Want an easy upgrade to any 1/48 Boulton Paul Defiant? Step right up to the new Quickboost Defiant Mk.I pitot tube and ventral antenna Masts set that provides a beautiful replacement to those supplied in the kit. The parts are packaged in the standard Quickboost re-closable packaging with a paper stiffener along with the description card. There are no instructions. These parts are specific to fit the Airfix accurate and highly detailed 1/48 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I injected plastic kit. They will also work for the older limited run Classic Airframes kits (471, 481, and 482) that were introduced in 1995.

Quickboost has molded the pitot tube and ventral aerial masts perfectly in light grey resin and clear resin with no apparent bubbles. The left wing pitot tube is an improvement over what is provided in the kit with a longer and more refined pitot tip. The QuickBoost forward ventral antenna mast has a better profile and includes two small ‘bumps’ near the mast tip that are not included on the Airfix part. All three QuickBoost parts provide ‘clean’ replacements that require no shaving or sanding to remove sprue attachment points. The forward ventral antenna mast may require some modification to the base to make sure it fits flush to the wing. The rear retractable ventral antenna mast may require enlargement of the mounting hole as this hole is only present on one fuselage half. Make sure you consult your photographs to get the correct geometry for all three parts. Keep in mind if your Defiant has its landing gear down, the rear antenna mast is partially retracted.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin.

This product is a good way to enhance your Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I and well worth the time and cost. This product is highly recommended due to the superior appearance of the Quickboost parts over the injected kit parts.

Thanks to Aires Hobby Models and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this set.