Reviews of scale model detail sets.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
October 22, 2010
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

The FuG 220 Sn-2b radar antennas were installed on Bf 110 and Ju 88 night fighters during World War. These radar antennas are the focal point of any night fighter kit. Model Master from Poland provides us with turned brass antenna struts and antenna dipoles to enhance the look of our next night fighter kit.

The turned brass parts mean that no mold line is present and that alone is enough of a reason to consider upgrading your kit. The other advantage is that antenna struts and dipoles actually have a circular cross-section.

Assembly is straightforward and simple. The instructions recommend soldering the parts together for assembly, but my soldering skills are not very good. I’ve used super glue instead. It worked OK, but I managed to knock off the dipoles in a few occasions during construction.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 10, 2020
Company
Loon Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Roll Models has come out with their own brand of aftermarket resin parts, Loon Models and we'll review two sets in this review- a gun pack set and a set to modify G-10 wings and wheels.

The gunboat Messerschmitt Bf-109 contains some of the best looking markings for the 109. So what is unique about this set? Well for one the centerline gun pod. As far as I can recall this is the only way you can get the centerline gun pod without scratch building it. The packaging refers you to the AJ Press #17 for pictures of the actual pod and installation. This will be very helpful. This will make your 109 different from the rest.

The wing gun pods are nicely detailed, but they don’t look much different from the kit offerings.

Everything is molded in blemish and bubble free light caramel resin you get six pieces, two wing pods, one centerline pod and three 20mm cannons. Each piece will require just a quick little cleanup and each pod will need the hole enlarged for the gun.

Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
October 19, 2010
Company
Fine Molds
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$18.00

Rumors have been circulating over the past several months that Fine Molds would enter the 1/350 ship model market with a new offering of a Fubuki class destroyer. These appear to be confirmed by the fact that several on-line retailers now offer pre-orders on the Fubuki class DD Ayanami. If potential buyers are curious as to what the quality of this new vessel will be like, they need only take a look at either of these new accessory sets now offered by Fine Molds.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
January 4, 2022
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.50

Anyone who knows me will tell you my favorite airplane is the Curtiss P-40 and I have a closet full of kits to prove it. One of them is a 1/72 scale Academy kit that I had allotted to the maybe-someday-stack because of conspicuous problems with the way Academy molded the P-40’s fuselage quarter windows. Well, now Aires has (or ‘have’, if you are reading this review in Canada or the UK) added a set of accurate P-40 well bays to their line of resin detail parts, and they’ve brought to my attention another problem area that needs addressing. The kit’s wheel bays are just as inaccurate as the shape of the quarter windows. Fortunately, Aires has done a nice job of solving that problem for me and has led me to move the kit to a higher position in the stack.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
October 1, 2021
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost has found another item which will enhance a small, but noticeable, part on Trumpeter’s P-40 Warhawk. This particular part is the engine exhaust which is on both front sides of the fuselage.

The Trumpeter part comes in two pieces and needs to be glued. When gluing the parts together, you will notice that the outer edge of each exhaust pipe doesn’t quite fit together and therefore needs to be compressed carefully so as not crush them. After that, it has to be cleaned up as careful as possible so as not to make one shorter than the other.

I would think the reason Trumpeter uses two pieces for each side is because each half can be made like a half pipe then joined together so as to have a hollow center. If this wasn’t done that way, then it would probably have to have been one solid piece, which the builder would have to drill out the center on a curved piece of plastic for each exhaust pipe on each side.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
October 18, 2010
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$109.99

The F-8 Crusader has always been one of my favorite aircraft. I personally tend to model in 1/48 scale, however when the opportunity came up to review Aires 1/32 detail set for the Trumpeter F-8E/H, I could not resist. The set showed up, and I found an F-8 kit with a few other goodies shortly after, so I was all set.

Aires has always been a leader in the realm of aftermarket resin sets. I am used to their 1/48 line and the level of detail found on those, but was blown away with their treatment in 1/32. First, the set is large, and comes in a sturdy cardboard box with lid and clear picture of the contents. Opening the box you are greeted with several bags of large resin parts, a small photo-etch fret, and instructions.

The main areas covered by this set are:

Review Author
Stephen Bierce
Published on
October 17, 2010
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.99

I'll admit to being a little confused when I requested this assignment. I was expecting something else. Still, these are very welcome components as I have two 1/72nd scale Spitfire Mk.V’s in my “to-build” pile.

The Spitfire was among the earliest production fighter aircraft to adopt a 20mm cannon as armament; with the “B” arrangement for the cannon being introduced in the Mk.I and Mk.II models that fought the Battle of Britain. While the success of the armament was spotty at that time, it became the standard on the Mk.Vb [the same guns also found their way into the initial production Sea Fury]. The earliest Mk.Vc Spitfires also used this pattern of gun barrels before going to the “beefier” barrels as standard (parts that Master also offers separately). So these parts are not only compatible with the Spitfire Vb, as advertised.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
October 17, 2010
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.00

It seems that Master Model has raised the bar a little more with their Air Master Series. These awesome little pieces are designed and produced in Poland, and run the gambit with accessories from aircraft to ships in scales from 1/72 to 1/350. You have to visit their website to see it all, and more than likely you will be ordering something from them.

In this case I happen to be reviewing the Air Master Series of the 1/32 early Spitfire E-Wing which contains two Hispano 20mm cannons and two .50 cal machine guns in fairings. According to Master Models, these are turned brass pieces which are made to exact scale specs.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
November 30, 2021
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$0.00
  • QB48 333 AU-23A Nose $3.49
  • QB48 334 AU-23A Propeller with tool $6.29
  • QB48 335 AU-23A Exhaust $4.61

Roden’s AU-23A kit was a welcome addition for those who like Counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft, and Roden has established itself with a fine line of kits. However, being a short run kit, there are areas that can be improved with the addition of resin details. Quickboost comes to the rescue, with a series of items to help overcome some of the minor shortcomings of the Roden AU-23A kit.

QB48 333 AU-23A Nose

First in line is a single piece part to replace the nose on the kit. The resin part has a nicely molded front with deep air inlet. There is also some crisp panel lines scribed in, and at first glance this looks like a winner.

Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
October 16, 2010
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$15.00

These represent a fairly new product from Aires, long time producer of quality resin aftermarket aircraft accessories and they are absolutely GORGEOUS !!!

As image shows, all tires and hubs are cast flawlessly as separate pieces which makes making painting a breeze. The tires have raised “Goodyear” and tire info in raised letters that take a light dry brushing extremely well. Images show the difference between kit and resin parts. There is also included a length of copper wire to be used as a brake line. I truly believe that these will sell very well when the work spreads as to the quality found here. See the “Wheeliant” line on Aires website at https://www.aires.cz/en/. Many thanks to Aires for the review sample.

Please note that cost is an estimate.