SAC continues their production of replacement landing gear parts for various kits. This set, engineered for the newly tooled 1/72 Airfix Vampire T.11, is a faithful and delicate copy of the kit parts, but undoubtedly stronger. In the photo below the plastic kit parts are on top with the SAC parts below them for comparison.

I was impressed with the thinness of the main gear doors and the smooth surface texture of all the parts. No pits, no holes, and compared with the kit parts, all was true, including the keyed axles. There’s a little bit of flash needing cleanup, but then, that exists on the plastic parts, too. A few swipes with a fine file will take care of it.

Vampire models are notorious tail-sitters and need a fair amount of weight in their small nose cavities, but the SAC nose gear won’t help much in that regard---it’s about the same weight as the kit’s plastic one.

Quickboost has released a highly detailed MiG 15 ejection seat to replace the ones found in the Trumpeter and Tamiya 1/48 scale kits. The seat may be easier to find than the Tamiya kit these days, but it is a welcome detail part for anyone with that kit. Anyone building the easier to come-by Trumpeter kit will likewise be pleased with the opportunity to considerably enhance the cockpit of that kit by adding this one detail. The Quickboost seat captures the look of the prototype very nicely with crisp (and more refined) details, and realistic molded-in safety belts that will add much to the cockpit of either kit.

Background

Based on requirements laid down in 1934, and first seeing production in 1937, the Panzer III was fielded as the primary battle tank of the Wehrmacht at the outset of World War II. Upon engaging the Red Army’s T-34’s and KV-1’s it was evident the Panzer III was at a significant disadvantage. The E-, F-, and G- models were retrofitted with a larger 50mm main gun, which became standard on the –H model along with additional armor bolted to the rear, glacis and front superstructure of the hull. The Ausf. H also received an improved transmission and redesigned sprockets and idlers. Of an initial order of 759 Ausf.H’s, only 308 were produced until April 1941.