Various Replacement Wheels

BarracudaCast, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark J. Davies

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Barracuda Studios is well known to many HyperScalers with reputation for accurate, top quality decals and resin products. As a lead-in to this 'first look', I will quote a post by Barracuda Studio's Roy Sutherland on HyperScale's 'Plane Talking':

"If you can't tell, I love accurate wheels. To me, two things will make an otherwise nice model look toylike: bad wheels and bad prop blades. I have talked with a number of other modelers who share the same feelings. So, if I am crazy, at least I'm in good company."

Each set of wheels comes paired on an easy to remove casting stub, and packed in a plastic bag with card header.

It should come as no surprise then that the products reviewed here are all flawless, with very nice detail levels. I will take BarracudaCast at their word regarding the improved accuracy they profess for their products, and so quote their website in each case. I have also used their product images as these are a fair and accurate reflection of the products, and better than my photography would be. 

• BR72221 Hawker Tempest Main Wheels - Smooth Tread. This set consists of a pair of super detailed, accurate resin 32" 4-slot main wheels with smooth tires as fitted to Hawker Tempest V, series II and later variants, such as the Mk II and Mk VI, when operating primarily from grass or unimproved airfields. Designed for all 1:72 Tempest kits, as well as wartime prototypes of the Martin Baker MB 5, Firebrand and DH Hornet.

• BR72222 British 4-Slot 32" Wheels - Block Tread. Super detailed wheels with staggered block tires, logos, tire data and extremely fine tire beading. As fitted to the Postwar Tempest, Firefly, Hornet, Sea Hornet, Barracuda V and Firebrand. For all 1:72 kits.

• BR72225 Boulton Paul Defiant Main Wheels and Tail Wheel. Super detailed 1:72 scale, accurate main wheels featuring logos and tire data with separate wheel brushes and new tail wheel to replace kit parts in new Airfix Defiant kit. Will also improve the old tool Airfix kit and the Pavla Defiants. [Edit] And the MPM kit as well.

Conclusion

These well-researched and accurate wheels are produced to a very high standard; they should definitely improve the appearance of their intended subjects.

All three are highly recommended.

Thanks to Barracuda Studios for the images and information

Barracuda Studio products are available online from their website

Text Copyright © 2015 by Mark Davies
Images Copyright © 2015 by Barrcuda Studios
This Page Created on 11 November, 2015
Last updated 11 November, 2015

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