G Factor Models

1/32 F-18 Brass Landing Gear For the Academy kit

Reviewed by Dave Morrissette, IPMS #33653

MSRP $39.95 Website: www.gfactormodels.com One of the problems that has started happening more and more in the past few years is the need for much more sturdy landing gear on aircraft. With all of the new larger kits, more parts with added weight and the abundance of resin detail sets, cockpits, etc., the kits have become heavy and the plastic gear can't handle the weight. I have seen several examples of this where the plane has buckled the gear. One of the examples of this is Academy's great 1/32nd Scale F-18C Hornet. While Academy did a great job on the kit reinforcing the landing gear with wire interiors, you start adding Aires cockpits, resin weapons, etc. and the kit can weigh a lot. Enter Ernie Gee and G-Factor Models. Ernie makes strong brass landing gear using a process called lost wax casting. Each set consists of 5 separate "sprues" or parts which are made of strong solid brass. The parts are a replacement for the front and main gear both. Also, not only are the main gear legs replaced, the front gear and all the retraction arms and details are replaced. I could not find a single seam line on any of the parts! The main gear on the kit is multiple parts (17) that sandwich a pre-shaped wire. G-Factor has cut this down tremendously and made the entire gear solid. The nose gear has a dozen parts but most are already cast in place.

These gear are a definite upgrade to the kit gear and almost mandatory if you are going to upgrade your cockpit/kit with resin. Add to that the large time saving assembling the gear and you are actually going to save time. I will say that when attaching the gear, finding a way to brace it and make it sturdy are a requirement also. Recommended - see this and all of G Factors sets at the web site listed above. My sincere thanks to Ernie and G Factor for the review sample.