Thanks once again to Quickboost for providing IPMS/USA me these review items; these little things make a big difference, and we appreciate it!

OK, this is about as simple a review as you can get. These four vents are replacements for the kit items; the new QB vents are already hollowed out, and make a big difference in the appearance of the final product. These vents face backwards, and dump heat overboard. See the scan of the instruction sheet for Items 7F, 8F, 39A and 40A on the upper back of the aircraft.

Most of us old school guys use #11 Exacto blades and twirl away, occasionally stabbing ourselves in the fingers, to get hollow intake/exhaust vents.

Enter Quickboost! As we have come to expect, a fast one-for-one replacement for the kit items (See the photos!). The gray ones are the Quickboost; the white blob is one of the kit items.

These items are true “Even a monkey could… “ replacements. Worth the cash and acquisition time.

ICM has a growing line of 1/72 soviet jets and now it is providing modelers with a simple and cost effective way to enhance how to display our models: PAG-14 Airfield plates. I must confess, I don’t know anything about those plates nor I was able to find any online reference so I cannot speak as to their accuracy.

You get 32 individual plates, each one with dimensions of 82 by 27 mm. The plates have some nice texture which gets highlighted with either a wash or drybrushing. The parts have medium size attachment points to the sprue (typical of ICM) and some sanding is required to clean up the parts.

While Trumpeter has come out with a lot of large scale Soviet kits, there are usually some things that could stand improvement with these. Their 1/32^nd scale Mig-21 is a solid kit and I have seen it built up into a nice finished kit many times. That being said, one of the deficiencies of the kit is its weapons pylons. They have minimal detail and like a lot of injection molded pylons, no detail whatsoever on the bottom.

Zactomodels has two varieties of these to select from, early and late, and there are differences between the two. The modeler needs to research the particular aircraft to determine which one is needed. The pylons for the Mig are designated BD3-60-21, early or late.

Let's look at what's in the box. The set comes with 4 pylons- two inner and two outer that are perfectly cast. Also contained is a complete sprue of hardware for each pylon including complete sway braces options.

This build was a perfect storm; From IPMS I received the Mig 23 review items for Zactomodels Mig 23 pylon set, and the seriously improved Intake ramp. I contacted Chris of ZACTOMODEL fame to order missile rails and Aphids; and he sent them on for review. Let’s say it up front: THANKS CHRIS (aka “Zactoman”,) for the cool modeling support items, and providing us these for review. We at IPMS USA appreciate the serious, undying support of distributors like you!

First order of business once I learned of my fate in doing aftermarket for a kit I wanted but did not have: I had to buy a Trumpeter Mig 23M. OW! (But it was worth it)

Editor's note: No product packaging images were provided.

The usual thanks go to Aires for providing IPMS USA with yet another great review item.

A very simple upgrade to the Hobbyboss Mig 17 kit series; you’ll have to remove the inner details from the kit wings, glue the bay in place on the lower wing interior, and they are done. As to the nose: replace the nose intake splitter/wheel well with the resin item. Nose and main gear doors are also included.

It’s worth the cash and time for these parts. Simple modeling skills required; the improvement is seen when the Aires parts are held up next to the kit items.

This is a great time to be in the hobby, and Aires had obviously decided they are going to continue to compete for our hard earned paychecks. With sets like this, they are succeeding… well done Aires!