Reviews of scale model detail sets.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
March 11, 2024
Company
Werners Wings
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$65.00

Floyd Werner and Werner Wings produces wonderful aftermarket and decals primarily (but not wholly) aimed at helicopters. That not surprising as that was what Floyd’s does- fly helicopters. This set consists of parts and decals to convert the Kitty Hawk 1/35th scale HH-60H to the Coast Guard version of the HH-60J Jayhawk. Wait, Kitty Hawk is out of business! Zimi Models to the rescue. They have reissued many of Kitty Hawks kits and that includes the Resue Hawk. Problem solved.

The set includes seven well cast resin parts. The bigger pats are in white resin and include the extra fuel tank and the front fairing in front of the cockpit. Three of the seven parts make up the search light with the modeler supplying the lens.The last two parts modify the instrument panel with a moving map panel and a correct set of gauges.

In addition to the resin, the set if completed by the addition of decals, set 35-13 which includes coast guard marking for five aircraft:

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
March 8, 2024
Company
Detail & Wonder
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$38.85

A new set of 3D printed F/A-18E/F Super Hornet exhaust nozzles (early version) in 1/48th scale are provided by Detail & Wonder Studios for Hasegawa and Meng Kits.

Note: There is no official website for Detail & Wonder Studios, but a Facebook page is available.

In the Package and Product Notes

There are two (2) 3D-printed exhaust nozzles inside a small but very sturdy black box. Each nozzle is individually enclosed in a plastic Ziploc bag and cushioned with a foam insert. These are drop-in replacements for the Hasegawa and Meng kits.

The printed resolution of the nozzle is immaculate and there are NO visible build-up layers. There is a lot of fine detail throughout the entire nozzle and some contrast color weathering will make them pop during the finishing stage.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
March 8, 2024
Company
Detail & Wonder
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$38.95

A new set of 3D printed F/A-18E/F Super Hornet exhaust nozzles (late version) in 1/48th scale are provided by Detail & Wonder Studios for Hasegawa and Meng Kits.

Note: There is no official website for Detail & Wonder Studios, but a Facebook page is available.

In the Package and Product Notes

There are two (2) 3D-printed exhaust nozzles inside a small but very sturdy black box. Each nozzle is individually enclosed in a plastic Ziploc bag and cushioned with a foam insert. These are drop-in replacements for the Hasegawa and Meng kits.

The printed resolution of the nozzle is immaculate and there are NO visible build-up layers. There is a lot of fine detail throughout the entire nozzle and some contrast color weathering will make them pop during the finishing stage.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
March 4, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$9.51

New P-47D Thunderbolt “Bubbletop” vacuformed canopies are available from Brengun for the 1/144th scale Platz/Eduard kit.

There are two (2) canopies in the package. There are no instructions, but the product is self-explanatory.

The clear vacuformed plastic is thin and has very good clarity with very little distortion when looking through it.

Upon closer inspection of the canopies, there is a difference in the moldings. One is for an open canopy since there is a space gap between the windscreen and canopy. The other has no space thus making it a closed canopy installation.

Care must be taken when dealing with vacuformed parts. A new blade in your hobby knife will be a must when trimming away the canopy from the rest of the plastic. Light sanding will also be needed to smooth the rough edges.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
March 4, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$9.51

New P-47D Thunderbolt “Razorback” vacuformed canopies are available from Brengun for the 1/144th scale Platz/Eduard kit.

There are two (2) canopies in the package. There are no instructions, but the product is self-explanatory.

The clear vacuformed plastic is thin and has very good clarity with very little distortion when looking through it.

Upon closer inspection of the canopies, there is a difference in the moldings. One is for an open canopy since there is a space gap between the windscreen and canopy. The other has no spacing thus making it a closed canopy installation.

Care must be taken when dealing with vacuformed parts. A new blade in you hobby knife will be a must when trimming away the canopy from the rest of the plastic. Light sanding will also be needed to smooth the rough edges.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
February 20, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.43

A new resin detail set from Brengun to add or replace 1/48 scale LAU-115 & LAU-127 missile rail launchers for all the variants of the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet, and Growler.

In The Box

There are six (6) resin-poured parts. Two (2) are of the LAU-115 rail launcher with ECP-422 jettison adapters molded in plus two mounting shackles. The other four (4) are the LAU-127 rail launcher. They are designed to be used to launch the AIM-9 Sidewinder or AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Paper instructions are printed on one side and very well illustrated.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
February 20, 2024
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$18.95

This set is designed to provide replacement parts for Zvezda’s Pe-8 bomber kit. The package includes two complete sets of main gear struts and actuators and a new single-piece casting of the tailwheel fork assembly.

As with most of SAC’s landing gear sets, the metal main gear struts and actuator parts are intended to be one-for-one replacements for the kit parts. The parts are well cast, however, in my sample, one of the strut assemblies that hold the main gear wheels was misaligned (see photo), fortunately, as the white metal is easily manipulated, I was able to straighten it up with no issues.

SAC elected to cast the tailwheel fork as a single piece rather than as two parts as Zvezda did. I think this was a great decision as it eliminates the joint where the two kit parts meet, which could become a weak point over time.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
February 18, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.50

A new photoetched detail set from Brengun to add WWII 1/48th gunsights to your German machine guns.

In the Package

There is one sheet of photoetched (PE) brass that includes four (4) different styles of gunsights. Paper instructions are printed on one side and very well illustrated.

In the instructions, the style of gunsights is noted with the German term “Visiereinrichtung” which translates to “sighting device” in English. The gunsights noted are:

  • Visiereinrichtung VL266 for: MG15, MG17, MG131 machine guns
  • Visiereinrichtung VL41 for: MG-FF machine gun
  • Visiereinrichtung VE22 for: MG81, MG81Z machine guns
  • Visiereinrichtung 15 for: MG15 machine gun

Conclusions

This is a nice PE set from Brengun that will add that extra eye-catching detail on your WWII German machine guns. For planes/bombers that have an extra gunner station(s) or for any 1/48th scale diorama or figure.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
February 18, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$26.20

A new resin detail set from Brengun to add or replace 1/48th scale USN 150 gallon drop tanks for the A-4 Skyhawk.

In the Box

There are four (4) resin poured parts, two are of the tanks and the other two are of the tail and mounting shackles (supporting rings). A photoetched (PE) brass sheet includes tail fins. Paper instructions are printed on one side and very well illustrated.

Review Process

The process starts out by cutting away the pour stubs from the drop tanks. This was done with a seam scrapper and hobby knife. Once detached, I wet sanded the surface to reduce any airborne resin dust. Next, I washed the resin parts in a bath of warm water with dishwash soap and used an old toothbrush to scrub away any remaining mold release agent.