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Norden Bombsight Early & Late (3DF48002 & 3DF32002) 1:48 & 1:32 3DF via Hobby Colour During WWII many Allied bombers used the Norden Bombsight to guide their free-fall bombs onto target, using a mechanical computer to stabilise the view and estimate the likely landing point for their munitions. They weren’t as accurate as modern weapons however, and crucially relied entirely on the bombardier having a clear line-of-sight to the target, and at low altitude they weren’t at all useful, often being replaced by more simplistic sighting mechanisms in the field. Later variants were improved and used a larger mount in order to increase accuracy further. The sets utilise the latest 3D Printers that use SLA processes to create highly detailed resin parts from UV-curing liquid resin. The finesse of SLA printing has improved immensely of late, and this has led to companies creating 3D printed parts that are ready for market without any further preparation, which saves time and gives the modeller the sharpest replica possible, which thanks to the method used in printing means that the part count is reduced without affecting the detail. Each of these sets arrives in a compact cardboard box with a push-through tray, with the parts cocooned in bubble-wrap inside, and further padded by the folded instructions within. 1:48 (3DF48002) 1:32 (3DF32002) Each set is identical in parts count, although the 1:32 is of course 1.5x the size of the smaller 1:48 scale set. That difference aside however, they build in exactly the same manner. The early sight has the stabilising mechanism fixed to a narrow mount, with the aiming ‘football’ and the adjustment mechanism slotting into the stabiliser via a peg. The later sight has a larger rectangular mount for the stabiliser, and an additional part that attaches to the right side of the football section over the adjustment wheels. Each set allows the modeller to make two of either type or a mixture of early and late, using the requisite parts from the printing base. There aren’t many supports to cut away, and their contact points are very small, making removal easy for the modeller. Conclusion Beautiful detail as we’ve come to expect from 3DF, whose motto is “Precision to Perfection”. Choose your scale and type, then get the nippers and sanding sticks at the ready! Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

SR-71 Blackbird Exhaust Nozzles & Wheel Set (3DF48003 & 3DF48004 for Revell) 1:48 3DF via Hobby Colours Revell released a brand-spanking-new kit of the magnificent SR-71 Blackbird in my favourite scale, 1:48 recently that made a lot of campers very happy. New Greek company 3DF have not been idle, and released these two sets to enhance the detail, using the latest 3D Printers that use SLA processes to create highly detailed resin parts from UV-curing liquid resin. The finesse of SLA printing has improved immensely of late, and this has led to companies creating 3D printed parts that are ready for market without any further preparation, which saves time and gives the modeller the sharpest replica possible, which thanks to the method used in printing means that the part count is reduced without affecting the detail. Each of these sets arrives in a compact cardboard box with a push-through tray, with the parts cocooned in bubble-wrap inside, and further padded by the folded instructions within. Exhaust Nozzle Set (3DF48003) Comprising just two parts that are separated by sheets of foam to protect them from each other, the exhaust parts are just incredibly detailed, and supported on a ring-shaped base with short fingers supporting it from beneath, giving it the look of a squat cooling tower in miniature. The detail on the inner surface is stunning in its complexity, and although the outer surface is simpler, the quality is just as crisp. Other than cutting it free from its supports, they’re a drop-in replacement for the kit parts, bringing a huge increase in detail to the rear of your Blackbird. Wheel Set (3DF48004) This set has a larger number of parts due to the fact that the Blackbird had eight highly specialised wheels in total, all of which were impregnated with aluminium powder to cope with the extremes of heat that were encountered when the aircraft was flying at speeds in excess of 3,000mph where the passing air created huge quantities of heat through friction. There are eight cloud-shaped printing bases that each hold three parts, and are of four different types as shown by an embossed A-D letter on the base of each one. The nose gear has two wheels, which are each made up from the tyre and two hub parts, while the main gear legs have a triple-layer of wheels that are slightly larger than those of the nose. There are two each of inner, mid and outer wheels, which have different hub details as befits their position in the pack. The tyres each have those strange depressions at regular intervals on their contact patch, plus infinitesimal maker and data stencils in relief, into which the hub parts fix, sharing the same level of detail throughout. The attachment fingers have been carefully placed away from the detailed surfaces, appearing inside the carcass of the tyre, and on the back of the two hubs, so that cutting or sanding them flush is all you need to do. There is a small flat-spot on each wheel, and the opposite surface has a few visible layers where the printed finished them off, but under primer and paint they should just disappear, possibly with a few swipes of a fine sanding stick if they persist. Conclusion The detail is eye-popping on these parts, and their ease of integration with your model should make them even more appealing to your average modeller with a soft-spot for the old Blackbird, which still hasn’t been bettered in aviation terms, that we know of. The price of the parts is also appealing, so they should sell extremely well. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Martin Baker GRU-7A Ejection Seat for (3DF48001 For Tamiya F-14A) 1:48 3DF via Hobby Colours Martin Baker have been saving pilot lives since just after WWII, due in part to the sad death of Mr Baker during a test flight of one of their prototype aircraft, although they were already investigating the possibility of emergency escape systems for aircraft. By the 70s the seats had progressed markedly from the rudimentary seats that were initially used, and were zero-zero rated, enabling ejection from a stationary aircraft by means of a rocket motor that automatically oriented the seat so that it gained sufficient altitude to allow successful separation and ‘chute deployment, bringing the pilot down safely with a bit of luck and some flat ground. This set is from a company that is new to us, called 3DF with the motto 'Precision to Perfection' from Greece, who have been brought to us by our friends at Hobby Colours who are also Greek. They create their products in 3D and print each one out using high-definition 3D SLA printing, which guarantees exceptional detail and quality, using minimal parts. SLA printing requires the parts to be supported by fine tendrils of resin during printing until after the resin has been fully cured, or you’d end up with a rather saggy-looking product. These fine ‘fingers’ vary in width, and are easy to remove with a pair of nippers, taking care not to damage the part itself, although the resin is surprisingly rugged during handling. Arriving in a cardboard box with a push-out inner tray, there are two seats inside with instructions, cocooned in small sections of bubble-wrap, and attached to their printing base by the aforementioned fingers. The F-14 was a 2-seater, so you have one for each cockpit, and once you have removed the supports you have two parts for each seat of incredible finesse. The main part is the seat, which has all the details moulded-in, including the crew belts, fine hoses and controls for the equipment of the seat. The ejection handles for the headbox are separate, and are mounted on a wedge-shaped sliver that slots easily into the corresponding slot in the front of the headbox. It’s difficult to see the detail with all the supports around them, so I removed one and put it together, which didn’t take very long at all. Because of the slightly translucent resin used and the finesse of the parts, the detail photographs a bit “funny” (technical term), and bear in mind the actual size of the seat when looking at the photo below, so I have duplicated the photo at nearly actual size in the corner to give a more accurate impression. Conclusion A new company to us, and yet they have hit the ground sprinting, with a stunning product that once painted will truly shine. Detail is excellent, and the parts are easy to liberate from the supports with nippers, so even a total novice could handle it. They’re also available in 1:72 and 1:32 scale if you’re interested. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of