Master Turned Brass Aircraft Barrels/Probes - 1:48

[Mike]

Turned Brass Aircraft Barrels/Probes
1:48 Master

Master have an enviable reputation for superb turned metal gun barrels for aircraft, tanks and ships in various scales, but they also create pitot probes, angle-of-attack (AoA) probes, and include Photo-Etch (PE) brass parts with their sets as the need requires. This latest batch of new releases brings a number of new items for kits both new and old. They are all packaged in small flat packs with card headers that also protect the components in transit. The individual parts are often double-bagged in re-sealable packs, and recently the packs have been heat sealed into compartments to stop the parts getting jumbled together and avoid resulting damage.

A-10 Thunderbolt II GAU-8 Barrel & Pitot Probe AM-48-081

A comprehensive set of parts to create the visible part of the seven-barrelled Avenger cannon that has been the saviour of many a ground unit, and the nemesis for armour and enemy troops alike. The fine barrel is protected by a small vacuum formed pot during transport to save it from being crushed, as it is rather delicate, having seven rows of four holes drilled into its length. The end-caps are supported by a central column in brass, and should be glued into place before inserting the seven 30mm barrels in from behind, each of which have a lip that prevents them being over-inserted and ensures that the hollow tipped barrels project the correct distance. The pitot probe is a simple replacement for the kit part and is inserted into a 1mm hole that you may have to drill or widen, depending on which manufacturer's kit you are using.

Typhoon Mk.1b (Early) AM-48-082

The set includes four turned fairings in aluminium, the shorter two being the inner guns, so that their tips line up from overhead. A PE ring fits at the base of each fairing, and must be curved to fit in place, so annealing them under a flame and air cooling would be a wise step. The hollow tipped barrels then insert into the recesses in the fairings, and have a spiral cut into them to represent the recoil springs.

Hurricane Mk.IIc (Flat Recoil Springs) AM-48-084

To install these replacement barrels, simply drill holes in the wing leading edges at 2.7mm for the inner fairings, and 2.9mm for the outer. Then insert the brass fairings, with the hollow tipped barrels fitting into recesses in the fairings. The recoil springs are cut into the barrel sides as a single groove.

Hurricane Mk.IIc (Round Recoil Springs) AM-48-085

Essentially the same set, but instead of the engraved recoil springs, a set of very fine real springs are included that fit over a two-part barrel that is thinned to accept the springs that are held in place by the thicker sections of the barrel. The result should be highly realistic once painted.

RA-5C Vigilante Pitot Probe & AoA Probe (for Trumpeter) AM-48-080

Two super-fine turned brass probes one long and slender to be mounted in a 0.8mm hole drilled at the tip of the radome, the other a small (and sharp) Angle of Attack probe that is mounted in a 1mm hole on the starboard side of the fuselage by the cockpit. The detail on the pitot is exceptional.

Mirage F.1 Pitot Probe & AoA Probe AM-48-076

Two delicate probes for the Mirage, that would look as well on either the old ESCI kit, or the new Kitty Hawk kits that have recently come to market. The pitot probe fits into a 0.5mm hole on the tip of the radome, the other into a tiny 0.3mm hole on the port side of the cockpit. The AoA probe is truly miniscule, so take care during handling as it is likely to ping off and as you can see from the photo, you'll never find it again. The instructions also show which portion of the pitot probe should be metallic, and which part should be radome coloured, which is helpful.

Conclusion
These additional detail parts are superb, and bring realism to the parts they replace parts that are often oversized or poorly moulded on even modern kits. They also bring extra strength to parts that are easy to knock off, and we all know how easily styrene fatigues once bent.

Very highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of Piotr at

[AngstROM]

I have several of these; they are not cheap but very nicely made and a massive improvement on anything plastic or resin (I know, who thought of that one?!). If you have anything with a loooong pitot sticking out the front, they are pretty much essential.

Occasionally, there are some very good deals for these on eBay too.

Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to assembling the MiG-21 pitot! Bring on the bionic eyes...