Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$19.95

The Products

  • 672 077 - Eduard Brassin UTI MiG 15 Cockpit (Resin) - $19.95
  • CX 427 - Eduard UTI MiG 15 UTI Die-Cut Canopy mask - $9.95

Eduard Brassin Resin Cockpit Interior For MiG 15 UTI

This kit contains 13 resin-cast interior parts plus one small PE sheet for the Eduard MiG 15 UTI jet trainer kit. Included are a cockpit floor, two seat mounts, two ejector seats, one rear canopy part, one front instrument panel, two control sticks, two cockpit side panels, one clear plastic forward gunsight, and a PE sheet containing such things as seat belts, rudder pedals, and other very small details.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.00

Aerobonus has provided another addition to the great Diorama releases with this US WWII load cart. These were used to manually transport single bombs to the aircraft on Aircraft Carriers and also airfields.

The detail quality is great, there minimal flash or other imperfections. The parts once removed from the mold base are ready to assembly. The small parts are very delicate and you must take extreme care when removing from the mold base. I had a big problem with the four small grab handles which all broke and I had to replace them with wire ones I made.

The Assembly is quick and easy. The final part is painted yellow and looks great as an addition to any diorama.

Thanks go to Aires for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

The Vought F4U-5N Corsairs were delivered from the factory with four 20mm cannons with installed flash suppressors. Quickboost provides you with a set of Vought F4U-5N 20mm cannon fairings with flash suppressors. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the Hobby Boss provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. Although these cannon fairings with flash suppressors could be used on other F4U-5N kits with modification, Quickboost already has a set out for the Hasegawa F4U-5N kit (QB 48 680).

Quickboost has molded the cannon fairings with flash suppressors perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhausts have no mold seams to sand off along with a hollowed out barrel flash suppressors.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.00

Want an easy upgrade the new tool Airfix kits of the Gloster Gladiator? Step right up to the new Quickboost Gloster Gladiator air intakes that provide a beautiful replacement to the kit parts. The supplied instructions identify which Airfix kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements.

Quickboost has molded the air intakes perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost air intakes are supplied on a single resin sprue with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.95

This is the latest Eduard Spitfire release and is the Mk.XVI Bubbletop version. This series is great and I have three of the other version in my stash. As this is the ProfiPack version it comes with the additional the Eduard accessories to add the extra details.

In the box is:

  • 5 x light grey sprues
  • 1 clear sprue
  • 1 photoetched details parts
  • 1 mask set
  • 1 decal sheet
  • 1 instruction booklet

All the sprues are extremely well molded and super fine details we have come to expect from Eduard’s kits.

The kit can be built as any of five versions; you need to decide before commencing the built which you are going to do. I originally was going to do version B but as explained later I ended up finishing it as Version E the personal aircraft of the Air Officer Commanding no 21 Group RAF.

Review Author
Stephen Bierce
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$30.95

The history of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 in the hands of the People's Republic of China (J-7 in the PLAAF; F-7 for export) is a long and convoluted one, which came to a close with the deliveries of the final production examples to export customer nations in 2013. Almost from the beginning, the Chinese wanted to either improve the design into something more modern, or outright replace it with something original. In the JF-17, which started as a 1980s upgrade concept known as the Super Seven, they achieved their goal both ways at the same time—albeit too late to help the PLAAF, who have chosen the J-10 as the official successor for their J-7s.

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

History

The MiG-15 was the product of the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Team, which was known as the MiG Design Bureau. After producing a series of moderately successful fighters during World War II, and numerous prototypes, their first jet powered design, the MiG-9 was not produced in significant numbers. However, after the war, when German aerodynamic research became available, a design was produced using some of the ideas that were incorporated into the Focke Wulf TA-183 jet fighter prototype, which include a sweptback wing. The original prototype first flew in December, 1947, powered by an imported Rolls Royce Nene engine, which the Russians later copied for use in production models. The MiG-15 became the standard Soviet fighter during the late forties, and continued in service for many years thereafter. The type was also exported to Soviet Allies, including China, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and other countries under Soviet influence.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$22.95

Eduard continues to release great photoetch sets this is no exception. This is for the Kinetic Mirage IIIE. This set adds a lot of missing detail to the cockpit that really add to the kit.

The photoetch parts are for the:

  • Seat
  • Instrument panel
  • Canopy details

In the packet is:

  • 2 x photoetch sheet
  • 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a must have set for the Kinetic kit as it makes it into a great model with all you need to improve the detail of this aircrafts cockpit. The instruments are great and make the cockpit very impressive.

Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.00

For modern aircraft modelers looking to add even more detail to their next 1/72 scale F-16, Master Model has introduced static dischargers that can be installed on the wings and tail, just like the real plane. Modelers often overlook the static dischargers, but these brass items, which are finely machined, will make installation an easy task for most modelers. The directions have you simply scribe a shallow socket to receive the new part, and I would recommend your favorite cyanoacrylate glue to attach the parts.

Static dischargers, or wicks, are used on aircraft to relieve the static buildup that typically takes place when flying through rain, snow, ice, or dust. The high resistance of the discharger provides a relief path that does not interfere with onboard communications or navigation equipment. Without dischargers, the relief of energy can be through any protruding surface of the plane, such as wing tips, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and antennas.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Another very nice photoetch set this time for the Kinetic Mirage III E kit. This set adds a lot of extra detail to the exterior of the kit.

The photoetch parts are for the:

  • Engine exhaust details
  • Air brakes
  • Landing gear doors
  • Landing gear bays

In the packet is:

  • 1 photoetch sheet
  • 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a must have set for the Kinetic Mirage kit as it makes it into a great model with lot of additional exterior details for this aircraft. I really think the exhaust detail alone is worth getting this set for.

Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.