USS Hornet CV-8 Part 2 - Radar Antennas

Published: April 16, 2015
Company: Eduard

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001). This is Part 2 and includes several radar antennas to replace the kit parts. These new antennas simply step in and replace the undersize and under-detailed kit parts.

There are two sets to replace the forward- and aft-gun director antennas, one to replace the main search radar, and another to replace the main air search radar. You also get new doors, ladders and windows for the directors.

Assembly is straight forward but a tad fiddly. There are a bunch of tiny parts that need to be bent and shaped. The antennas for the directors require several complex bends that took a while to get the correct shape. Some of the small parts are hard to hold and glue at the same… more

USS Hornet CV-8 Part 1 - Cranes

Published: April 16, 2015
Company: Eduard

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001). This is Part 1 of the series, and provides new aircraft and boat cranes for the starboard and port sides, and detail parts to upgrade the ships main aircraft and boat crane on the flight deck.

The new aircraft and boat cranes for the sides are an entire crane assembly. They replace the existing cranes.

The main aircraft and boat crane for the flight deck includes replacement parts for existing kit parts. You get a new boom, hooks, stays, man rails, platforms and ladders.

Assembly is straight-forward but extremely fiddly. There are a bunch of very tiny parts that need to be bent and shaped. Most of the small parts are hard to hold and glue at the same… more

B-17G Flying Fortress Gun Barrels

Published: August 1, 2014
Company: Quickboost

Quickboost has come out with a direct replacement for the .50 Cal machine gun barrels on the HK Models 1/32^nd B 17 Flying Fortress kit. You get 12 barrels, all the same length and style cast in resin. The packaging is quite adequate. There was nothing broken or warped. The quality of the casting is superb and there is no flash or pinholes. I would assume that the barrels are the proper length. They are a little fatter then the kit ones and look good. Another nice feature is that they are drilled out on the ends.

A word of caution may be necessary, on the HK kit, the kits gun barrels come in various lengths and some have flash suppressors. The quickboost are all the same length and style. A nice feature about these barrels is that they are somewhat generic in nature.… more

B-17 Superchargers

Published: April 28, 2014
Company: Eduard

Eduard has done it again. This time, releasing an outstanding resin super detail kit to add to their long list of other detail parts for the HK Model kit of the B-17. Included in this set are four resin highly detailed superchargers and two exhaust pipes to replace the existing models parts. The superchargers are designed to be direct replacement part, so no modification to the kit is required. The only cutting that is needed is to remove the exhaust header coming from the engine cowling and attach this to the superchargers. Remember measure twice and then again before you cut. The instructions are very good in showing what and where the cuts are required.

The only hard part in the kit that I found was to remove the casting carriers from the parts. I use a four inch bench… more

Ryan STM-2 / PT-20

Published: April 22, 2014
Company: Fisher Model and Pattern

This is part two “The Build”, of my review; the kit review can be seen in an earlier posting.

I followed the instruction sheet using Fishers guide for colors and building sequence. The first thing I did was take inventory of all parts. I found I was missing a couple of struts. I emailed Paul Fisher of Fisher Models and within a few days had the replacement parts in hand. Excellent customer service. As suggested, I thoroughly washed all parts using Dawn soap and warm water and let them dry overnight. It took about an hour to “clean up” the parts; this involved some molding lines and a little flash to be removed. One thing about Fisher kits, his molding is excellent and you should have very little clean up to do.

The cockpit was painted according to the instruction. I… more

Ryan STM-2 / PT-20

Published: March 22, 2014
Company: Fisher Model and Pattern

The Ryan ST was a trainer used in the early 1940’s. The sleek airframe and Menasco inline engine made for a pretty hot little ship.

You can build either a U.S. Army Air Force PT-20, or a Dutch STM-2 on floats or one of two Australian STM-2’s from this kit.

I received the package in excellent condition. It was in a nice sturdy box surrounded by enough tissue paper to use for the next three holidays. The actual model box is another sturdy package with all the parts again wrapped in tissue for protection. Each part was either enclosed in a zip lock plastic bag or wrapped in tissue. I found no loose, broken or damaged items. I took inventory and everything was accounted for.

The instruction sheets are very well printed with high quality photos showing just about… more

B-17G Engines

Published: January 24, 2014
Company: Eduard

Eduard has released another fine quality detail set for the HK Models B-17G. This set includes all four engines (which are available individually), their cowlings (both enclosed and open), and exhaust tubes. The engine sets are numbered from one thru four, with number one being the outboard left engine, number two the inboard left engine, number three the inboard right engine and number four the outboard right engine.

The number one and four engine assemblies are mirror images of each other, with the only difference being the exhaust discharge is either on the left or right side. Number two and three are twins; their exhaust is on the bottom. The assemblies come individually wrapped and are well protected with bubble wrap. You must keep track of all the parts, and… more

B-25 Fuselage Interior PE Set

Published: February 22, 2013
Company: Eduard

The set consists of three photo etch sheets. Two of these are unpainted brass color the other is pre- colored for you. You get parts to replace and also detail the upper turret and the rear gun position. Also included are parts to replace the front and rear entry hatches and ladders. Additionally, there are new shelves for the waist gunners’ ammo boxes and new ammo boxes to sit on them. The final parts are new gun barrels for the many machine guns (13 in all).

The instructions are quite adequate in explaining the bending and placement of the details. They also tell you what you have to remove on the existing parts so they will fit.

There are a couple of details that I found to be a little difficult in attaching. These are the new crew entry hatches. You have to place… more

B-25 Exterior PE Set

Published: February 22, 2013
Company: Eduard

The set consists of two photo etch sheets, both unpainted brass. You get parts to add details to the main gear areas of the engine nacelles. These consist of new ribs and frames. Also included are details to enhance the already very detailed engines. There are parts to detail the inside of the engine cowling access doors and engine cooling doors. You also get framing detail for these access hatches.

The instructions are quite adequate in explaining bending and placing the details. They also tell you what you have to remove on the existing parts so they will fit.

The down side of these beautiful detail sets is that once the plane is completed, it is hard to see all the work you have done. But I know they are there and if you look real real close you can see them.

B-25 Corrected Pilots Seats PE Set

Published: February 22, 2013
Company: Eduard

The set consists of one photo etch sheet in an unpainted brass color. You get parts to build complete new seats for the pilot and copilot. I thought the kit seats were nice, but these are really nice. Once completed and painted, they simply dropped in.

The instructions are quite adequate in explain the bending and placement of the photo etch parts. The seats really call out for the additional Eduard Seatbelt Set, 32746…which I would highly suggest getting.

The down side of these beautiful seats is that once the plane is completed, it is hard to see all the work you have done. If you do add the additional seat belts from Eduard, their placement and attachment are a little fuzzy and you will have to figure it out.

HIGHLY recommended. One should have… more