Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Keith Pruitt
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.50

Master Model from Poland has produced another winner with its 1/48 F-102 Delta Dagger Pitot Tube. Turned from brass, the metal part is beautifully detailed. The metal part would also add needed strength in a weak area, considering the usual ease with which plastic parts can be broken. Additionally, using a metal pitot tube will eliminate the need for removing the mold marks commonly found on the plastic part. The package states that it fits all 1/48 F-102 kits. Whether the build is from a standard kit, or some type of resin conversion, this part should work well as intended.

Installation, as with all Master Model metal detail parts, is quite simple. The modeler would remove the molded plastic kit part, drill an appropriately sized hole in the plastic radome and glue the metal pitot tube into the hole with cyanoacrylate glue.

Review Author
Keith Pruitt
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.50

Master Model from Poland has once again scored a hit with its 1/48 RF-101B Voodoo Pitot Tube. Turned from brass, the metal part has excellent detail and should be much more durable than the plastic kit part. The increased detail of this metal part, combined with the inherent weakness of plastic parts, would make this an outstanding choice for replacing the kit pitot tube. While the package states that it fits all 1/48 RF-101B kits, the only one that has been released, outside of possible resin conversion sets, is the Monogram kit from 1986. Whether the Monogram kit or a resin conversion is used, this part should work well as intended. The Monogram kit mentioned has the added disadvantage of having the pitot tube molded with one of the radome halves, which jeopardizes the part even more during any handling as assembly progresses.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Eduard continues its prolific release schedule of truly new items with this weekend release. Thanks very much for providing us the kit, and, as a company, for supporting IPMS USA with review items!

This kit is a re-release of Eduard’s Fw190D kit, without the photoetch, extra markings, masks, etc… and as such the price is much lower. The intent: build a model in a weekend! An excellent idea for those who don’t want to have AMS(Advanced Modeling Syndrome) rule their modeling, and it certainly makes the kits more attractive to the modeling public at large. A brilliant idea that appears to be bearing fruit!

I had not built one of the Eduard Fw190 series models. I have an A-8 and the Profipack D-9 in my stash, with the intent of building them later when I have time (!). When this kit became available, I was pleased to have an excuse to dive in.

Review Author
Jack Kennedy
Published on
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$29.95

I have built many Cyber Model kits in the past year and I believe that they are getting better. This kit of the XB-70A is a real beauty. I might add that the scale is a little off from the standard but I can see the reasoning. The XB-70 is a truly huge aircraft.

One of the highlights of my stay in Columbus for the Nationals was a visit to the USAF Museum in Dayton. I had been there before, but I really wanted to see the XB-70 again and take some detail shots. At the time I didn’t know that a kit of this aircraft was coming out. I have one in 1/144 and one in 1/72 but they are just too big. This scale worked out just fine for my shelves.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$38.00

Aires always releases some fantastic resin and photo-etch accessories, adding a great deal of detail to the finished model. Much excitement surrounded Kinetic when they released a 1:48 EA-6B Prowler, newly tooled. This cockpit set adds a substantial additional level of detail to the kit.

First, let’s take a look at a little history and nomenclature so you can decide if this is the correct kit for you. The EA-6B has gone through five upgrades, six if you count the canceled ADVCAP. Each changed the internal cockpit layout, sometimes drastically, and the electronic equipment that was carried. From the exterior most of the various upgrades can be spotted by the differing antenna fits, so this makes it a little easier for the modeler wanting to replicate a particular aircraft without having to crawl through the cockpit.

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

Quickboost has always helped out the modeler by providing hollowed-out exhausts and other drop-in replacements for kit parts. This latest addition is the fishtail version of the Spitfire exhausts. It is molded perfectly in light grey resin with perfectly hollowed-out exhaust stacks. The fishtail would have made it near impossible for me to do that same amount of detail.

Like all of the Quickboost items, clean up is easy and you just have to replace the kit part. Easy, inexpensive and perfectly cast.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

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

Quickboost has always helped out the modeler by providing hollowed-out exhausts and other drop-in replacements for kit parts. This new addition is the round exhaust version of the Spitfire exhausts for the Airfix kit. They are molded perfectly in light grey resin with perfectly hollowed-out exhaust stacks. The tiny exhausts are perfect, far superior to anything that I could do with a pin vise and Opti-visor.

Like all of the Quickboost items, cleanup is easy and you just have to replace the kit part. Easy, inexpensive and perfectly cast.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$13.00

If you know me, you know I flew AH-1F Cobras in the US Army for over 10 years. The weapon system that was on the nose was the 20mm M197 Cannon. To say I was familiar with the subject of this review would be an understatement.

Master provides you with three exquisitely turned metal cannon barrels and associated clamps. Also provided is a small photo etch fret that contains the various clamps, such as the mid and end-barrel clamps and locking devices.

I could not believe the level of detail that the barrels contain. Every facetted side and a hollow end exhibits superior quality. There is absolutely nothing missing from these barrels. They are perfect miniature barrels. Perfect.

The only thing you have to do to these is assemble them and replace the kit barrels. The difference in look between these and the kits parts is quite impressive. The addition of these barrels to your MRC AH-1W Cobra will dramatically add to the realism of your model.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.50

The latest gun used by the Air Force to arm its fighters is the M61A1 Vulcan. This cannon is a 20mm rotary type used on every fighter from the F-104 onward.

This little gem contains six turned metal barrels, metal mid-barrel spacer ring, and end barrel clamp spacer. There is also a fret of photo etch which has the cooling fins and barrel clamps.

The hardest parts will be assembling the cooling fins on the end barrel clamp. After that, it is gravy and more realistic than anything that plastic can do.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Master Model and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.50

One of the easiest things to do with an aircraft model, at least for me, is to knock off the pitot tube, especially on the nose of my models. Well, thanks to Master Model Poland, that won’t be a factor anymore.

This turned metal pitot tube is perfectly formed with the proper taper. Mounting it is as easy as replacing the kit one. Drill a hole and that is it.

I can’t find anything wrong with this upgrade. You won’t find a better product of this delicate item. This, as with all the Master items, is manufactured to exact specifications and it looks absolutely perfect.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Master Model and IPMS/USA for the review copy.