Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has released a set of white metal replacement landing gear parts for Pacific Coast Models’ 1/32 Spitfire Mk. IX kit. This set is a direct replacement for the kit’s parts with some minor improvements to details. The main gear legs are exact copies of the kit parts with the same mounting lug cast in place. However, Dr. Billy Crisler collaborated with SAC to provide a corrected tail wheel and separate tail wheel strut to improve the detail in that area.

Scale Aircraft Conversions’ replacement landing gear sets are designed as drop-in replacements for kit parts so they can be installed during construction or added after the kit’s plastic parts begin to bow under the weight of a 1/32 scale model. There seems to be a little more flash to clean away, but the small amount that exists along the mold lines is easy to deal with using a #11 blade and a bit of polishing with #660 grit emery paper. And, because these parts are white metal, either super glue or epoxy cement can be used to anchor them. When painted accurately, they look very realistic on a finished model.

This set is recommended to anyone wishing to add more substantial metal landing gear and an improved tail wheel to their 1/32 PCM Spitfire Mk. IX. My thanks go to Scale Aircraft Conversions and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review the product.