Aires is constantly adding to the Quickboost line, and here is one of the latest.

QB 48-602 are gun barrels designed to be used with Hasegawa’s 1/48 N1K2-J. As with other Quickboost products, these are meant to be drop-fit replacements for kit parts. The molding on this resin set was extremely crisp.

In comparing these to the kit items they are designed to replace, I found a few key differences. First, and probably the main reason one would want this set, the tips of the QB set are open. Hasegawa’s barrels are sadly molded flush across, with no opening. While in general I am fine to create an opening with the tip of my Xacto and a small drill on ‘standard’ gun barrels, the flared muzzle on these makes that a bit more challenging of an undertaking. So I will happily be using the QB ones instead. Second, the QB barrels just have a much less ‘clunky’ look to them. A quick glance at the photos should help demonstrate that.

I did notice a difference in the length of the barrels. On the assumption that Hasegawa got this correct, I re-examined the QB set. If you remove the barrels from the pour stub at the higher demarcation line (highlighted by the red arrows in a few of the review photos), you will be able to match the length of the Hasegawa barrels. The wings on the kit have molded-in fairings, and the barrels are meant to be inserted into these from the front. There is a stopping point inside these fairings that is flush with the leading edge of the wing. If you wanted to match the Hasegawa barrels’ length with no fussing around, then just remove the QB parts at the red arrows. Alternatively, I think you could remove these barrels from the pour stub at the lower base. If you did that, you would need to notch out the stopping point inside the fairings on the kit. Then you could line the smaller diameter portion of the barrel up with the leading edge of the wing. This might be easier to do while the wings are still in halves, but then you would have to contend with the barrels being in the way during painting. I think I’ll opt for removing the barrels at the higher demarcation line and pop them in after painting.

I think these are enough of an improvement over the kit items to make them a worthwhile purchase. The hollowed-out flared ends of the barrels and general finer ‘feel’ to these parts make them a good upgrade.

Thanks to Aires/Quickboost for providing the review samples, and to IPMS/USA for allowing me to review it!