Introduction:
Stryker is a very popular modeling subject. There are numerous 1/35 scale kits available from AFV Club and Trumpeter, covering almost every vehicle variant. DEF Model offers two sets of resin replacement wheels for these kits, and this review covers the one which depicts the ubiquitous Michelin XML 12.00R20 tire: US Stryker Sagged Wheel Set (1) (DW35155).
Review:
The set comes in a nicely designed cardboard box. The box art image features a lower portion of the Stryker showcasing resin wheels from this set, and stating the kit contains 16 resin parts and wheel masks.
Inside the box is a zip-lock bag full of resin pieces, as well as two large masking sheets and masking instruction leaflet.
The resin pieces look really good and upon closer inspection I found no casting defects whatsoever. DEF Model quality control is second to none, and I don’t remember having to clean seam lines of fill air-bubbles in any of DEF wheel sets I used for my builds.
The perfect cast is also evident in the superbly defined details, wonderfully delivered in resin.
The casting plugs connect to the bottom part of each road wheel and removing those should not present any problems even to modelers with basic resin working skills. The placement of the plug at the tire ground contact ensures the “flat spot” resulting from the cleanup process is not visible after installing the wheel on the vehicle.
The set depicts Stryker wheels with Michelin XML 12.00R20 tire, an all-terrain, all-position radial optimized for soft- soil/mud mobility in off road applications. A vast majority of reference photos I found show Michelin XML installed on various Stryker variants, suggesting this particular tire is the most common tire used on Strykers. The dimensions of the tire are 1130 x 310 mm (44.5 x 12.2 in).
I examined the 1/35 scale resin wheels from DEF Model and compared them to the reference photos. The tire thread pattern is reproduced realistically, as well as all the intricate sidewall details. The inscriptions MICHELIN X, XML, 12.00R20 and even the super-tiny RADIAL, are perfectly defined and clearly identifiable under magnification. I also found a very authentic looking rim and hub, with the complex bolt pattern on the rims faithfully replicated, along with the characteristic shape of the hub. Very impressive!
The tire is sized to 32,25 x 9,20 mm, which makes it of perfect diameter, but about half of millimeter wider than the real tire in 1/35 scale.
The wheels in this set are depicted with a slight sag. The compression on the tire ground contact is not overdone and I feel it conveys the weight of the vehicle really well.
One more thing worth mentioning… The wheels in this set are not identical. In fact, the set consists of 8 road wheels in 4 different orientations (labeled as A, B, C and D on their carrier plugs). The variation in orientation ensures the wheels fitted to the same side of the vehicle do not look repetitive, but slightly different, adding to the realism of the model.
Please note the A2 wheel represents the front left Stryker wheel which needs hub step ring installed (AFV Club kit part F21 or Trumpeter kit part A30).
Fitting the wheels:
This wheel set is designed as a direct replacement for AFV Club kits. An adapter supplied in the set should be used when installing the wheels to Trumpeter models.
Wheel masks:
Two big pre-cut masking sheets are included in this kit. The masks are of help when painting the wheels, allowing airbrushing without overspray. Also included is the instruction leaflet which shows two different ways of applying the masks and painting the wheels.
Conclusion:
US Stryker Sagged Wheel Set (1) (DW35155) from DEF Model delivers 1/35 scale resin replacement wheels with Michelin XML tire for AFV Club and Trumpeter family of Stryker kits. The set includes 8 road wheels, cleanly cast and with ton of superbly delivered details, which present a marked improvement over the vinyl tires/plastic rims supplied with the kit. Paint masks are an added bonus.
Highly recommended.
A big thank you to DEF Model for this review sample.