This set provides belts for the F-104G using the Mk. GQ7A ejection seat.

The F-104 also used a C2 ejection seat, and one is provided in the Hasegawa kit I used (stock #PT 20), but the seats are very different designs, and this set won’t work on the C2 seat. In general, the export versions of the F-104 used the Mk. GQ7A seat. I would consider this a “must have” since the base kit doesn’t provide any kind of harness for the GQ7A seat.

This set is part of the Brassin line and provides an impressive upgrade for the exhaust can, burner ring and nozzle of the J79-GE-19 powered F-104G.

The set is intended for the Hasegawa/Eduard kit. I used it on the Hasegawa F-104 Starfighter “Nato Fighter” stock # PT20 boxing. This set replaces parts U6, R26, R27 and L8 in the original kit. Photo etch parts are included to represent the burner ring(s). The exhaust tube is a seamless part which has very well done interior detail. In fact, every part in this set is a refined replacement of the plastic parts in the base kit. The exhaust nozzle is much thinner and has more surface detail than the kit part.

Master Model of Poland continues to expand its 1:48 Air Master line. This time with an armament set for the Tamiya 1/48 Mosquito Mk.II/Mk.IV including Browning .303 barrels and Hispano 20mm cannons and a pitot tube.

As you can see from the pictures, the metal parts are extremely fine with excellent detail all around. In some cases the parts were so small that I had trouble getting really good quality pictures of them. I am including a manufacturer image on the review.

The design of the detail parts implies that you will have to modify the plastic parts. It will be an easy replacement, you need to remove the plastic cannon/machine gun and drill a receiving hole. If you doing in a clean and smart way you might even be able to install the metal machine guns and cannon after the model painting is completed.

The B-17 Flying Fortress was one of the best-known bombers of World War Two. Being able to withstand large amounts of battle damage and still come home endeared the aircraft to its crews.

This release by Hasegawa is an aged kit but still a joy to build. It features a new set of decals, overall good fit, and lightly raised panel lines. The light grey plastic has some sink marks, the worst being the backs of the propeller blades. The kit contains 97 parts and comes in a nice box with a sturdy card stock bottom and a nice glossy top with beautiful box art.

Although this kit was received in good condition, one of the propellers had a blade broken off. While I was able to fix that one, my kitten Amelia decided to chew up another. I had to go to the spares box to find a replacement for that one.

Aires Resin has produced a set of replacement flying control parts for the Airfix 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk 22. The resin horizontal stabilizers are a superbly detailed drop-in for the kit’s plastic parts. The supplied items include a firm greenish-grey resin casting block with the horizontal stabilizers attached. A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates identical replacements that will provide poseable control surfaces for this nice little kit from Airfix. As always, check your reference photos.

You will not need to do surgery to the kit to use these beautifully cast pieces in your build. The resin fixed wing parts can be attached the same as the kit parts. The resin moveable parts can then be posed as desired. Attach them to the plastic with some super glue, and don’t forget to pose the control stick in the cockpit in the appropriate position!

Very highly recommended.