Scale Aircraft Conversions 1/48 J-10 Vigorous Dragon Landing Gear First Look
by Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | November 2010 | Manufacturer | Scale Aircraft Conversions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | J-10 Vigorous Dragon Landing Gear | Scale | 1/48 |
| Set Number | 48099 | Primary Media | White Metal |
| Pros | Nicer/tougher gear for the Bronco kit | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $14.95 |
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 100 landing gear sets available in 1/48 scale and is targeted for the Bronco 1/48 J-10 Vigorous Dragon kit. This set is a drop-in replacement for the kit's gear, though cast in white metal to provide stronger legs for your kit to stand upon.
The set includes the two main gear struts assemblies and their retraction arms, as well as a replacement nosegear strut. The detailing on these are nicely done and according to the manufacturer, these can be adapted to the Trumpeter kits as well. The following note is posted on the Scale Aircraft Conversions' website: "The set will fit the Trumpeter kits ... please note: the Trumpeter nose wheels have a larger hole for the axles which can easily be resized with epoxy, tubing, and/or CA. Also, the mounting brackets in the main gear wells should be made 1/32" deeper to insure a full fit of the main gear mounting peg."
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!