Wheel Wells--the "Armpit" of Aircraft

[sequoiaranger]

I am NOT a fan of detailing wheel wells in aircraft models. If they come with a walled-in, detailed well, fine. But I don't put much effort into replicating them. To me, they are like an armpit--everyone has them, but their exposure is not a pleasure to behold.

I have recently worked on a model that had a vac-formed wing without any sort of depression for the landing gear to fit into (He-113). Fine with me. I decided to "indicate" the well by putting the split wheel covers together (most of it on the strut, and part attached to the fuselage), outlining them on cardstock, spraying the well interior color (RLM 02 in this case) onto a sheet of clear decal, tracing the shape of the doors, then cutting out the shape for use in indicating the well on the model. Now all I have to do is apply the decal to the right spot and I have my "wheel well".

Of course I could just simply brush-paint the fake well onto the model, but I think the airbrushed "well", without stroke marks, makes a better look. Or, I could have masked off the well and airbrushed directly onto the wing, but then any mistake would have to be extensively re-done, and it would be awkward if the landing gear is already in place (I like to put on landing gear on "early " in the process to be able to place the model upright on a surface without touching the body of the model).



Another "simplified" method of indicating wheel wells is to cut out the shape in the wing, and then put stock sheet "behind" the wing plastic---this gives a slight depression (the thickness of the wing plastic) in the appropriate place, but doesn't require detailing to give a "well" effect.

[NARSES2]

Have to agree with your sentiments. When I got back into modelling I thought that detailing wheel wells was de rigur (blame the magazines for that and a lot of other false starts  ). However I soon realised that the effort expended was not worth it. Now I will paint the well to the best of my ability and thats about it, although I have occaisional boxed one in when that part of the well is obvious from a "normal" viewpoint. However I do admire the work of those with the skill, time and patience to do it.

Nice idea to use sprayed "decal" sheet