Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

Hauler is offering a set of replacement wheels for the Tamiya Sd Type 16 in 48th scale.

The Hauler wheels are boxed in a study cardboard box and stored in a small zip lock bag within. There are eight wheels contained in the box, two wheels marked as “A”, two as “B”, two as “C”, and two as “D”.

There are no “instructions” contained in the box, nor is there a need for an instruction sheet.

The wheels are each attached to an individual block of resin with the alpha I.D. for that wheel molded on the resin block. The wheel can be quickly removed from the resin block with a razor saw without any damage being done to the tread on the tires.

The Hauler website has an insignificant error on it, which identifies the resin wheels as “photo-etched”. The wheels are, indeed, resin.

The detailed tread on the tires speaks to the excellent quality of the product.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.25

Hauler-Brengun is well known as a supplier of high-quality aftermarket detail parts for aircraft, as well as other subjects. In this review, we will look at a set of tires for 1/48th F4U Corsairs. This set of tires is labeled as “Late Ribbed Thread (Late 50s) Wheels Set”. If your Corsair is modeled after an aircraft in use in the late 1950’s then these wheels are for you!

The product package will be very familiar to Brengun fans. The envelope consists of a clear material which allows for an excellent view of the two tires within. The familiar red Brengun data card and a piece of thick black cardstock keeps the wheels safe from harm.

Each of the two resin tires is molded as a single piece. There are no seams and therefore, there is no mold ridge to file down along the circumference of the tires. There is a portion of each tire that is “flattened”, so be sure to put that flat surface into contact with the “ground”.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.26

As with most Brengun wheel sets, this set arrives in a clear plastic “sleeve”. Within are the two sprues with the tires and rim covers for those tires. A small paper serves as the instruction sheet. A thicker rectangle of black paper gives the plastic “sleeve” more rigidity, protecting the 4 resin parts.

The instructions are very useful, showing the angle of the landing gear struts to the “ground”, giving the modeler an “assist” in getting the flat surface of the tires and the gear legs in the proper position.

The tires are cast as a single piece, avoiding any seam along the circumference of the tire where it to be molded in halves. It will be necessary to clean up portions of the tire tread where it is attached to the sprue. A quick scraping with an Xacto blade will effectively remove any flash.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.00

Thanks once again for another great set from SAC, and thanks to John and Phil for sending it out for review.

Recommended Kits:

  • Heller 1/72 T-6 Texan and any other companies that have released the kit under license such as Encore

The review item is the typical high standard and normal from SAC; a direct replacement for the kit items except these are cast metal. Consisting of sets of two main gear and one tail gear, there is not much to describe except to remove the parts from the pour runners with side nippers, use flat 220 wet/dry to prepare the cut stub, then install the gear on the model.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

The Two Bobs website featuring this decal sheet provides the back story for this decal sheet.

“2017 marked the 60th Anniversary of Chitose Base in Hokkaido Japan. To commemorate this event, 201 Squadron, 2 Wing painted an F-15J in this striking scheme.

201 Squadron has a long history within JASDF. While flying the F-104J, it was responsible for conducting aggressor missions as well as providing ACM training. Reformed in 1986, the squadron received the F-15J.

Over the last 33 years, the squadron along with the 203rd Squadron, shoulders the responsibility for securing Japan's northern airspace.”

This information is also printed on the decal instruction sheet.

This decal sheet includes all markings and stencils required for this aircraft.

Recommended kits:

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Fly Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.95

History

The Fiat G.50 came about as a result of the Italian Air force’s need to replace the biplane fighters that had served them well during the nineteen thirties. The Fiat CR.42 biplane had been an especially successful fighter, and in fact continued in use through most of World War II, but a higher performing monoplane was needed, and Fiat started work on a prototype in 1936 and flew the first prototype in 1937. Although the aircraft had excellent flying qualities, its bulky Fiat A74 RC38 radial engine produced only 840 hp., resulting in disappointing performance, and the twin 12.7 mm. Breda SAFAT machine guns were thought to be inadequate. In fact, the Air Force considered the Macchi C.200 radial engine fighter to be superior in most respects, but both aircraft were put into production, with most pilots preferring the Macchi.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$59.95

Eduard has released a limited edition of their great Mig-21 kit. This time the bis version used by other countries with marking for seven different air forces that used the aircraft.

In the box is:

  • 8 x light grey sprues
  • 1 clear sprue
  • 1 large decal sheet
  • 1 mask sheet
  • 3 x photoetch detail set
  • 13 resin parts
  • 1 instruction booklet

While you get 8 sprues, you also get plenty of unused (spare) parts. All the sprues are extremely well molded with very little flash and great detail. The decals allow you to finish the aircraft in 7 different versions and are printed by Cartograf.

Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.00

Brengun produces a wide range of unique resin and photo-etch accessories in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72, as well as 1/144.

This item covers a unique subject that will assist outfitting a wide variety of aircraft. There are resin chaff/flare dispensers produced for a specific subject complete with their entire mounting. This accessory will allow the modeler to add it to kits where fidelity is poor or completely missing, as well as add it on aircraft kits where a version specific resin update is not available.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) offers an extensive range of replacement landing gear parts for a wide variety of kits. I have some experience using SAC items to replace kit parts and I’ve found that the SAC items add strength to the model without sacrificing any of the detail found on the original parts.

This gear set is designed to be used on the Trumpeter Fairey Firefly kit. The SAC product includes seven parts.

Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
Company
RB Productions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.00

I must admit, I am normally against ordering aftermarket products unless I am building a specific piece for a commission build or wanting to recreate a specific aircraft belonging to a specific pilot. I am usually content to stick with what’s in the box and adapt as needed. However, when I saw this set was available and was looking up the schemes, I jumped at the chance for something out of the ordinary. This particular set is available in the three major scales of 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32.

Included in the zip-locked bag are schemes for four Italy-based 15th AF aces as follows: