This set provides a set of replacement pitot tubes for the Trumpeter Su-15 kits. The set includes the nose mounted pitot as well as the pitot mounted in the leading edge of the left wing. The set includes 5 brass parts and two resin parts. The brass parts provide the circular tubes of the pitots and the resin parts replicate the fine vanes and protrusions commonly seen on Soviet pitot tubes.

The packaging for the set is really well thought-out as the brass parts are in separate pockets of the plastic envelope from the resin parts and the resin parts are contained in a small foam square that is lined with good sticky tape on the back side to keep the resin parts from floating around, which is good as the resin parts are very delicate.

Many thanks to Hypersonic Models and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to review this excellent canopy detailing set for the iconic F-4 Phantom family. Hypersonic Models (HM) is a new contributor to the IPMS Reviewer system and is based in the UK, with a Facebook presence established 17 JUL 12. The operation is a one-man show, focused on well-researched products generated from quality CAD artwork and 3D- printed molds. HM has a specialty offering of modern-jet resin accessories, decals, canopy masks and reference drawings, with an X-15 emphasis.

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.

This set of wheels from Res-IM in the Czech Republic is a replacement for the wheels on Revell’s 1/32^nd scale F-15B or Tamiya or Revell’s 1/32^nd scale F-15C. They are different on the “E” version so this set is specifically made for the “A/B/C/D” versions out there.

Background

Yenko Chevrolet was a Chevy dealership in Pennsylvania between 1949 and 1982. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Don Yenko utilized Chevy’s Central Office Production Order system to order cars built with the 427 cubic inch, 425 HP, L-72 Chevy engine. Only about 38 Yenko Novas were built in 1969, and this kit does a remarkable job at representing these incredible vehicles.

This was an easy build. It has its share of instruction-related issues, and there are a few places that I will point out where you have to be careful, but it has some nice features, and goes together nicely.