Scale Aircraft Conversions has a metal landing gear conversion set for just about every aircraft you’d want to build. The Revell 1/72 F-101B Voodoo is no exception. I just happened to have the Revell kit in my stash, so I pulled the model out and retrieved the kit landing gear to compare with the SAC landing gear.

I was surprised by the kit gear. It’s relatively nice, clean, and detailed. The SAC gear is almost exactly the same as the kit gear. The casting on this set was not that clean. There were offset mold lines on all the pieces; it looked like the casting had shifted which caused the mold lines to be very prominent. This meant lots of work to remove the lines to make the gear look good. I have reviewed other SAC 1/72 metal gear and not had the same issues. Maybe it is specific to 1/72 scale due to the small size of the gear making it difficult.

Another excellent turned metal (aluminum this time) pitot assembly from Master Model; IPMS USA sincerely appreciates the support of Master Model, who continue to provide first-class products to improve our kits!

Another in a long line of simple upgrades; you can see in the photos the kit item is thicker and “chunky” compared to Master Model’s replacement. You will need to remove the kit tube from the mounting boss, drill a hole, and install. It can’t be easier than that! Use superglue or epoxy to attach; the fit is perfect and doesn’t need anything else. And there is the excellent instruction sheet with actual drill dimensions and “how to put this on” for those who have never used aftermarket like this… a quality addition all around, and the cost is reasonable for the strength of the new tube.

New from Jim Corley and Nautilus Models is a wood replacement deck for Revell's 1/72 Type IXc U-boat. If you have never purchased a Nautilus set of decking, it is actual wood decking (like the U-boats had) that is laser engraved to the correct pattern and with add-ons like resin parts and laser cut vinyl to complete the detailing.

Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Hasegawa 1/48 scale A6M Zero kits. The white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kit plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts, and one tail gear strut with integrally molded wheel. Some other SAC replacement gear packages have included replacement wheels for the main gear, as well, but not the case here. You will need to use the Hasegawa wheels for your build.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. For those without basic modeling experience, be sure to use CA (Superglue) for the gear installation, as the usual plastic glues will not react with the white metal. In some cases where original equipment was left in a natural metal finish, painting may not be necessary. As always, check your reference photos

Wheelliant is a sub-brand of Aires, a scale model resin detailing parts manufacturer located in the Czech Republic. Their lines include fine and accurately detailed cast resin replacement parts for model kits in the most commonly produced scales.

Wheelliant has produced replacement wheels and weighted tires for 1/48 Academy F-14A kits. The website indicates other sets (with different stock numbers) that are to be used with Hobby Boss and Hasegawa Tomcat kits. This set is intended to dress up and/or supplement the plastic kit parts. The easily assembled rims and tires are clean glue-on replacements for the kit plastic parts. Also included is a length of fine copper wire for use as hydraulic brake and/or electrical connection lines.