Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps a 1/72nd scale instrument panel for the J2M3 Raiden that will fit the Hasegawa, A-Model, and Sword kits.

In the Package

The instrument panel detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with one photoetched instrument panel already assembled and one PE etched sheet for cockpit side panels. The parts come packaged in an individual Ziploc bag and cardboard backing which also has instructions printed on it.

Conclusions

Overall, this is a nice detail set to upgrade your J2M3 Raiden instrument panel. The close-up picture shows off the very small detail printed on the PE parts and the fidelity at such a small size is amazing.

I want to thank Yahu Models for providing the J2M3 Raiden instrument panel set and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Highly recommend!

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps a set of 1/72nd scale metal landing gear for the Airfix DH Mosquito B.XVI/PR.XVI kits. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties.

In the Package

The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. There are no instructions.

Review Process

The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for parts F1, F36, and F37 for the under wing gear and G1 and G18 for the tail wheel. The kit’s remaining plastic parts are needed to complete the rest of the landing gear assembly.

The metal used is malleable and has some give to allow for any minor bending that may be needed, since there is some slight deformation when coming out of the molds. Also, seam lines will need to be cleaned up before painting, just like the plastic kit parts.

Aires has provided the Reviewer Corps with a resin replacement set of USAF/VNAF A-1H/J Skyraider wheels in 1/72^nd scale. USAF/VNAF Skyraider wheels used stamped steel rims which are different than the spoked US Navy version. This resin set will allow a more accurate build of a USAF/VNAF Skyraider.

In the Package and Product Notes

The sample review came in a plastic bag with paper instructions and vinyl paint mask. The instructions detail the use of the vinyl masks. For the Hasegawa kit, these are replacements for parts C10 & C11 (wheel & rim).

There are two (2) wheels from the traditional pour moldings for these resin replacements (not 3D generated). The quality is excellent, and the rim edges are pronounced for those who prefer to paint the rubber part of the wheel.

Review Process

I started by giving the resin part a warm soapy bath to remove any release agent. Then I cut away the flash at the base.

I enjoy taking older kits and finding ways to spruce them up – sand off the raised lines and engrave them, add rivets, make corrections or add missing parts, etc. When I saw these Yahu Models instrument panels, I had to give them a try!

I secured instrument panels for three different subjects – an F4F-4, a P-51 B/C, and a P-40 (N-20/N-40 Late). The F4F and P-51 panels were designed for Arma Hobby kits, and the P-40 for the Special Hobby kit. My experience with Arma Hobby kits led me to believe they probably wouldn’t be needed, especially if you are going to build with a closed canopy, and Special Hobby kits often include upgrades for items like this. My habit is to find items like these to spruce up older, less detailed kits. So, I pulled two Hasegawa kits (P-51 B and P-40 N) out of my stash, along with an Academy F4F. Both of the Hasegawa kits had a basic blank clump of styrene to lay a decal on, and the Academy kit had nothing.

Value Gear resin products are well known to most modelers for the excellent quality resin stowage and gear to use on your models and diorama scenes. Owner Steve Munsell is a quality guy who, more often than not, throws in some extra pieces into most of the packages and one package can often inhabit more than a couple builds if used wisely- or you can completely deck out one model if you wish. His 1/16 product lines are growing as more companies release more 1/16 scale kits.

What’s Inside the Box

This set contains a small zip bag with five 75mm ammo crates for whatever 1/16 scale StuG or Panzer is sitting in your stash. A card with preparation and priming instructions are included. The quality is excellent in this scale and one might want to ding them up a bit to add some variety to the five– but the details of the wood grain, nail holes for the cross slats, and strap enclosures are amazing.