goes so far and that’s all you get. Good thing in stressful situations, you can FEEL it stop at the end. But we have learned ALSO that the jet has a bad habit of killing pilots. Just a minor thing, but if it’s you, not so minor. No more digression (until the next paragraph).

And most manufacturers of models of the MIG 23/27 aircraft have attempted to emulate it with soft plastic gear. Unfortunately it is not the most elegant of designs to use to hold up that model with a bunch of aftermarket resin (necessary to correct most of the 23/27 models out there…Cold War Studios corrects this particular beast very well)

SAC steps in as usual and molds a metal direct-replacement for the plastic, and in this case it’s a great thing. Complex it is, and pay attention when supergluing and attaching, but in the end the whole thing comes together. And here is where the metal shines (ha ha get it?). Once in place, if (like me) you are not so accurate in how you finally superglue everything in, you can BEND the metal parts to accurately place the struts and axles into alignment.

Really. It works. Trust me… I’m not a Government Person anymore.

Ahem. Back to the SAC gear. It fits and looks great, and is functional and durable. The brass gear out there is nice, but really harder to work with IMO. You can have your opinion, and I have mine. I’ve used them both. And the really tiny bits that hold the gear doors to the main gear? SAC includes them. Nice touch to finish up with.

Anyway, go buy this set and help SAC stay in business. I don’t get paid to say it, but we NEED smaller companies, politics aside. It would be a bad thing to have them go away. Fight the beast and buy aftermarket. This is not just MY opinion…

Thanks again SAC for filling the void… We at the Reviewer corps appreciate your efforts!