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A-10 Thunderbolt II GAU-8 Avenger Gun Tip and Pitot Tube
Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.00

Master – Reality in Miniature is a scale model metal detailing parts manufacturer located in Poland. Their lines include exquisitely detailed photo-etched and white metal replacement parts for aircraft and ships in the most commonly produced scales.

Master has produced a replacement gun tip and nose pitot for 1/72 A-10 Thunderbolt II (that’s the “Warthog”, for those not in tune with “official” USAF nicknames) kits. This goodie is intended to dress up and/or supplement the plastic kit parts. The easily assembled gun nose and turned metal pitot are clean plug-in replacements for the kit plastic parts.

Cover Art

USAF Phantom Mig Killers, Part I
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Speed Hunter Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

Speed Hunter Graphics, a new venture by Reid Air Publications, has released their first decal sheet, and it is devoted to F-4 Phantom airframes that are “MiG-21” killers. I should point out that all of the decal options represent versions of the airframes in the post-Vietnam era, with some of them featuring non-SEA camouflage, but still displaying the “kill” markings. This makes the decal options more attractive and unique.

The sheet includes:

  1. F-4D 66-7554, 906TFG SEA wraparound camo "City of Fairborn" nose art 1983
  2. F-4D 66-7550, 507TFG Hill II camo 1989
  3. F-4C 63-7676, 154CW, Hawaii ANG, SEA wraparound camo, 1984
  4. F-4C 63-0589, 191FIG, Michigan ANG, ADC gray, 1979
  5. F-4C 64-0776, 142FIG, Oregon ANG, Hill II camo 1989
  6. F-4C 64-0829, 482TFW, SEA wraparound, 1982

Options two and five are also included in 1/32 scale as a bonus.

Product package

P-40 Tomahawk Early Square Back Export Seat with Wide Lap Belt Harness
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Ultracast
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.50

Ultracast has released a series of four highly detailed resin seats for early P-40s. This, the second one in the series (#48256) correctly depicts the early square back style seat with a wide lap belt harness that was installed in the Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters that were flown by the AVG. One seat comes packaged in a zip-lock bag stapled to Ultracast’s familiar folded card. The seat is cast in a light tan color resin and comes on a small casting block with a minimum amount of casting flash that is easily removed with a sharp #11 blade.

The review sample was first airbrushed with Mr. Color Interior Green and details were hand brushed with Vallejo acrylics. As the photo below shows, the finely details cast into this seat come alive when painted.

Product Package

P-40 Tomahawk Early Square Back Export Seat with British Sutton Harness
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Ultracast
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.50

Ultracast has released a series of four highly detailed resin seats for early P-40s. This, the third one in the series (#48257) correctly represents the early square back export style seat with British Sutton harness that was standard issue for Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters that were in service with the RAF, RAAF and SAAF. One seat comes packaged in a zip-lock bag stapled to Ultracast’s familiar folded card. The seat is cast in a light tan color resin and comes on a small casting block with a minimum amount of casting flash that is easily removed with a sharp #11 blade.

The review sample was first airbrushed with Mr. Color Interior Green and details were hand brushed with Vallejo acrylics. As the photo below shows, the finely cast details sculpted into this seat come alive when they are painted.

Product Picture

F-4 Phantom II White Metal Landing Gear
Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Hasegawa 1/72 scale F-4 Phantom kits. The white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kit plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts, and one nose gear strut with a separate oleo scissor and retraction strut. Some other SAC packages include replacement wheels, as well, but not the case here. You will need to use the Hasegawa wheels for your build.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. In some cases where original equipment was left in a natural metal finish, painting may not be necessary. As always, check your reference photos

Highly recommended.

Thanks to the IPMS Reviewer Corps and Scale Aircraft Conversions for the opportunity to review this item.