Master Model from Poland specializes in metal turned parts for aftermarket kits. In my personal opinion, they are among the best in the market. I really like their products, and this set in particular is really nice.

This set is devoted to the weapons of the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC in 1/24 scale. As far as I know, there is only the Trumpeter kit of a Hurri MkIIC in 1/24, but they might be others and I’m sure this kit will fit any 1/24 scale Hurri MkIIC, perhaps with small modifications if needed.

The instruction indicates to modify the wing fairings to accommodate the metal ones and then add the metal turned parts, as shown in the renderings from the manufacturer. This is a simple “drop-in” replacement set that only uses 4 replacement parts per cannon.

This aftermarket set will enhance the looks of your finished model. I’d recommend this set to the average to experienced modeler.

Ultracast has added a series of highly detailed resin detail parts for the Eduard Spitfire Mk. IX kit. This set (#48262) provides a pair of flared exhaust stacks that replace the kit parts. The Eduard kits are recognized for accuracy and detail but the kit exhausts unfortunately are designed in such a way that they must be installed at an early stage in the assembly process. Doing so makes it difficult to paint the exhausts and surrounding areas without a considerable amount of masking later in the build.

Ultracast’s set includes a pair of backing plates that are installed instead of the kit exhausts at that point in the construction of the fuselage and provide a foundation for the resin exhausts that can be installed after the model is assembled and the fuselage is painted. This permits the modeler to also paint and weather the exhausts before installation, making for a clean job of it with no masking.

Among the items recently added to Ultracast’s line of highly detailed resin detail parts are upper cowls that replace those in Eduard’s numerous Spitfire Mk.IX kits. This set (#48264) provides a ready to install one-piece Flat upper cowl (found on the early Mk.IXs) that replaces the kit parts. Note that I say parts because the kit upper cowl comes in two pieces that must be glued together…creating a seam that must then be rubbed out. The Eduard kits are recognized for accuracy and detail and they can be built into excellent replicas of the aircraft, but the two-piece cowl creates extra work for the modeler and creates the likelihood that some molded-in surface detail might be lost in the process. The Ultracast part avoids all of that and speeds the build considerably. This ‘time saver’ aftermarket part comes on a small casting block that is easily removed with a razor saw (See photos below).

The usual thanks to Ross and his team at SAC for passing on this set to IPMS USA and to our leadership for sending it my way!!!

This set is, as usual, a simple SAC upgrade (as they all are), targeted for the new Hasegawa F-35A kit. Among the big three 1/72 F-35 kits that I have now constructed, (Academy, Italeri, and Hasegawa), the Hasegawa kit is by far the simplest. In many ways I like the detail better, particularly the use of decals for the external RAM panels. No external stores or open weapon bays… this one is the clean, closed up and stealthy model. The cockpit itself contains an excellent crewmember figure if you choose to use it (I did).

Photo Etch. Some love it, others hate it. This guy has a love hate relationship with it as well, but this was one set that I was more than capable of using without any serious issues. To my knowledge I only created 4 new cuss words, but they were my own doing and not the products fault. With that being said, let’s look at what the folks at Eduard sent my way.

This set is for the exterior of the plane. I didn’t use all of the included pieces, but did use probably 95% of what came on the two brass frets. Looking over all the pieces and where they go showed that it shouldn’t be as daunting as I thought. Yes, there are lots of them, but what parts I did use, all fit extremely well. There were some areas where I would skip using the PE if I were to do this again (I will get the chance by the way) as the kit parts would do the job just fine.