Zvezda’s outstanding new Pe-2 kit leaves little room for improvement, but as is often the case, Aires has still found a way to add just a bit more detail here and there with a few new parts from Quickboost.

• QB48709 (Intakes) $7.00
• QB48708 (Exhausts) $7.00
• QB48712 (Fuzes) $5.50

The kit’s four air intakes are molded in halves, requiring seam clean up of these small parts. The four Quickboost replacements are smooth, curved single-unit open-ended pipes. The kit’s sixteen engine exhausts pipes are even smaller pieces, all with flush ends. The Quickboost replacements mimic the larger intakes’ smooth surface and convincing open ends. The walls of these openings are so thin that care will be needed when handling them so as not to crush them, especially when removing them from the casting block.

The eight Quickboost replacement fuzes for the kit’s 100kg and 250kg bombs are detailed eight-finned spinners replacing the kit’s generic round discs that come molded as part of the bombs. One note is that these replacements are more than twice the diameter of the kit fuzes. While I’m no expert on Russian ordnance, from looking at some illustrations available in a quick on-line search, they appear to be a bit oversize. A more careful study may be advisable before applying these to the bombs. Nevertheless, as with the intakes, these parts are crisply molded with no excess - quite nice considering their detail and small size.

Once again, Quickboost has managed to find areas of improvement for even the nicest of new kits. For even greater detail for Zvezda’s fine kit, these replacement parts are recommended.

Thanks to Aires Hobby Models and IPMS for providing the review samples.