A funny thing happened on the way to preparing this review. I could not find this item on the Quickboost web site, the Aires web site on on any of the on-line retailers that I normally buy from. However I did find it listed with Super-Hobby for $7.43. For those modelers wishing to purchase this set you may need to search to find a supplier.

Background (from Wikipedia)

An infrared search and track (IRST) system (sometimes known as infrared sighting and tracking) is a method for detecting and tracking objects which give off infrared radiation, such as the infrared signatures of jet aircraft and helicopters. IRST is a generalized case of forward looking infrared (FLIR), i.e. from forward-looking to all-round situation awareness. Such systems are passive (thermographic camera), meaning they do not give out any radiation of their own, unlike radar. This gives them the advantage that they are difficult to detect.

However, because the atmosphere attenuates infrared to some extent (although not as much as visible light) and because adverse weather can attenuate it also (again, not as badly as visible systems), the range compared to a radar is limited. Within range, angular resolution is better than radar due to the shorter wavelength.

The early F-4B was the only Phantom variant to ever have the IRST. The F-4 Phantoms had a Texas Instruments AAA-4 infrared seeker under the nose of early production aircraft F-4B's and F-4C's and not installed on later F-4-D's due to limited capabilities, but retained the bulge and indeed some F-4D's had the IRST receiver retrofitted in a modified form

Contents Description

The resin parts are packaged in the typical Quickboost clear, sealed envelope. There are two castings included: the chin pod cast in a medium/dark resin, and two smoky clear seeker parts.

I have used many Quickboost and Aires resin replacement parts on several of my models and have always been pleased with the detail included.This is another winner.

Instructions

The instructions are included on a small, fold-out sheet with the resin parts shown on the left half indicting what resin must be removed from the parts, while the right half details the assembly and placement on the model. The chin pod is a drop-in replacement for the Tamiya kit part. No modifications to the kit is required.

The instructions also include a reference recommendation for additional information.

Construction

The first step is to remove the parts from the casting blocks. I scribed both sides of the pod connection with a sharp No 11 knife blade. Once free of the casting block the rough surface was lightly sanded with a coarse then medium sanding stick to smooth the mating surface and to eliminate the casting rib. A microsaw was used to remove one of of the smokey clear parts from the casting block. The cut surface was also sanded smooth. Care must be exercised when cutting the seeker head from the casting block: the smokey resin is very smooth and slippery (that is probably why Quickboost included a spare seeker head).

The grey resin socket is very shallow and therefore the smokey clear seeker head plug needs to be short (about 1/32" long). I test fitted the parts together and despite the slippery surface of the rather small smokey clear part I was able to get the parts to fit together. I next used a very small drop of canopy glue applied with a toothpick in the socket to hold the seeker head in place then I permanently fitted the parts together. I checked the alignment of the parts and called it "finished",

After fixing the resin part to the kit with super glue or epoxy, and in preparation for painting, the seeker head lens will need to be masked.

Conclusion

Since this chin pod detector was only used on early F-4B and some C Phantoms the modeler will be required to research the proper markings for the model they wish to depict. I did check an unbuilt Zoukei Mura F-4C kit and found that this pod could be used on that kit as well as the Tamiya F4B, however some additional trimming of the resin attachment surface may be required when using the Zoukei Mura kit.

As noted above I have used Quickboost resin sets on several of my models and have never been disappointed with the subject matter, the quality of the casting and the detail of their products. This set is no exception. I highly recommend this set based on the quality and detail of the parts..

My thanks to Aires and IPMS USA for the opportunity to review this product..