Adding to the Quickboost line of 1/32nd scale ejection seats is this latest offering for the Trumpeter F-8 Crusader. The seat, cast in their normal gray resin, comes in two pieces. The main body and the pull ring are both perfectly cast, and the pull ring has a resin protector cast in front of it. To assemble, cut the bottom plug off the seat, trim the pull ring and attach it, and paint it up. As with all Quickboost seats, the belts are molded in and have a nice draping effect to them. I included several shots of the seat plus a shot of the kit seat and the Aires seat. The kit seat is styrene and does have a set of PE belts, and for a kit seat is pretty nice. The Aires seat is, not surprisingly, very similar to Quickboost's, but the belts are multiple PE parts, as well as some seat detail. In looking at the seats, either the Aires or Quickboost are much better defined and accurate.
September 2013
Plusmodel was established in 1990 in the Czech Republic. Their product range is primarily made up of 1/35th scale resin kits, conversion sets, and accessories which are vacuum cast from polyurethane resin. Their products may be purchased on line through https://www.modelchoice.net .
A new addition to their line is a set of replacement cowlings for the Academy 1/72 PV-1 Ventura kit. The resin cowlings are a two-piece, cut and glue in-place replacement of the kit’s plastic parts. The supplied items include a two-piece main cowling and engine nacelle, and tiny intake covers for each.
Another addition to the Quickboost line for the Kinetic S-2F Tracker is a replacement set of engines. The set comes with four parts – two engines and two holders. They are cast in familiar gray resin and are perfectly molded.
The installation is simple. Assemble the nacelle as per kit instructions. Sand down the backing ring so it slides into the opening, paint it up and glue the engine in place, and then the cowling, and you're done.
One thing noticeable in the comparison pictures is that the Quickboost engines are missing the rods connecting the valve covers and engines. They are easily made, and if you add ignition wires you have a superb upgrade.
In summary, this is a more detailed simple upgrade which is cast perfectly and fits very well and is very visible on the finished kit. A couple simple push rods and you're there. These are definitely recommended. My thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the chance to review them.
Quickboost continues its aftermarket parts for the 1/48 Kinetic S-2F Tracker family with a part labeled as the Tracker’s radar. First and foremost, this isn't part of the radar. It is really the MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector) boom which extends from the back of the plane as it looks for submarines. A good picture of the boom extended is: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S-3A_VS-32_1982.JPEG#/media/Fil….
In looking through internet pics, it looks like the boom was always retracted while on the ground.
Quickboost has issued a replacement "tail wheel" for the Kinetic S-2 tracker. It really isn't a tail wheel, but rather a tail skid. The parts are three – a tail wheel, the skid, and the piston. It is well cast in Quickboost’s gray resin. You separate the parts from the casting blocks, sand the minimal attachment points, and assemble the wheel by adding the separate tire.
One thing to note in the comparison photos is how blob-like the kit parts are – almost no detail whatsoever. The kit part is molded as one piece, lacks any wheel hub detail, and will also need filling as there are definitely some sunken-in areas.
If you are building this kit, this part is a must-have! It is recommended, especially due to the low cost and improved detail. My thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this excellent item.
Many, many thanks to Mr. Hideyuki Shigeta for honoring me with the privilege of building the Super Wing Series He 219 Uhu (Eagle Owl) model kit for public review as an IPMS Reviewer Corps representative. I am deeply appreciative of the trust and confidence shown in me by both Mr. Shigeta and the IPMS Reviewer staff. I am delighted to report on the next stage of construction: the motors.
Motors
As described in my first review of the SWS Uhu, the construction is staged over 7 groups, or chapters. The first part of the instruction chapter concerns preparation of a pair of Daimler-Benz inverted V-12 motor look-alikes for later installation in the wings. As I expected, the part fit was excellent throughout. All parts runners were washed per modeling good practices, filling all my drying hangers, racks, and other available spaces in my laundry room. There was no perceptible mold release on the parts or on the plastic bags holding the part runners.
Although too late for World War 2, the de Havilland Vampire served in front-line RAF squadrons until 1953 and in training squadrons until 1966. The Vampire was the RAF’s second jet-powered aircraft, after the Gloster Meteor. Over 3200 copies were manufactured in numerous variants. The FB.5 was a single-seat fighter-bomber, of which over 1000 were built. It was powered by a de Havilland Goblin II turbojet, and it could reach a maximum speed of 550 mph.
Cyber Hobby’s new Vampire comes shortly after their Meteor, Sea Venom, and Sea Vixen, as they continue to build on their line of post-war aircraft. As a new tooling, the kit makes extensive use of slide-molding. The kit comes in the standard Dragon/Cyber Hobby top-opening box, with images on both the box top and bottom. Forty-five parts are included on three sprues, including one in clear, and are molded in light gray. The sprues are individually sealed in clear cellophane.
Master Model of Poland continues their great run of products with a set of two pitot tubes and an AOA sensor for the Hasegawa 1/48 Draken. If you have never used one of Master's products, you are in for treat. They make machined metal parts for ships and planes. Ship parts are mostly gun barrels, while the planes’ parts are gun barrels, pitot tubes, and various sensors, all of which are in metal, either brass or aluminum.
Quickboost makes another addition to its sets for the Kinetic 1/48th EA-6B Prowler with a replacement set of air scoops. There are 10 different scoops cast perfectly in the expected gray resin.
There are three different varieties of scoops:
- Part 1 replaces kit parts (two scoops) C15+C17/C17+C18
- Part 2 replaces kit part C11 in six scoops
- Part 3 replaces kit part C21 in two scoops
Using the set is simple – cut from the casting block, make sure the bottom edge is good, and glue in place and paint. The Quickboost parts have good depth to the openings, which is not the case with all the kit parts. Also, the kit’s two large scoops have to be glued together and sanded, which is not done with the Quickboost set.
Overall, a good upgrade for the kit parts. Simple and easy to execute, reasonably priced, and also an improvement in accuracy. Recommended to all fans of the Prowler and those wanting that extra detail.
The last S-2F set I have for review from Quickboost is a replacement set of wing pylons for the plane. There were six underwing hard points for rocket pods and conventional depth charges, or up to four additional torpedoes. This set is six direct replacement pylons. Trim them from their well-molded sprue and glue to the plane. I test-fitted three and they snap into place. The molded detail is somewhat finer than the kit parts. The kit includes three rocket pods for each wings.
There is some improvement in accuracy and detail, as the Quickboost parts have better rivet definition and detail. This is especially true on the bottom of the pylons if they are left empty. Kinetic completely missed the prominent pad on the front of the pylons.
This is a very simple replacement. It is easy to use and fits well. For $6.50, this set will definitely improve the look of the pylons. Recommended. My thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the set and chance to review it.