Reviews of scale model detail sets.

Review Author
Bill Hollis
Published on
February 10, 2020
Company
Roll Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$23.00

Loon Models bills this set as a “No Cut” conversion. It comprises a small number of tan resin pieces of moderate quality to directly replace styrene counterparts in Roden’s 1/32 scale Siemens-Schuckert D-III kit.

Included are two cowls, one a replacement for the “standard” number supplied in the kit and the second a later “cut back” version. Along with these are a “non vented” propeller hub, a separate engine frame assembly and a horizontal stabilizer/elevator assembly with the shorter span, narrow chord control surface of the earlier production D-III’s.

The parts come packaged in a zip lock bag inside a thermoform plastic box. There is a single sheet of written instructions with no pictures or diagrams, construction sequences, in-progress illustrations or references.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
October 11, 2010
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.95

Eduard is right on par with this Photo Etch Set for Tamiya’s Mk. IX Spitfire. The Tamiya kit is just about the best Spitfire kit out there in any scale and they have already done a superb job with the cockpit. So how does Eduard come back with a product that adds a little more detail to this well thought out cockpit? They’ve done it buy adding just a little extra to Tamiya’s parts by pushing up the detail a few notches. The instrument panel is as superb as always and is done in the usual Eduard manor. But parts, such as the gun sight mounting bracket, are exchanged for Eduard’s more realistic holding bracket. This detail adds a realistic subtleness that wouldn’t be noticed until both parts are compared. The throttle boxes are made more realistic just by the fact that less is more. Instead of a clump of plastic formed to have the general outline, it’s made to look like the throttles can actually be moved back and forth.

Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
October 11, 2010
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.29

I think most of us realize that if we want more detail we will often find it in resin sets, and if we really want the best barrels we’ll find them made for of us out of brass. The Polish company, Master Model, has been producing excellent brass barrels in 1/32 and 1/48 scales for the aircraft modeler and 1/700 and 1/350 brass barrels for the ship modelers. Recently, they have started a line in 1/72 scale and the first product is one that everyone can use – Browning M2 aircraft .50 caliber barrels. Just think of all the Allied aircraft that mounted the M2 .50 caliber machine gun and you can see how popular this could be.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
October 11, 2010
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

The Hasegawa Stuka kits are really nice. They could use some help when it comes to the night bomber variants. That is where Quickboost comes in. They offer three different variants of the night bomber exhausts. This particular exhaust, Type C, is shaped at an angle with beautiful detail inside the front and rear parts. Molded in bubble free light grey plastic with exquisite detail, these exhausts will add to the unique look of your Stuka.

Simply cut the parts from the pour stub and paint. Easy and effective. Of course you’ll have to check your references to determine which exhaust is right for your aircraft.

I recommend you read over “Ghost Bombers”. (ISBN-13:978-1903223154). This provides plenty of motivational reading and drawings.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost for the review copy.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
October 11, 2010
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.50

It is no surprise that I love the Eduard FW-190 kits. I’ve built enough of them to know that I will build more of them. The recent release of the D-9, D-11/13 variants has done nothing to deter this view. One way to set your 190 from the others is to lower the flaps which is seen frequently on operational aircraft.

Molded in light grey resin these flaps have two parts per wing. The conversion set is easy enough to do. After removing the parts from the resin pour blocks simply add the wing stiffeners to the upper wing. There is no cutting here. Simply remove the flaps from the lower wing and add the exquisitely molded flaps. Lightening holes and really thin doublers are just beautiful done and will add to your model. It is a lot simpler than having to bend photo etch and is just as effective.

This product is highly recommended.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
October 11, 2010
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.50

Sometimes fate just sets you up for something great without you realizing it. I keep an F-14 Tomcat (of VF-84) on my desk at work, and not long ago I noticed that I, or someone, had bumped the case it was in, thereby separating the Alpha probe from its place on the nose cone. Before I could remember to take in some glue to make my repair, an offer came out to the IPMS-USA Review Corps to evaluate this very item from a new Polish manufacturer called Master (typically referred to as Master-Models on other internet sites). I immediately requested this particular item, and was pleasantly surprised when I was given the ability to perform this review.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
October 11, 2010
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.95

Every now and then a product comes along that represents a giant leap forward for the modeler. This is one of those products. Aires has released the Wheelliant Weighted Wheels set for Tamiya’s F-14A Tomcat in 1/32 scale

The product is packaged in a clear plastic bag that allows one to view all of the parts prior to purchase. The package contains parts for all four tires, both the main gear tires and nose wheel tires. Also included are the rims, or wheels, for all four tires. A length of copper wire is also included. This wire can be bent and added to the main struts to simulate pneumatic lines.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
November 30, 2021
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 am 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
Stephen Bierce
Published on
September 30, 2010
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.00

I 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 1/72 scale Spitfire Mark Vs in my “to-build” pile.

The Spitfire was among the earliest production fighter aircraft to adopt 20mm cannon as armament, and the “B” arrangement for the cannon was introduced in the Mark I and Mark II models that fought the Battle of Britain. While the success of the armament was spotty at that time, it became standard on the Mark VB...and the same guns were also used on the initial production Seafire. The earliest Mark 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 compatible with more then the Spitfire VB.

Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
October 5, 2021
Company
Roll Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$2.25

Loon Models (Roll Models brand) has added another aircraft seat to their 1/72 aircraft accessory line. This one is for the Messerschmitt Me-262. Loon Models don’t specify a kit for this seat, but you will want to use one that has a normal cockpit in it. The kit I picked out for this review is an older Hasegawa kit of the Me-262A.

The LOON seat is two quality pieces of resin; smooth, seamless and bubble free. The detail is also very nice, and it doesn’t need any extra work to bring out the detail. The beauty of this piece is that all I had to do was paint it, assemble the tow parts, and add a drop of super glue for the install. No cutting needed on the original cockpit floor, just drop it in. This seat has no seatbelts molded on it, which is good if you want to add a pilot or add PE seat belts.