While this set is designed for the Fujimi kit, it’s a direct drop in; you can easily use it on any of the Hasegawa offerings (which I’ll be using). It’s an excellent upgrade from the kit parts and requires minimal modeling effort to complete.

It consists of a single fret of 2 PE afterburner flame rings and two sets of exhaust “feathers” (long), afterburner cans, and exhaust cones. My sample was cast in dark grey resin and was bubble free. The cut lines are clearly defined and the resin separates easily from the pour stubs with a few swipes from a razor saw. A few swipes with a sanding sick leveled the parts up and they were ready to assemble.

Be very careful with the PE afterburner flame rings. They are extremely delicate and are somewhat oversized for the afterburner cans. I used a wooden dowel, to gently move them into position, to where the grooved afterburner can liner begins.

Quick Boost has quickly built a reputation for excellent resin castings at affordable prices. These two sets are sure to add to that for the already great out-of-the-box 1/72 Hasegawa A-1J kit.

Few things are more heartbreaking than finally getting to the last stages of finishing a kit, only to realize that you’ve lost an antenna. Sure, you can try your skills at re-construction from scrap styrene, putty, or both but we all know that’s easier said than done. Again, these are direct replacements for the kit parts. My sample was very crisp and bubble-free

As always, make sure you wear a respirator when you make your cuts and vacuum up the residual dust once you’re finished.

To Trekkers around the world, the K-7 Space Station is most famous for two episodes. First featured in The Trouble with Tribbles [from the Original series], the station was again featured in Trials and Tribble-ations [from Deep Space Nine]. The station is easily recognized by its three arms with saucers at each end. In the 1970’s, AMT released several Star Trek kits, including the K-7 Station. Now, Round 2 Models has revived the old AMT kits, reissuing them as standard and special editions. The kit is basically the same as the original issue; with new decals [the special edition features a collector's tin and a miniature Tribble]. The reissue even includes the little USS Enterprise in scale with the station.

Osprey’s newest edition to their popular New Vanguard Series is an overview of the Mil Mi-24 gunship, popularly known by its NATO code name, Hind. Using the now-standard format for the New Vanguard series, the author explores the Hind’s development, its various variants, and a short combat history not only in the ex-Soviet Union and Russia, but the other countries who field this gunship.

Tamiya’s kit practically begs to be used in a diorama and this could make a great start. It has:

• complete sets for left and right wings
• ammunition trays
• gun bays
• access panels with PE locking rods
• feed chutes
• 4X .50 Browning machine guns with PE top covers and charging handles

Again, some of the pour stubs on the gray parts are thick and you’ll need to be very careful with the cream color .50 gun barrels and feed chutes. They’re extremely fragile. I’d recommend you have some experience with resin, modifying kit parts, and PE before you tackle this one.