Background.

Some plastic model kits may include the Angle of Attack (AOA) sensors as teeny, tiny separate parts that are most difficult to remove from the sprue, with clean up of the attachment point being most challenging. Oftentimes, these tiny parts are lost or broken while being transported from cleanup to the model. Some kits reproduce the AOA as merely a non-descript bump on the surface. Master Model has a whole different approach.

The Company

This product’s company, Master, is located in Poland, and the owner is Piotr Czerkasow, who is also a modeler. By vocation he is a mechanical engineer. The Master Model product line includes aircraft and naval accessories in several scales. Aircraft accessories include machine guns and cannons, pitot tubes, and refueling probes. The line of 1/48th scale aircraft armament is quite impressive, and while a bit pricey will eliminate the often difficult task of drilling out those gun barrels. The detail on these spun brass replacement parts is quite incredible, and will certainly enhance any model. Money well spent.

The products are distributed worldwide, including the United States, with Sprue Brothers being one of the sources.

The Review Product

The parts are packaged in a small zip lock bag, stapled in a folded, heavy paper stock display hanger. The parts are also sealed in a small envelope of clear plastic film taped to a heavy card stock stiffener inside the bag. Also included is a small set of instructions. The nose tip appears to be turned aluminum while the angle of attack indictor is turned aluminum. The exposed tip of the AOA is sharp! Both parts are quite small and initially I thought I had an empty sample bag. But they were there!

A small instruction sheet is also included that shows the locations for the nose cone and the angle of attack probe. Included is a list of F-14A block numbers, along with the BuNo’s for the aircraft where the use of these parts is appropriate. Check your references!

The nose tip is intended to replace the very tip of the F-14A nose. It’s perfectly conical in shape and includes a short mounting rod that will insert into the nose cone. The result is a very neat nose.

The angle of attack probe, on the other hand, is miniscule!! It is really small, but perfectly formed – a much better part than offered in any plastic kit. The probe is needle sharp and care will be required when handling the model to avoid being stung by the Tomcat.

Application

Early blocks of the F-14A Tomcat were featured with a pointed nose cone, rather than an AOA probe or pitot tube. At the time of this review there were several 1/48th scale kits of the F-14A Tomcat available, including those from Academy, Hasegawa, Hobby Boss, Italeri, and Revell. The parts are designed to work with the Hasegawa F-14 kit, but with a bit of modifications to the kits’ part, it can be used with the other manufacturers. I have the Academy Tomcat F-14A kit number 12230, and used both parts as a test fit example. The replacement nose cone will fit into place and must be secured with a touch of cyanoacrylate glue. In the Academy kit the replacement nose required the opening in the nose to be reamed out a bit in order for the mounting plug to fit properly. The Master Model nose tip, when fitted in place, resulted in a noticeable step between the plastic kit nose and the metal tip. Not a perfect fit by any means, but the kit part could be modified.

In the case of the Academy kit, there was nothing representing the AOA location, and therefore a good references will be required for the correct location. Once in place, the Master Model AOA, though small, will add an important detail to most any F-14A Tomcat.

This aftermarket set is recommended for modelers wishing to add those special details to their Tomcat model, but make certain the tip of the plastic nose will fit the metal part without a step between.

I with to thank Master Model and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this product.