This set provides replacements for the two nose mounted pitot tubes and the 30 mm gun barrels for Su-17/20/22 kits. The set is designed for the Modelsvit series of kits, but as I had an Italeri Su-22M-4 kit in the stash and Modelsvit kits are not seen often in my neck of the woods, I used the Italeri kit for comparison.

The set consists of 7 brass parts and two resin castings. The two smallest brass pieces are replacement barrels for the 30mm cannons mounted in the wing-roots of the Su-17/20/22. The brass parts are very nicely done and as shown in the photographs, they are a huge improvement over the Italeri parts. You will need to cut off the molded on gun barrels, drill a .6 mm hole in where you removed the kit parts and then superglue in the replacement barrels. Be sure to check which barrel you are using as the longer one in installed in the left wing. I recommend drilling your holes, but leaving the new barrels off until after painting or you will probably knock them off once or twice during construction and painting.

The set also provides replacements for both of the nose-mounted pitot tubes. The left-side pitot is fairly straight-forward as it is a single piece, however there are two options which have slightly different shapes – so check your reference photos. As shown in the photographs, the both replacement parts are much shorter and thinner than the Italeri part, so you will need to cut off the end of the kit pitot, drill a .3 mm hole and superglue on the appropriate replacement pitot tip. Then you will need to sand down the kit pitot so that it tapers into the Model Master part.

The right-side pitot is more complicated as it consists of 3 brass parts and 2 resin parts. The resin parts provide the vanes and hooks present on the actual pitot tube and are a huge improvement over the kit pitot. Assembly is pretty straightforward, but you will need to take your time and ensure that the front and rear vanes are lined up correctly and that when installed, the vanes that look like rear facing hooks are horizontal. Installation again requires cutting off part of the kit pitot tube and then drilling a hole in the end of the remainder to install the replacement pitot. The Italeri part will need to be sanded down so that it tapers into the replacement pitot.

Like Master Model’s other pitot sets, this set is very well made and really enhances the kit. As the parts of the pitot that slide into the resin vanes are very tiny, there is a risk of bending or deflecting them. Take your time and use the more robust other parts to help straighten out any bends or kinks that occur.

Highly recommended. Thank your Model Master for the sample and to IPMS-USA for letting me review it.