ET Model
U.S. M1070 Truck Tractor Weighted Road Wheels
ET Model 1:35 Scale Set #ER35-041
Review by Terry Ashley

Hobby Boss
The Set:
ET Model has released this set of resin replacement wheels for the Hobby Boss M1070 Truck Tractor & M1000 Heavy Equipment Transporter Semi-trailer (Kit #85502). This set has the nine wheels for the M1070 Truck Tractor (eight main and one spare) with the smaller M1000 HET wheels released in a separate set #ER35-042.

The quality of the resin casting is excellent with just the small casting plug and a fine casting line around the centre of the tread on each wheel which is easily removed. A point to note is the resin wheels are not simply copies of the kit wheels but have additional sidewall contours and embossing over the detail on the kit vinyl wheels for added details, the wheels also have well defined tread detail and feature a bulging effect at ground contact, the casting plug is also located at ground contact so the tread is not compromised after the plug is removed.

Aother notable feature with the wheels is there is actually four different castings marked 1-4 on the casting plug with two of each casting for the eight tractor wheels and another for the spare. Each of the four castings has the side wall embossing in a different position in relation to the casting plug ground contact point to eliminate the "sameness" we see this some wheels where the casting and embossing is in the same position on each wheel, a very nice feature.

The wheel rim/hub is cast without the bolt protection cover with the kit cover (part H14) used with the resin wheels to complete each wheel assembly. The hub detail is also well done should you wish to have the wheels without the cover with the spare also well done and as well as the enhanced tyre detail the same as the main wheels the inside rim is smooth without the part join line present on the kit spare.

Resin parts
ET Model

After removal of the casting plug and the fine casting seam line the kit rim cover can be added and the fit is excellent, you just need to make sure to align the two holes in the cover with the rim bolts as per the kit wheel and the wheels have the same rear mounting as the kit wheels so are straight replacements without any further alterations required.

Wheel details showing the rims, sidewall embossing and tread pattern.
ET Model
There are four different castings (numbered 1-4 on the casting block)
that has the sidewall embossing in different positions in relation to the casting plug ground contact point
to alleviate the uniform look when all wheels are the same.

ET Model
Wheel assembly with the kit rim cover added to resin wheel, the fit is perfect,
just ensure you align the cover with the two holes over the respective rim bolts.

ET Model
Hobby Boss kit wheels for comparison.
ET Model
Spare wheel casting that eliminates the inner rim join line from the kit parts.
ET ModelET Model
Conclusion:
This is an excellent set of replacement resin wheels from ET Model for the Hobby Boss M1070 Truck Tractor with good clean casting and excellent details. The main feature of the wheels having the four different castings to allow the variation on sidewall detail alignment is an excellent feature and along with the excellent casting and detail makes these a standout set of replacement wheels for the Hobby Boss kit.

If you prefer resin wheels over the kit vinyl wheels this set offers an increase in detail with the sidewall embossing as well as the bulged effect with straight fitting to the kit without any alterations.

Rating 9/10

Also see the review of set #ER35-042 U.S. M1000 HETS Weighted Road Wheels.


Thanks to E.T. Model for the review set.


Page created July 15, 2012



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