Master Model continues to “turn” out metal details for the model maker. Here they are offering the static discharge whips that you see on all high performance Eastern Bloc built jets. You know - the ones on the trailing edge of the wings and tail surfaces that, if they are molded, quickly snap off never to be seen again. Plus molded discharge whips are often out of scale. Previously I stretched sprue and then quickly exposed the tip of the rod to heat to cause it to mushroom slightly. This is a good solution except the whips always were too big and quickly snapped of at the slightest touch.

• Static Dischargers – Mig Type
  • Scale: 1/32
  • Stock No. AM-32-066
  • MSRP: $7.00

• Static Dischargers – Mig Type
  • Scale: 1/48
  • Mfr Stock No. AM-48-087
  • MSRP: $ 7.00

• Static Dischargers – Sukhoi Type
  • Scale: 1/48
  • Mfr Stock No. AM-48-088
  • MSRP: $ 7.00

Master Model whips are turned brass in come in two styles – the Mig style and the Sukhoi style. The primary difference is length – the Mig whips are longer. The Master Model pieces are subtle shaped with a taper from the wing and the characteristic flare at the tip. Even more amazing is that the tip is hollowed! How they turn parts this small is beyond my comprehension. Each bag comes with 14 whips, enough for two planes (x 5 each) with some spares, excepting the Mig-29 which requires 7 whips. In 1/48 these parts are tiny, so have a means ready to not lose the parts to the carpet monster. I used a plastic lid to contain them during installation. The instruction sheet shows examples of placement with photos of actual aircraft and prescribes the size drill bit to use.

The trick is the installation. Obviously the direct method is to drill a whole and insert the static discharge whip. In 1/48 that means of hole .3mm in diameter and in 1/32 - .4mm! I installed the 1/48 whips on a Kopro Su-22M4 and the Eduard Mig-21MF. I used a carbide drill bit .35mm in diameter, not having a .3mm bit as recommended by Master Model. The Kopro kit has fat enough airfoils at the trailing edge that I was able to drill holes in both wings, the horizontal stabilators and the rudder. A little super glue and some fine tweezers and the whips installed easily enough.

The Mig-21 was a different story since the wings and stabilizers are so thin. Try as I might I could not center up the drill bit and create a hole. After much deliberation, I decided to try a cut into the wing with a razor saw. At first I tried my JLC micro-saw blade, first with the fine teeth and then with the coarser teeth. The whip did not fit, the problem the blade was narrower than .3mm. To widen the cut, I used an Exacto saw blade. It was perfect and I was able to achieve a tight fit of the base of the whip. I repeated the process for the stabilators and the tail. A little touch-up paint and voila!

I really like these little static discharge whips. They are very in scale and realistic in shape. They are also very durable and the one I accidently knocked into held firm; not my experience with plastic whips. If you are not afraid of working with small parts then these are a great aftermarket product to add some realism to your next project.

I would like to thank Master Model for these review samples.