Scale Aircraft Conversions 1/48 B-1B Lancer Landing Gear First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) produces an impressive array of white metal replacement landing gear for a variety of models. Some of these sets correct different issues that appeared in production kits, while others are simple common sense replacements to have stronger landing gear on your model.

This release is one of more than 70 landing gear sets available in 1/48 scale and is targeted for the Revell 1/48 B-1B Lancer. The Revell kit is quite a large kit in 1/48 scale and requires some substantial ballast in the nose, especially if you park the aircraft on your shelf with the wings swept. While the styrene gear in the kit might do the job, if ever there was a model in need of stronger legs, this is the one. Look at all of the parts cast in white metal! This set replicates the intricate main and nose gear structures on the aircraft and will probably out-last the model itself. The nose gear has a separately cast lower section to allow the nose gear to be posed in whatever direction you'd like to portray your B-1B.

One nice aspect of aftermarket landing gear like these from SAC is that you can make the change anytime, even after the kit's gear buckles for whatever reason. Unlike an aftermarket cockpit or other details that need to be incorporated during construction, you can easily extract the old styrene gear and plug in these replacements once you've got them primed and painted. Of course you can plan ahead and use them during your build-up and avoid the problems in the first place.

You can obtain SAC landing gear from your favorite hobby retailer or online hobby shop. If your retailer can't get these for you and you can't this set at your favorite online retailer, then you can get quick service from Scale Aircraft Conversions directly.

My sincere thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions for this review sample!