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Supermarine Spitfire MkIX and MkXIV Quickboost 1:48 Here we have another set of add-on parts from Quickboost who seem to be on a bit of a mission lately. Two of these sets are for the Eduard Spitfire MkIX and the third is for the Academy Spitfire MkXIV. Each part is a direct replacement for the kit parts giving a finer level of detail to the finished model. Each is packed in the standard poly sleeves and are relatively well protected by projections from the casting blocks. Spitfire MkIX Bulkheads (QB 48 528), or armoured plates are extremely thin and look quite fragile. They are simply detailed with just a few bolt heads and mounting holes. The plate that sits behind the pilots head also has the slot through which the seat harness fits. Spitfire MkIX Cockpit Door (QB 48 538) is also quite thin, but has some very finely done strengthening stringers and a nicely moulded latching mechanism. The set also comes with a separate crowbar to fit as necessary. Spitfire MkXIV Exhausts (QB 48 5541), contains two very nicely moulded round exhaust stacks. Each stack is suitably hollow with very thin sidewalls giving a really good scale look. The stacks are moulded onto a common rail which fits directly into the kits aperture. Conclusion Three very simple and easily fitted parts that should help give a better scale look to the completed model. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

QB72 412/415/415/417 Meng F-102 Update sets 1:72 Quickboost by Aires With the release of the new tool F-102 Delta Dagger by Meng models it was only to be expected that the aftermarket would come forward with some parts for it. QB72 412 Correct Nose Now on seeing this item I got one of my Meng F-102's out of the stash and had a good look at the nose. I could not see anything wrong with it. Talking around it seems there is a very small issue with the centring of the nose pitot hole in the Meng kit. I can't see it and wonder if this might be a part too far? In saying that there are no problems with the part that I can see, it is moulded without flaws and the pitot hole seems to be centred. QB72 415 Antennas and Details This set concentrates on well Antennas and navigation light details. Provided are the following; 1. Small blade antenna on spine. 2. Blade antenna (x2) under rear fuselage. 3. Smaller Pitot on fin. 4. Larger Pitot on fin. 5. Small red light (x2) on spine and under main body 6. Large red light on spine 7. Infra Red search track ball in front of cockpit (2 provided only one used) The parts for these are well cast, the inclusion of the coloured resin parts for the lights will make these parts look good on the finished model. One thing I would say is the pitots and blade antennas are very fine and a great deal of care will be needed with these items. QB72 416 Bomb Bay Covers' Pistons This should really be "Missile bay" covers' pistons! In this set you get 14 very fine renditions (2 sets of 7) of the pistons for moving the missile bay doors. These again are very delicate and will add a touch more realism if you have the missile bay doors open, and given the detail Meng provide in there why not! QB72 417 Anti-Colision Lights This set provides one clear set of lights (7 parts), one clear red set of lights (4 parts), and one set of clear Blue lights (2 parts). These will bring an extra something to your kit, and are great for those of us who hate making our own clear lights. Conclusion Quickboost have made some great parts to add realism and a candid look to your finished model, they are well cast, if a little delicate. Recommended for the Meng Kit. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

QB72 409 Lockheed F-104C Starfighter Ejection Seat 1:72 Quickboost by Aires The F-104 Starfighter had a bot of a chequered history with ejection seats. These were made initially by Stanley Aviation. The C-1 seat initially fitted was a downward firing seat due to the Starfighter being a high level interceptor. This presented problems with low altitude ejection and 21 USAF pilots died due to this. The C-2 seat was then developed which fired upwards. However the aircraft still had to have a forward speed of over 104mph to work correctly. Many export Starfighters were fitted with Martin Baker seats to overcome this limitation. In addition the first F-104G's for Denmark, Italy, Turkey and Germany were delivered with this seat, before they were changed to the martin Baker one. Airies have presented us here with the Stanley C-2 seat, complete with seat cushions, harnesses and the foot plates. The detail that Aires have managed to accommodate in this seat is very good. The structural details are pin-sharp, whilst the seat cushions and fabric harnesses look just like the real thing. The parts are superbly cast in grey resin and there are no traces of bubbles or flaws in the resin. Overall this is a superb item and can be highly recommended for use in any F-104C kit. Designed to be used with Airfix, Hasegawa, Heller, Italeri and Revell kits. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

QB 72 411 A-10 Thunderbolt II Correct Fan Blades 1:72 Quickboost by Aires One thing modellers are always looking for are increased detail in engine faces and exhausts. With the A-10 and its podded engines the Engine fan face is not buried deep in the airframe but visible on top. Quickboost has come up with a replacement for these to make them look correct. Conclusion Great parts to add realism and a good look to your finished model, and very well cast. These fan fronts will look excellent with the correct finishing. Recommended for the Hobbyboss Kit. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

QB32 141 Junkers Ju 87B Stuka Ammo Drums 1:32 Quickboost by Aires The Ju 87 or Stuka was a twin manned dive bomber used by the Luftwaffwe in WWII. Defensive armament was provided by a single MG 15 (later MG 81) machine gun to be used by the rear gunner / radio operator. Ammunition was provided in an enclosed drum holding 75 rounds. Supplied in the usual Quickboost flat-pack, you get one strip of light grey resin. Onto this are cast two individual magazines and two blocks of 6 magazines held together. Conclusion Great parts to add realism and a candid look to your finished model, and very well cast. These parts will add the correct look to the rear of your big Stuka. There is no kit mentioned by QB but these should suit the hasegawa or Trumpeter kit. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Mig-29 Foreign Object Debris Guards (for GWH) 1:48 Quickboost by Aires Generally, when an aircraft is on the ground it will have FOD guards installed to stop things getting in there, be they tools, birds' nests or anything else for that matter. All these things damage engines when they're started, so they tend to stay in place until the last minute. Therefore, a kit built with its wheels down should generally be seen with FOD guards unless it's about to take flight - a look that we mostly tend to disregard for convenience. In order to help out with that "extra mile" in the realism department, we have resin FOD guards, available separately for the front and rear. Don't forget though, if you've got the main FODs in place, there are usually others for the weapons, sensor windows and aerials, so check your references before you start work. You'll also need some Remove Before Flight (RBF) tags in a suitable language and colour to complete the look. Intake FODs (QB48517) Supplied in the usual Quickboost flat-pack, these rectangular FODs are moulded into a single casting block that has protective "wings" to each side, and include four delicate resin handles for attachment to the small depressions on the front of the guards. They are so thin that they could be depicted unused on the scene as well as in place, and even have the corresponding depressions to match the detail on the fronts. Exhaust FODs (QB48516) Moulded on two casting blocks these FODs are circular and again have fine resin handles moulded onto the block beside them, protected by projections from the ends of the casting block. If you should damage or lose the handle parts however, they could easily be replaced by short lengths of brass wire bent to shape. In fact, I managed to damage one of the handles on my review sample during handling, and it now has no "legs". A little 0.3mm wire will do the job instead, so I'm not worried. Conclusion Great parts to add realism and a candid look to your finished model, and well cast. As long as you appreciate that the tiny handles are a bonus and are likely to be damaged during handling, you'll find them easy to use. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

NA OV-10A/B Bronco Exhausts Quickboost 1:48 This is another very simple enhancement from Quickboost to add a little extra detail to your Testors OV-10A/B Bronco. Contained in the standard poly sleeve packaging, this pair of exhausts are direct replacements for the kit parts and feature louvered hollow openings with nice thin sidewalls. Just remove from the casting block and fit to the model, job done. Conclusion If you don’t want to do too much extra detailing to the Testors Bronco, but want at least some improvements, you can’t really go wrong with these exhausts, well moulded, easy to use, what’s not to like. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Ejection Seats Quickboost 1:48 Quickboost have been really busy lately releasing all manner of add-on parts for various models. These three sets provide resin replacement ejection seats for three different aircraft. Each seat is moulded in grey resin and covered in some really great detail. Each seat is packaged in the standard poly sleeve but fortunately they don’t appear to have suffered any damage. All the modeller has to do is to remove them from their casting blocks, give then a nice delicate paint job and fit them to the chosen cockpit. F-100D Super Sabre (QB 48 509) is quite a simple affair, but still packed with detail. The seat appears to be pretty accurate when compared with research photographs, although the ejection handles look a little low. They do need to be more prominent and hollowed out a little more, but once fitted they probably won’t be seen much. The moulded lap belts look ok, but the shoulder straps look a little limp and need a bit more body to them. Quickboost haven’t forgotten the back of the seat and all the high pressure lines are well represented, as are the seat fittings and attachment rollers. AV-8B Harrier II (QB 48 522) is a very nice representation of the Stencil S III S seat, and also looks to be very accurate. The seat belts are very nicely done and even the rear of the seat including the aircraft interface and ejection tubes are shown. The seat pan appears to be shown in the fully down position as there is a large gap between the seat pan top and the head box, obviously for the shorter pilot. The only thing that does need altering is the firing handle needs to be opened up as there is some resin flash in place. Sea Vixen (QB 48 540) these two ejection seats have additional parts included on the casting block and protected by large extension on the block ends. Now while the seats are really well moulded with some great looking straps and belts, although minus leg restraints, there is something not quite right about them. The basic seat framework is ok but it goes a bit awry at the back. The barometric time release unit and drogue gun and piston are missing, and the frame at the top doesn’t look right which has a very poor representation of the prominent scissor shackle. The seat pads also look wrong as the pilots seat and the observer seta differed in pad style and therefore straps, whereas these two seats are exactly the same. They look to neat and tidy rather than the organised mess that the real seats looked like. Conclusion While the F-100D and Harrier II seats look spot on for accuracy unfortunately the same cannot be said for the Sea Vixen seats which is a shame really as they had promise. I guess they could be modified to suit, but why would anyone want to buy an add-on, only have to fix the faults. The other two seats will look great with some careful painting and due to the detail on the backs of the seats could even be used in a diorama with the seats removed from the aircraft. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Grumman S-2F Tracker Detail Sets 1:48 Quickboost and Aires for Kinetic Continuing their theme of producing several sets of parts for a single model kit Aires have released these five. Designed to be used with the Kinetic S-2F Tracker each set replaces specific kit parts with something that is more hopefully more detailed and more in scale than injection moulding an achieve. Aires Wheel Set (4593) contains the two nose wheels and the larger main wheels all moulded onto one casting block. The attachments to the block are by a very thin web of resin where the very slight bulge on the bottom of the tyre. Once removed, very little cleaning up with a sanding stick will be required. Since they are direct replacements they are already have holes drilled out, although the nose wheels could do with a bit more depth. The details are very nicely moulded with well defined hubs and brake units on the main wheels and inner and outer hubs in the nose wheels. The set also comes with a full set of masks for the wheels which will make spraying them a doddle. the single ASz-62IR 9 cylinder single row engine. The moulded detail is very nice including the cylinder cooling fins, bolt heads and other details on the crankcase. The modeller will still need to add the wiring harness and other details, but it is a good base to start from. Engines (QB 48 512). The two Pratt and Whitney R-1820 engines included in this set are once again direct replacements for the kit items and do look very nice. The cooling fins on the cylinders are very refined and the details on the crankcase cover are very nicely done. Having said that, you will still have to add the wiring harness and other details but since they are going to be mostly covered by the cowlings only the fronts are going to be open to view. The set also comes with a pair of mounting rings that are fitted between the engine and the bulkheads. Whilst the engines only really need the casting blocks sanded away, the rings need to be removed from theirs. Fortunately the attachment points are very thin so it won’t take much work with a scalpel to remove them. One thing that has been noticed is the similarity between these engines and the ASz-62IR engine for the Antonov AN-2 reviewed HERE, to the point that they look like the same engine, which is a bit of a cheat even if the Russians did copy the R-1820 from equipment sent to them on the Lend Lease program. Saying that, it will only be a problem to people in the know and that are able to compare the two. Radar (QB 48 529), is actually the MAD boom, which comes with a separate MAD detector end. This still gives the modeller the option of having it extended or retracted. Whilst nicely moulded, there doesn’t appear to be much in the way of detail but the shape of the MAD head seems more accurate in shape compared to the kit part. Tail Wheel (QB 48 530), or more correctly the tail bumper wheel is another direct replacement for the kit parts and comes with a new wheel, yoke and actuator. It does look a little finer than the kit part and should be as easy to install. Pylons (QB 48 531), contains six replacement pylons with some very fine details on the sides and on the weapon attachments, allowing the pylons to be left empty should the modeller wish. Conclusion Whilst I applaud Aires/Quickboost for releasing these sets I’m still unsure whether they are completely warranted. But these days having the choice of improving the overall detail of a kit, is always good, and these sets certainly give the modeller that. It also allows the modeller the choice on how far they want to go and how much they want to spend then mixing and matching their priorities to what is for sale. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Antonov AN-2 Detail Sets 1:48 Quickboost for HobbyBoss We have here another five sets released by Aires, in the Quickboost range. This time for the Hobbyboss Antonov An-2 to give it that extra bit of detail that can really make a model. The modeller can use as many or as little of these sets as they see fit and they don’t have to buy a big set, not all of which may be used. Each item/s are contained in a poly sleeve that Quickboost regularly use with a card backing. Not too much protection then, except that most of the parts are on their moulding blocks and protected by solid uprights. The Engine (QB 48 542) It contains the single ASz-62IR 9 cylinder single row engine. The moulded detail is very nice including the cylinder cooling fins, bolt heads and other details on the crankcase. The modeller will still need to add the wiring harness and other details, but it is a good base to start from. Cowl Flaps (QB 48 533). If you’re going to change the engine you may as well change the cowl flaps too. These well moulded examples have really fine trailing edges and are moulded in banks of three so they shouldn’t tax the modeller too much with fitting. Air Intakes and Oil Radiator (QB 48 534), provides a very nicely moulded set of three air intakes, each hollowed out for that correct look. It also provides a replacement oil cooler radiator. Each end is hollowed out to the radiator and the radiator even has the grid pattern moulded onto it. Each part is easily removed from the casting block and shouldn’t take more than a few swipes of a sanding stick to clean up. Exhaust (QB 48 535), contains a direct replacement exhaust and fairing. The exhaust is nearly hollow all the way through giving a great look along with the very thin sidewalls. Floodlight (QB 48 543), contains three replacement floodlights, each beautifully moulded right down to the bulbs. All the modeller has to add is a lens for which a drop of Klear or Glue N Glaze. Conclusion Quickboost seem to be really knocking these small but very useful sets out. The Hobbyboss kit is already very nice out of the box, but these sets will add that little something extra to enhance the model. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

NA T-28 Trojan Detail sets 1:48 Aires and Quickboost Aires have recently released these three sets just for the Roden kit. Once removed from their casting blocks it looks as though they are drop in direct replacements although the modeller may need to thin the kit parts to get the bays to fit snugly. Plenty of dry fitting is recommended to get then to sit correctly. The Aires Wheel Bay set (4584) comes in the standard blown plastic box on a cardboard sleeve. Protected against most damage by a foam insert there are the three replacement bays, each beautifully rendered with lots of extra detail when compared with the kit parts. Each bay has the casting block on the top face which will need to be sanded down to fit, particularly inside the wings. Additional detail is provided on a separate block and includes extra piping, replacement undercarriage parts, such as actuators, links etc. All the bay doors are also provided as direct replacements giving a very fine edge, yet with nicely moulded structures on the inner faces. Beware though that the parts are very fragile and even though protected, some parts have still broken away from the blocks, such are the fineness of the connecting points. Quickboost Exhaust and Cooling Grill set (QB 48 523), is exactly that, finely moulded in grey resin the three grills, (more commonly known as cowl flaps), and two exhausts are contained in thin poly sleeve, but protected by the large ends of the casting block. The trailing edges of the flaps are super fine, giving a much nicer scale look to the items when mounted on the kit. The same can be said of the exhausts, the three pipes per mount are hollow enough to provide a much more refined look. Quickboost Control Lever and Rudder Pedal set (QB 48 513), provides, surprisingly, new rudder pedals and control levers, (joysticks). The control levers are super fine and great care will need to be exercised when removing them from the casting block and also removing the thin resin web that runs from top to base. The rudder pedals don’t look to be as bad to remove, but they are ultra thin, so much so you can see through them when held to the light. When using this set it may be wise to leave the joysticks till last as they will be the first thing to break when the cockpit is being manipulated. Conclusion These are three good looking and very nicely detailed sets to enhance the Roden Trojan. If you get nothing else for the kit, you really need wheel bay set. But if you want a great looking model of the T-28 then the finesse given by these sets will really give that additional detail that can lift a model. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Me.410 Updates (for Meng) 1:48 Quickboost by Aires If you're not in the market for a full upgrade to the detail of your new Me.410, the Quickboost parts are a great way to get the highlights without breaking the bank. Three sets have been released lately for this lovely aircraft, and I'm sure more will be in the pipeline, given Aires' efforts with the old Monogram kit. We've already reviewed their cockpit set here Me.410B-2/U4 Gun Barrels A simple drop-in replacement set containing the big 50mm BK-5 cannon and two machine-gun barrels for the remote-controlled barbettes on the fuselage sides. The BK-5 has all of the perforations on the muzzle-brake, which can be quickly drilled out using a 0.4mm bit for a little extra realism, and of course there's no mould-seam to repair. The kit cannon has a hollow barrel, but appears a little under-sized in terms of diameter of both the barrel and flash-hider. Having just finished a 262 with the same armament, this stands out now, and the resin part looks better to my eyes. The twin barbettes already have hollow muzzles, but the finesse and detail on the resin replacements make them well worth doing. Me.410A/B Control lever This handy set contains three control levers for additional detail, which also adds a little height to the arrangement. If you're like me and often break or lose small parts, the spares will come in handy, as will they if you have a stash of 410s to complete. Me.410A Radio Equipment A single part containing a highly detailed resin replacement for the kit radio block that sits in front of the rearward facing gunner at the rear of the cockpit. Detail is outstanding, and due to the flexibility of resin moulds, there are undercuts where appropriate, given the piece an edge over the (admittedly good) kit parts. The presence of wiring behind the instruments also adds to the overall realism of the part. Conclusion Excellent casting, ease of use and first rate detail makes the Quickboost a boon to modellers of all types. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Su-25 Frogfoot Air Intakes 1:32 Quickboost from Aires Aires in their various incarnations are continuing to expand their range of 1:32 scale detail sets. This one, contains the auxiliary air intakes for the Trumpeter Su-25 Frogfoot. Contained in a poly sleeve, with a card backing these intakes, moulded in dark grey resin are direct replacements for the kits parts. There are five types of intakes all moulded with no sign of flash and minimal contact with the casting block these will be ready to use in no time at all. The intake lips are beautifully thin, certainly much finer than the kit parts. They will be a great improvement and add that little extra something to the completed model. Conclusion A great little detail set that can really help set off a model. The intakes look great in the resin and are so easy to use. Highly recommended for anyone with the big Frogfoot. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Evening ladies and gents Buoyant from success in finishing my Tamiya Spitfire I've decided to restart my Hurricane build. I've given up on using the Aires resin cockpit tub as a lost cause, I was spending way too much time on it and to be honest I lost interest. So I'm going to use the kit cockpit with elements of aires and Eduard to help pad it out a little. Here is where I am as of tonight. It's not a huge amount to show but at least I know it fits the model! More to follow very soon. Yours aye Iain

My Hurricane build has come to a bit of a stand still, I was spending too much time messing around with it that I lost interest, its not been relegated to the shelf of doom, just put on the back burner for now. So to get my enthusiasm back I decided to have a go at the Tamiya Mk 1 Spit in the markings of 57 OTU, RAF Hawarden 1941/42. I believe the plane that I'm building was flown by FO Ginger Lacy. I have used elements of the eduard zoom set for the cockpit plus fuse wire, I replaced the seat with an Aires example that I had floating about and I'm using Quickboost exhausts and propeller. So some pictures...(infact they are chronalogical from when I started painting to where I am as of tonight). So there we are, I'm happy with how it's going. Tomorrow I hope to get the serial number sprayed on, the leading edge sprayed yellow and a gloss coat applied. Let me know what you think. Yours aye Iain.

Su-27 Flanker B Correct Nose for Trumpeter Kit 1:72 Quickboost from Aires Although subject to derision by some for their patchy track record on accuracy, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Trumpeter have actually given us some very nice kits over the years. One of their best is their recent Su-27/J11 family of kits. These are quite widely acknowledged as being amongst the most accurate Flankers on the market today. I wasn’t aware of an issue with the nose of the Trumpeter kit until this ‘correct nose’ from Quickboost arrived. I don’t actually have the Trumpeter kit to hand, so I can’t comment on whether the nose of said kit is accurate or not, nor how it compares to this resin replacement. In usual Quickboost fashion, this resin nose is a direct replacement for the kit part. The cream coloured resin is smooth and glossy and the casting is absolutely flawless. In fact it’s so good, you could fasten a pin to it and wear it as a brooch, if you’re that way inclined. Recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

ECS Pipes for Trumpeter F-18E Quickboost 1:32 These two sets provide replacement ECS Pipes for the already magnificent Trumpeter 1:32 F-18E Super Hornet. Coming in two flavours, either early or late two pipe assemblies are contained in each package. The kits pipe structures will need to be carefully removed before these items can drop in the resulting holes. Whilst each item has a small resin moulding block this may not even need to be removed to fit although it wouldn’t take too much to saw and/or file it off. The mouldings of each part are very nicely done and very clean with no other sign of flash or imperfections within the grey resin. Conclusion These are an interesting addition for the big Super Hornets and while they are all very well done, with well defined detail, the general modeller may not feel the need for them. But then it you’re an absolute detail freak then these will be a must. I can see the early ones being of more use as they are completely different to the kit items. Recommend Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Well it took ar longer then expected, but I did keep my promise that she would not end in the shelf of shame. She is a Revell 1/48 Viper that I started this one for the F-16 GB here: http://www.britmodel...topic=234917085 And after taking my time to do this Viper justice I dare present to you the result: I made extensive use of K4's decal fixer and the canopy is tinted with he's prototipe for clear paints.

F6F Hellcat Propeller with Tool for Cyberhobby Kit 1:72 Quickboost from Aires Whilst the fanfare that accompanied the release of Eduard’s superlative Hellcat somewhat overshadowed that of Cyberhobby’s new kit, the Hong Kong based manufacturer’s offering is still a class act and is worth considering, particularly if it can be found for the right price. Indeed, if you want to build your Hellcat with folded wings, it has a distinct advantage over the Eduard kit as it provides that option. Now Quickboost has released a replacement propeller to enhance the basic kit. The set is comprised of three replacement propeller blades and a new hub, along with a tool to assist in recreating the correct alignment of the propeller blades. Everything is cast in flawlessly smooth grey resin, and the removal of the parts from the casting block should be an absolute cinch. In usual Quickboost style, the finished propeller is a direct replacement for the kit part. Nicely cast, easy to use and accurate – what more could you want? Recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

F6F Hellcat Propeller with Tool for Cyberhobby Kit 1:72 Quickboost from Aires Whilst the fanfare that accompanied the release of Eduard’s superlative Hellcat somewhat overshadowed that of Cyberhobby’s new kit, the Hong Kong based manufacturer’s offering is still a class act and is worth considering, particularly if it can be found for the right price. Indeed, if you want to build your Hellcat with folded wings, it has a distinct advantage over the Eduard kit as it provides that option. Now Quickboost has released a replacement propeller to enhance the basic kit. The set is comprised of three replacement propeller blades and a new hub, along with a tool to assist in recreating the correct alignment of the propeller blades. Everything is cast in flawlessly smooth grey resin, and the removal of the parts from the casting block should be an absolute cinch. In usual Quickboost style, the finished propeller is a direct replacement for the kit part. Nicely cast, easy to use and accurate – what more could you want? Recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

F6F Hellcat Wing Mounted Radome for the Eduard Kit (QB 72 373) 1:72 Quickboost The Eduard Hellcat is without doubt one of the best F6F kits on the market, but there are still improvements that can be achieved when someone looks closely enough and that's what Aires have done. On the whole, the kit has beautifully detailed parts and finely recessed panel lines, but for some reason the radome included has raised panel lines. It's also manufactured in two parts which means there will be a seam to blend in, so this single part replacement from Quickboost is a great product that will improve the look of the kit and ensure that you aren't left with a seam. The panel lines are finely recessed meaning that it will blend in beautifully with the rest of the kit. That said, care should be taken to remove the radome from the block that it comes on to minimise the work in removing the join marks. It's a direct replacement part that slots onto the leading edge of the wing. Conclusion A simple but great improvement to the F6F kit if you're wishing to do one of the radar equipped versions. Fitment is easy although there will be a bit of sanding to remove the marks after cutting it from the block. The recessed panel lines are a great improvement over the kit supplied part. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Cyber Hobby Sea Vixen FAW.1 Resin Upgrades 1:72 Quickboost Airfix undoubtably have the 1/48 market sewn up with their stunning Sea Vixen kit, but the 1/72 market is a little more open with competition, the two 'best' options coming from Dragon / Cyber Hobby and the other from Xtrakit / MPM although each has it's issues with accuracy. These little gems are aimed at improving the Cyber Hobby kit. QB 72 379 Sea Vixen FAW.1 Correct Nose One of the Sea Vixens prominent features is its distinctly pointed nose, yet the Cyber Hobby kit looks much too rounded and loses some of the character of this classic aircraft. This correction piece is a direct replacement that restores the correct look of the nose. The shape look very good when compared to photographs and I suepct that for any Sea Vixen fans who model in 1/72 scale this will be an essential purchase. One point to be aware of is that with the nose being solid resin, there is no room to add a nose weight so adding weight to another part of the forward fuselage may be necessary. QB 72 377 Sea Vixen FAW.1 Landing Lights The kit landing light part located just in front of the nose wheel is moulded in grey plastic rather than clear. Whilst the lights are very small, this addition will give the opportunity to add a touch of realism. Pre-colouring the lights then applying a tiny dot of masking solution whilst the airframe colour is applied should get a good result. Conclusion The Cyber Hobby kit whilst being one of the best kits available in 1/72 is known for its accuracy issues, some being easier to fix than others. As such, seeing the developing range of Quickboost accessories to improve it is most welcome. As you'd expect, the quality of these parts is excellent and the replacement nose cone is almost a given if you intend to build the kit unless you modify the nose yourself. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

P-40B/C Resin Upgrades 1:72 Quickboost by Aires for the Airfix Kit The new Airfix P40 Hawk has quickly established itself as a great kit, building on the reputation that Airfix are developing for their newer kits. If you're looking to take it further, then there is a whole range of aftermarket accessories becoming available. The P40 served in many different theatres and this makes it such an interesting aircraft to model due to the wide range of schemes that you can choose from as the decal range becomes available. QB 72 364 Propeller with Alignment Tool The first set here is a replacement propeller. Whilst the kit propeller certainly isn't bad, the limitations of injection moulding are not a problem here due to the resin manufacturing process. The propeller blades are individually cast and very thin giving a more accurate scale representation. The hub is also nicely moulded. This will need the sprue sanding off the rear face before fitting to the kit. A great feature is the prop assembly tool to make lining the blades up consistent as you attach them. QB 72 361 P-40B Exhaust The exhausts are beautifully hollowed out which really improve the appearance of any kit. They are supplied as direct replacements for the kit parts, so other than cutting them off the sprue, no additional work is required. QB 72 374 P-40B/C Exhaust & Damper Cooler Another option if you're looking to upgrade the exhausts is this set. Again, beautifully crafted exhausts with hollowed ends although these vary slightly in being marginally more swept back at the tips compared to the previous set. The radiator gills are very thin and will give an alternative option to using photo etch to get scale accuracy under the engine cowling. QB 72 375 P-40B/C Gun Barrels These are a very fine set of barrel upgrades. Getting this level of finesse from injection moulding just isn't possible, so these are most welcome. As the kit parts are moulded into the wing, removing them and drilling location holes will be necessary so a fine drill bit of approximately 1mm will be necessary QB 72 376 P-40B/C Undercarriage Covers Main and tail wheel doors are catered for in this set. The kit parts are somewhat chunky so these will give the undercarriage area a real sharpen up. The parts are very delicate so care should be taken removing them from the sprues. Further more, unlike the kit parts, there are no tabs to locate them, so delicate fitment is necessary, but well worth it. Conclusion These fine sets offer the already good Airfix kit a significant enhancement. If like me, you enjoy modelling on this scale, getting that extra bit of accuracy and detail is important to make it look less toy like and more like a scale replica. The precision in the sets just can't be achieved by plastic injection moulding technology so I'll certainly be using these when I build mine. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.