Border Model added the A6M2 Zero to their 1/35 scale model aircraft collection in 2024. Now a white metal landing gear set has been developed by Scale Aircraft Conversions. This aftermarket set consists of four metal landing gear parts plus the dorsal antenna mast, an unexpected bonus.

The plastic main gear in the border kit builds up similar to the Tamiya 1/32 Zero, with included metal springs which replicate the hydraulic suspension of the life-sized aircraft. In the Border kit, five plastic parts plus the aforementioned spring are required for each main gear assembly.

While detailed and offering an action feature to the kit, this assembly may be judged by some modelers to be too complex and wobbly. The SAC gear set is composed of white metal molded as one piece and no provision is made for the action feature.

This set provides a more solid and still accurately detailed main landing gear. The tail gear assembly is composed of two parts which must be glued with two part epoxy to provide a solid mounting of the tail wheel yoke (the small square in the photo). The kit plastic hubs and wheels are used to complete the main gear and tail gear assemblies.

There was some flash apparent on this review sample so a little clean-up is recommended before painting and assembly. Photos in this review show the metal parts without primer but the modeler may want to wash and dry the parts and use a lacquer based primer to ensure good paint adhesion.

Many thanks to IPMS and to Scale Aircraft Conversions for the opportunity to review this product.