Reviews of scale model detail sets.

Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$6.99

Introduction to Yahu

Founded in Poland in 2013, Yahu Model is well-known for their high-quality, pre-painted photo-etched instrument panels. They offer a range of other products as well, including seatbelts, cockpit detail sets, and various enhancements for aircraft and vehicles.

About the Photo-Etch Set

The YML3504 set replicates the Scammell Pioneer’s dashboard and includes the winch placard. With pre-colored details, it makes achieving a realistic look straightforward and easy.

Comparison to the Actual Dashboard

This set provides an excellent representation of the actual Scammell Pioneer dashboard, capturing the look and layout with remarkable accuracy. While the package placard indicates compatibility with both IBG and Thunder Models kits, research and reference checks reveal that the panel is undersized for the Thunder Models dashboard and does not provide a proper fit.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$18.00

Aires has provided the Reviewer Corps with a resin replacement ejection seat for the A-4M/N Skyhawk in 1/48th scale.

In the Package and Product Notes

The sample review was packaged in a plastic bag with cardboard backing with company labeling. Inside the package are paper instructions, photo-etched fret (seat belts), one poured resin part (the main seat), and a 3-D printed resin part (ejection handles & head padding). The detail and quality are excellent.

Review Process

I started by giving the resin part a warm soapy bath to remove any release agent. Using a razor saw, I removed the seat from the pour stub. The 3D printed parts were removed with good side cutting nippers. CA (Superglue) was used as the bonding agent to attach everything together.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$12.00

The 1/32 Italeri Macchi M.C. 202 Folgore (Kit No. 2518) has garnered great attention to a large scale of an important yet often overlooked WWII Italian aircraft. This Aires aftermarket accessory provides everything for an early version seat for the pilot.

The resin and PE are well executed and defined, along with easy-to-follow instructions for construction. The Aires aftermarket seat is designed to integrate into the Italeri kit, using pieces of the seat frame, namely the tubular stand and pilot headrest. Construction of the seat was straight forward, and the use of PE straps gives a lifelike look to the seat, and thus cockpit.

It took a little over an hour to assemble, with most of the time being the removal of the resin pour block without damaging the four delicate seat mounting tabs. The addition of a seat cushion is what sets this seat apart from the kit seat. Painting was straightforward, resulting in a beautiful early seat for an iconic Italian warbird.

Review Author
Chris Martin
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
Scale
NA
MSRP
$74.99
  • Book; $74.99
  • Paste; $7.49
  • Applicator Tools; $9.96
  • Panzer Kote Tools, $28.99

A hard-bound, 205 pages, 8½ x 12 inch volume containing six chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 provide historic context, while chapters 3 through 6 are for the modeler.

Chapter 1: Zimmerit: History and Riddles

One word best sums up this chapter ... Wow!

The introduction points out that the interest zimmerit is inversely proportional to its real use. As modelers we all “know” what zimmerit is. An anti-magnetic paste applied to defeat magnetic anti-tank mines. Furthermore we are all familiar with the typical parallel line and waffle patterns. But did you know there were 18 different patterns? And that certain patterns were used exclusively by a single manufacturer?

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.00

Fresh from the Review Corps gathering at the 2025 IPMS-USA Nationals comes this 1/72 scale wiper blade set for the AH-64 Apache from the folks at Quickboost. The wipers are intended for use with the Academy kit and will replace parts A6 and B51. For this review, I used my Hasegawa kit (product E6, AH-64 Apache Longbow) to show that they can also be used to upgrade a kit without wipers included. These parts are highly recommended for improving the detail on your 1/72 scale AH-64 Apache.

Quickboost has been around for several years producing detail parts and replacement parts for various models. While researching the set for this review, it appeared that at the time of my writing, this set was yet to be released. The price provided is my best guess based on similar products from the company, but this may vary slightly when released.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.99

Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a 1/32nd scale instrument panel for the D3A1 Val (late) that will fit the Infinity Models kit (INF 3206).

In the Package

The instrument panel detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with two photoetched frets. Some of the instrument panels are already assembled. The parts come packaged in an individual Ziploc bag and cardboard backing, which has instructions printed on it.

Conclusions

Overall, this is a very nice detail set to upgrade your D3A1 Val instrument panel. The close-up picture shows off the minute detail printed on the PE parts, and the fidelity at such a small size is amazing.

To install this set will require an adhesive like Superglue (CA) or 2-part epoxy (or similar). Therefore, I would recommend this to folks who are comfortable with handling this type of bonding agent.

Review Author
Chris Vandegrift
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.20

These brass pad eyes have a good appearance to them with a slight bit of texture just on the inside diameter. I think this will help it take paint and give some depth to the inside of the pad. On the real ones, this section rolls down into the bowl, so having a slightly different tone on the ID should give an appearance of depth. These pad eyes measure out at 5/16 inches in diameter, at 1:32 scale, that is 10 inches. Check your references to make sure this matches the assembly or carrier deck you are working with. The brass is a pretty standard thickness. They should lie down nicely for a diorama. I like that there are only two attachment points, making it simpler to clean up the edges of the brass for installation. My approach has been to drill shallow holes, using a drill press so that I get the same depth and then lay the pad eye in so it is flush with the deck on the diorama.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.94

Tamiya kits are known for their ease of building and detail. There are some tradeoffs that come with that philosophy, particularly with engine screens and other small metal parts on the real vehicle. While the base Tamiya kit is great out of the box, there is always room for more detail, and this Hauler kit does not disappoint.

This PE set fills that void and takes the Tamiya 1/48 M5A1 Stuart (Kit No. 32606) to the next level. This set includes two PE frets (A (1 5/8” x 2 ¼”) containing the M1919 MG mount, ammo can, periscope cages, spare track hangers, light guards, grab handles, etc.; and B (1 3/16” x 1 5/16”) containing the four engine screens and tool tie downs, and a resin sprue with onboard tools and M2 HMG.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$36.00

During World War II, Allied military engineering units used special metal plates called Marston Mat (aka PSP, or Pierced Steel Planking) to rapidly construct temporary field airfields. These steel plates could withstand heavy loads and enabled the quick installation of stable, durable airfield surfaces for various aircraft on soft or unstable ground. Their perforated design allowed water to drain easily from the surface without compromising the covering’s quality. The Marston Mat, named after its first testing location near Marston, NC, in November 1941, became widely used in combat operations across the Pacific theater, North Africa, and Europe. Allied engineering units could construct airfields of various sizes in just days using these plates. After the war, the plates found new life in peaceful applications, particularly in building temporary roads and platforms and numerous uses on farms. In addition to its use by the USAAF and USN, the Marston Mat was also used by the RAF.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$8.99

Brengun has released a detail set for the P-51D Mustang in 1/144th scale. Kit manufacturers recommend are Platz, Eduard, and Bego (all from the same mold).

In the Box

This detail set will provide enough material for two complete Mustangs and consist of parts for the cockpit, wheel wells, and wing flaps. To bond these parts during installation will require CA (Super Glue).

The resin parts will replace the flaps, cockpit yoke, and gunsight. The photo-etched parts will add detail to the cockpit floor, side panels, instrument panel, seat belts, and underwing interior of the wheel wells.

For flap installation, some surgery will be needed to remove the kit’s flaps so cutting tools like a razor saw or similar will be needed.