Background

The Yakovlev Yak-28 (Яковлев Як-28) was a multi-role aircraft that was an outgrowth of the Yak-25 that featured a shoulder mounted swept wing to reduce foreign object damage (FOD) from unimproved runways. Like its predecessor the Yak-25, it was produced as a tactical bomber role as well as in the reconnaissance, electronic warfare, interceptor, and trainer versions. The Yak-28 was known under the NATO reporting names Brewer, Firebar, and Maestro respectively.

About the Item

What we have here is a very detailed albeit tiny replacement propeller, hub and mechanism for the new line of Eduard 1/72nd FW-190A series Kits.

What’s in the Box?

The box comes with a total of 7 resin pieces in molded light and dark gray with the 8th piece being the prop blade alignment tool.

These propeller parts are in my opinion a quality part and what amazed me was even as small as they were the rivet detail was still evident and stood out! The Eduard kit parts are very basic and do not pack a lot of detail so this set is for sure a must for the 1/72 scale enthusiast.

The Build

This is a pain free build and hurt my eyes more than anything. I did not use any tool more than the sprue cutter and a #11 scalpel blade to clean up the parts. They are quality parts but keep in mind very brittle and prone to break just due to the small size so please exercise caution when handling them.

Short History

The MG 151 was a 15-mm aircraft-mounted autocannon produced by Waffenfabrik Mauser during World War II. Its 20mm variant, the 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, was widely used on German Luftwaffe fighters, night fighters, fighter-bombers, bombers and ground-attack aircraft.

What’s in the Box?

The Aires set arrived in the standard blister pack we all have come to recognize. Secured in place with a small black foam block accompanied with the familiar blue instruction sheet that in for better or worse terms be very vague at times. The resin parts are highly detailed and somewhat delicate. My sample was flawless and bubble free however the gun barrels where a little on the brittle side. The set contains parts for both gun bays including the guns, ammo cans, feed chutes and single part cover doors

Master-Model released these closely related aftermarket barrel + pitot upgrade sets for the early (i.e. B/C/MkII) 1/32 P-40 tool that exists. The two upgrade sets, designated U.S. Version and British Version respectively, are so closely related that it makes sense to review them both at the same time. I have the Hobby Craft kit (Trumpeter tool re-boxed with AVG decals) and a good friend of mine has the Trumpeter kit which sports the British markings on the box top – so I had a keen interest in looking at these Master-Model offerings and comparing the components to their kit counterparts. My sincere thanks to Master-Model for providing these sets for review through the IPMS USA Reviewer Corps.

What’s in the Box?

There are a lot of parts in this nicely packed box, about 71 pieces, with the photoetch included in the parts count sandwiched between two foam boards in a typical top-folding rectangular lid cardboard box.

The Build Interior/Exterior

Construction starts the build by separating the cylinder heads from the pour stub, the first of 22 steps covering 8 pages. Keep in mind to cut as evenly and straight as possible to help alleviate any alignment issues when it comes to attaching the heads to the radial block using the alignment tools that are part of the PE fret. I was a little paranoid so I cut them right at the base of the stub and kinda just worked my way up to make sure everything was perfect. The alignment tools were a lifesaver and made my life a lot easier. I definitely think things would have turned out much worse for me and my patience if the tools where not included.