Schabak Model Wheel Variants |
|
As with moulds Schabak periodically changed the type of undercarriage wheels that they used. These changes were typically applied across all the moulds then in use. The main change was from large silver metal wheels to the small black painted metal wheels of later models but between them there were several other variants used for brief periods and only sporadically. The dates of changes are poorly known and it seems some different types were used for only short periods and their usage overlapped. Below are all known wheel types in order of appearance.
1. SILVER WHEELS (1982-1989)
During the 1980s metal wheel were the order of the day but there were several different combinations.
1a. ALL LARGE SILVER WHEELS
In the early Schuco moulds (747-100/200, 747-300, 747-400, DC10, Concorde) both the nosegear and maingear were large. All the wheels rotated freely.
In the early Schuco moulds (747-100/200, 747-300, 747-400, DC10, Concorde) both the nosegear and maingear were large. All the wheels rotated freely.
1b. SMALL NOSEWHEEL / LARGE MAINGEAR
The newest Schuco mould (A300) and all of the larger Schabak moulds from the 1980s had a small nosegear and large maingear (A300, A310, DC8, 707, 757-200, 767-200, L1011).
1c. ALL SMALL WHEELS
The smaller moulds in the 1980s had all small undercarriage wheels. They did not rotate unlike the larger wheels. Moulds with all small metal wheels included the A320, DC3, DC9, MD80, 727, 737-200/300/400/500, L1049, CV440, Comet, Viscount, F27/28/50/100, ATR42, ATR72, SF340 and EMB120.
2. SMALL ALL SILVER WHEELS (1988-1989)
At some point just before the introduction of the new small black wheels some airline variants on many larger moulds got small metal wheels all over. This only lasted for a very short period. Examples of this have been seen on the following moulds: A300, A310, DC8, DC10, MD11, 707, 747-200, 747-300, 747-400, 757-200, 767-200, L1011.
LARGE BLACK WHEELS (1989?)
A very mysterious wheel type. Only known for a few 767-200s. Perhaps Schabak had left over moulds with the old wheel fittings or maybe they were genuinely trialling this type of wheel?
SMALL BLACK WHEELS (1989-2005)
During 1989 all the moulds were modified to use small black wheels for the undercarriage. These wheels appear to be the small silver wheels but painted all over black. They often look like plastic but when scratched you can see the metal underneath. These more model-like wheels continued in use for the rest of Schabak's production.
SMALL SILVER WHEELS AGAIN (2005)
Disappointingly about the time that Schabak was going bankrupt some of the last models appeared with the old small silver wheels probably because that was all the stock of wheels left. They were used on only a small number of models. They have been found on the following moulds: 717, 737-200, 747-400, 747SP, 777-200, 777-300.
