IPMS/USA Reviews

Videoaviation.com has been producing superb aftermarket diorama accessories and munitions for a fair amount of time. One of its latest offerings is the SUU-30 (CBU-54) H/B Late cluster bomb unit. The SUU-30 is the actual canister holding all the smaller cluster bomblets. This unit was used from post Viet War, late Cold War until 1991 Gulf War.

Inside the package, you will find parts to make six complete cluster bomb dispensers. The bomb units are broken down into front and back parts (six of each), a photoetch fret to add the fins at the rear of the bomb and a set of decals and instructions. Casting is superb with cream colored resin being used.

Preparation is simple. Cut the fin and nose sections from their casting blocks. Make sure to be as square as possible to insure a good join and minimal seam. Glue the front and back together. Once dry, I feathered the seam with glazing putty wiped with lacquer thinner. I added the fins to the tail which fit perfectly and selected a fuse.

The F-5 series of aircraft comes armed with two 20mm, M-39 cannons, each with 280 rounds of ammunition. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy both used the F-5 in a training role, with different paint jobs and tactics to simulate enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat training.

Master Models has come up with brass replacement gun barrels and a turned brass pitot probe for the nose. Four parts are included, two gun barrels, one gun fairing, and a pitot probe. Each of the gun barrels has a realistic barrel shape, open at one end and faired closed at the other. The gun fairing is slightly larger than the two gun barrels and gives you the option of having just one gun in the nose.

Installation is straightforward and simple I painted both gun barrels gunmetal prior to installation, and the pitot probe silver and black after installation. Be careful during the installation, ensuring that the barrels are facing the right way. The parts are almost a one to one replacement of the kit parts, save for the pitot probe. The pitot probe will need some work done to the model to incorporate it perfectly.

Many thanks to Master Models for the review sample!

The F-5 series of aircraft comes armed with two 20mm, M-39 cannons, each with 280 rounds of ammunition. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy both used the F-5 in a training role, with different paint jobs and tactics to simulate enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat training.

Master Models has come up with brass replacement gun barrels and a turned brass pitot probe for the nose. Four parts are included, two gun barrels, one gun fairing, and a pitot probe. Each of the gun barrels has a realistic barrel shape, open at one end and faired closed at the other. The gun fairing is slightly larger than the two gun barrels, and gives you the option of having just one gun in the nose.

Installation is straightforward and simple I painted both gun barrels gunmetal prior to installation, and the pitot probe silver and black after installation. Be careful during the installation, ensuring that the barrels are facing the right way. The parts are almost a one to one replacement of the kit parts, save for the pitot probe. The pitot probe will need some work done to the model to incorporate it perfectly.

Many thanks to Master Models for the review sample!

Thank you to the Eduard Company for sending this cockpit after-market set for review, it is always a pleasure to see what your new products bring to the scale-modeling world. Thank you also to the IPMS Reviewer Corps staff members who do the hard work in getting us modeling products to review, the reviews posted, and the news spread to the world.

Summary

This aftermarket set from Eduard is a superb addition to the already excellent Tamiya F-14D kit. The Eduard set simplifies construction of the cockpit area and adds a very high level of detail that only exceptional resin casting can provide. Assembly was nearly flawless. The only problems were of my own doing. A small color-etched fret and a brass PE fret accompanied the numerous resin parts, with additional details provide by a small decal sheet for the NACES seats and instrument details. Acetate film cutouts are included for the HUD panels.

This set is designed to be used with Modelsvit's Ye-152 experimental aircraft. The set consists of 5 resin parts providing the portion of the exhaust section of the engine aft of the rear compressor blades. Cast in a light grey resin, the parts exhibit exquisite detail, however, other than the flame-holder for the afterburner and the actual nozzle part, all the details are on the inside of the exhaust tube and are finely rendered.

The resin used by Amigo Models is of a medium hardness that is comparable to the injected plastic used in Airfix's new kits which makes it easy to cut, but not so fragile as to collapse or shatter when cut. I use fine razor saw to separate the parts from the pour stubs and a medium grit (400) sanding stick to clean up the cut edges. I then soaked the parts in Simple Green to remove any mold release agent.