Master Model of Poland produces small brass parts for detailing models, be they aircraft or ships. They have parts for aircraft in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72, and 1/144, mostly pitot tubes, refueling probes and gun barrels.

This product is a single pitot tube for a 1/144 F-104. The instructions are quite simple. 10 Cut off the kit pitot. 2) Drill a hole for the brass part. 3) Install the brass part, using CA glue. 4) Paint the part.

This pitot was particularly welcome because the Revell F-104 I built a while back didn’t have a pitot. So I was able to skip step 1. That doesn’t mean I could completely pass it, as I had to use a sanding stick to flatten the point on the nose cone so the drill wouldn’t slip every time I tried to drill the hole. Also, a .3 mm hole is pretty big, considering the size of this part. I stepped down to a .15 mm drill, and it was actually a little large.

Once I got the drill started and the hole drilled, I got the part out of the package. This pitot pretty much defines the term “small part”. I had taken the precaution of putting down a fresh paper in my work area, because losing this part wouldn’t feed the carpet monster, but the carpet bacteria would love it.

Once I had the hole drilled, it was the work of only a few moments to put a drop of CA in the hole and install the pitot. Painting the pitot was pretty simple. I got some flat black and a fine paint brush, and painted the pitot.

I found photos of one F-104 from the SC ANG with red and white stripes on the pitot. Nope, not with my shaky hand.

Overall Evaluation

Highly Recommended. These Master pitots are super additions to the kits which don’t have a pitot, and they’re very rugged, in case someone mishandles the model.

Thanks to Master Model for the review item, and IPMS USA for allowing me to upgrade my F-104.