Assembly Step 2

Clarktor Towing Tractor

Completed kit

H-34 Choctaw, U.S. Marines

Box cover rear

P-39Q Airacobra

Front view

British Mk.VI Crusader Mk.III - Cruiser Tank

Finished

Montgomery’s Staff Figures Set

The MacRobert!

Hurricane MK IIc Trop

Bow detail

USS Gato SS-212, 1941

Notched plastic track jig.

Soviet T-10M Heavy Tank

Assembled wing

Bf-109F

Finished

U.S. Light Tank M5A1 Stuart

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Brassin Package

MiG-23M/MF Exhaust Nozzle
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$22.95

Trumpeter has been releasing first class kits of Soviet Bloc aircraft for some years now. They have recently been taking on the MiG-23 Flogger and its variants.

The prominent point of any jet is the cockpit and the exhaust. With the limitations of plastic molding we, as model builders, are lucky to have resin parts. If you were going to do anything to spruce up a kit I concentrate on those two areas.

Perfectly molded in light grey resin the Brassin parts are everything that I’ve come to expect from Eduard. The detail on these seven resin parts is impressive to say the least. Of course none of the parts have any blemishes or imperfections that I could find other than my exhaust nozzle was slightly warped. A quick dip in warm water restored the roundness.

Label

MiG-15 and MiG-15 bis Gun Barrels Set, Antenna Base and Pitot Tubes
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72

With Tamiya release of the MiG-15 and the Trumpeter release of the MiG-15 family the weakest parts of the kit are the guns and the fragile pitot tube. If you are like me and you have a hard time keeping these items round when cleaning off the mold lines then this is for you. There are six exquisitely machined brass pieces included in the set. There is no clean up. Simply drill holes where the parts go, prime and paint.

The best part is a two piece 37mm cannon barrel. The two part barrel is a work of art. Simply insert the one piece into the other. The fit is phenomenal. It gives you the look of the real thing. Something the plastic kit parts can only hint at.

The other two gun barrels are simple and effective. They are the perfectly sized.

The antenna base is unique in this set. It is simply inserted into a drilled hole.

The other piece is the pitot tube. It is beautifully machined and will add the strength and durability that I need on a jet.

Package

F-4C Interior Photo Etch
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Eduard has perfected the art of the pre-painted instrument panels. I can’t even paint the instruments as good as they pre-paint. If you haven’t used them you really should try them.

The newest addition is designed for the new Academy 1/48th scale F-4C. The single sheet fret is a nickel plated sheet with all the instrument panels and side consoles for both the front and back seats. These parts are self adhesive and designed to be added directly to the kit parts. You will have to sand off the molded on detail but that is simple enough to do with a sanding stick.

The self adhesive is definitely sticky but I still use super glue to hold the parts together and Future in the bezels to add the sticking and to replicate the glass. The set is simple to add and the visual impact is amazing.

Setail Set Parts

IAI Kfir Pitot Tube and AOA Probe
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.00

I recently have started to build jet aircraft and I’ve noticed something, pitot tubes typically stick out of the nose a significant amount. This causes an issue with bending or breakage. The other thing that I have had an issue is removing the part from sprue. It is a pain in the butt to get rid of the excess plastic and retain the round cross section. That doesn’t include the mold lines on the part. How do you deal with all that? Easy, turned metal barrels.

Master Model turns out some of the finest turned metal barrels out there. I’ve used them before and they fit and look amazing. This release designed for the newest Kfir kits by Kinetics, AMK or Wingmaster.

Package

F-4D Phantom II (Late Version) Cockpit Set
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$37.50

Packaged in a plastic vacuformed package in typical Aires style, this set is designed for the Academy kit. Granted the F-4D has not been released yet but it is probably the next release from Academy. There is a lot of resin inside the packaging. The photo etch fret is quite nice.

Molded in light grey resin the resin displays impressive detail and immaculate casting. The biggest piece is the cockpit tub with the side controls molded in place. This is impressive to say the least. I do wish that Aires would embrace the pre-painted instrument panels. That is in no way a ding on this set. The sandwich type panel will be quite nice and hard enough to see under the glare shield. What is nice is that you are provided with an extra side controllers for both cockpits just in case they get broke in transit.