IPMS/USA Reviews

Brengun has issued another delightful photoetched accessory set for small scale aircraft modelers. This particular set is designed for use with Mark One's offering of the German Bf-109, specifically the Bf-109G-10 model. [ Note : There is a detail set for the K model of the 109, as well.]

Typically these small scale (1/144^th) aircraft kits come with two complete models in the box and Mark One is no exception, nor are the offerings from either Armory or Sweet. Brengun provides detail bits for two kits. Those bits include photoetched pieces for the:

• cockpit tub
• two part seat
• rudder footrests / stirrups
• seat belts (four pieces)
• instrument panel
• trim wheel
• control column
• throttle controls
• side console details
• floor details
• resin center console (alas, w/o cup holder :))

Additional items are provided for the:

Background

Hauler/Brengun was founded in 1999 and produces scale plastic kits, resin kits and accessories, photo-etched details for kits and other accessories.

Scale Aircraft Conversions specializes in white metal replacement parts. Its line of replacement landing gear has been expanded to include a set for the ICM 1/48 He 111Z-1 Zwilling.

The set is including a total 20 parts covering the main landing gear struts, fork and tail wheel. I am not 100% sure, but most likely these parts can be used with any of the ICM (single fuselage) He 111.

These parts are drop-in replacements for the plastic parts. To complete the landing gear, there is an extra plastic part that needs to be used. That part (c-10 from the instructions) does not carry weight; hence it makes sense to not replace that plastic part with white metal.

This set is designed for Great Wall Hobby's recent F-14D Tomcat kit and will nicely spruce up your build. The set includes complete photo-etch replacements for the instrument panels and cockpit side consoles for both cockpits, including the circuit breaker panels behind the Radar Intercept Officer's (RIO's) seat. A nice touch is the inclusion of not only the rudder pedals for the pilot, but also the foot pedals for the RIO which while not connected to any flight controls are important as the location of the RIO's radio/ICS talk buttons. In order to install the etch parts you will need to remove the molded-on details from all the panels and consoles before painting the cockpit and installing the etched parts. Unfortunately, I received the set after I had painted and assembled the cockpit, so I have set them aside for the next one.

This set is designed for Great Wall Hobby's recent F-14D Tomcat kit. As has become standard for these sets, the set provides masks not only for the canopy and the windscreen, but also for the tires or wheel hubs.

There are three parts to the windscreen mask, one for each side and the central panel. The main canopy has 4 parts for each section, two for each side. The instructions advise you to cover the rest of the canopy area with liquid masking, but I prefer to cut small strips out of the unused parts of the masking sheet and use these strips to mask off the rest of the canopy.