Details

Master Model from Poland has earned the reputation as the source for exquisite metal pitot tubes, gun barrels, and numerous other machined metal detail parts for all scales.  As the promotional message on their packaging suggests, their products provide “reality in miniature”…and they are miniature masterpieces.

Master Model also is proving to be very prolific.  They now have added to their growing line of detail parts a 1/72 scale version of their beautiful multi-part pitot tube for the MiG-21.  It is virtually a downsized version of those they offer in both 1/48 and 1/32 scales.  And, like the larger scale versions, this one comes packaged in multiple plastic pouches, stapled to a display card, and includes two turned metal parts, a thin photo-etch fret, and a small instruction sheet.

As a member of the IPMS/USA Review Corps, I have had the wonderful opportunity to review a few items now from the Polish company Master Model.  The topic for this review is a new set designed to upgrade your 1/48 scale Komet.  Unlike most of the sets that I have reviewed, there is no recommended kit to use these new parts on, so I chose a Dragon release that was sitting in my stash.  As with any of the other releases that I have come in contact with, these parts will greatly improve the look of your Komet.

This is the seventh item that I have reviewed from Master Model, a Polish company that specializes in brass detail parts, typically in the form of gun barrels, antennas, and pitot tubes.  This new 72nd scale release is designed for the Heinkel He-162 Salamander, and replaces the kit supplied forward pitot tube and gun barrels, and also provides a nose gear position indicator.  No kit is mentioned for installing these parts onto, but for comparison purposes, I have put a Dragon release to use.  As with the other releases from Master Model, these parts will dramatically improve the appearance of your plane, plus provide the nose gear indicator that I have not seen on kits in this scale.

History: Chocks act as a safety device when placed under the wheels of a parked aircraft.  This prevents the aircraft from rolling, especially when unattended or during an engine run-up.

Items in the box: The units were resin cast material – white in color.   One-page plans, good format.

Construction: The assembly is very basic.  The cord or rope supplied looked large to me, so I used a thinner cord.  (Thread: standard brown).

Finish and detail: Used Floquil reefer yellow.  I used black striping on one set of chocks.  On the remaining two sets of chocks, I used the decals supplied on the instruction sheet.

Conclusion: With a slight modification, the units went together well.  These units can be assembled by any inexperienced modeler.  I wish to thank Profimodeller and IPMS for allowing me to review this kit.
 

1/48 Pitot – AM 48 060, $5.50
1/32 Pitot – AM 32 048, $8.00

Thanks very much to Iwona and Piotr at Master Model for providing us these review items, and thanks also to IPMS/USA for passing them on to me for review.

Like all Master Model (MM) pitot tubes, these are “gems”.  I used the 1/48 version to upgrade my Eduard MiG 29 build from earlier this year.  At the time of the original build, I ground down a piece of wire for a pitot; didn’t do a great job, but it fit the bill.  Now, here comes Master Model with their jewelry-quality brass version.  Had to do it!

An instruction card is included as part of the packaging, containing excellent drawings and clear instructions on “how to do it”.  Other companies could follow suit…

From Master Model in Poland comes a well made add-on to Trumpeter’s 1/32nd MiG-21 kit (although I think it might work on the older Revell kit, too). This set is a replacement pitot tube consisting of two brass parts and a set of photoetch fins for the probe.

The two pitot tube parts are sleeved and fit into one another perfectly. There are also locating holes for the fins and even two extra fins (which I needed when I lost one). I assembled the part and attached the fins. The fins are fiddly but look great one attached and you can see how much finer the detail is than the kit part. Once assembled, the base from the kit is used and a slight bend is induced in the probe to align it.

Overall, an excellent improvement to a nice kit, and at an excellent price. Highly recommended. My thanks to Master Model for the review item and IPMS/USA for the chance to review it.
 

CONSTRUCTION

The landing gear kit was used on an F86 model, 1/48 scale, manufacturer unknown.  Modification was made to the landing gear by adding brass rods to the ends.  This allowed me to insert the gear into a hole drilled into the fuselage and wing in the original gear location.  (The gear was missing or broken from the original model).  After mounting the landing gear, I painted them and the landing gear doors were added (not supplied by SAC).

COMMENTS

This detail set can be assembled by any age model builder.   There were no instructions supplied.  Installation of the parts is very simple.

CONCLUSION

I wish to thank Scale Aircraft Conversions for supplying the F-86 Landing Gear set and IPMS/USA for allowing me to review this aftermarket kit.

A "Thank You" goes to Master Models for submitting this item for review and to IMPS/USA for allowing me to review it.

The pitot tube is used to measure flow speed.  Attached to an airplane it measures the "flow" of the aircraft through the air – an airspeed indicator.  The pitot tube can be mounted on an airplane in a number of places and ways.  Most propeller-driven aircraft have them mounted on the wings in some fashion.  Most modern day jets have them mounted in the nose.  Some are the very tip of the nose.  Others are located on the side near the tip.  Such is the case of the pitot tube of the MiG-21, the subject of this review.

From Master Model comes an excellent and quick detail set for the Tamiya or Dragon He-162. Included in the set are two brass barrel ends for the MG151 guns, a replacement pitot tube, and a landing gear indicator.

The AH-1 Cobra had various versions that used the M-197 20mm cannon: the Army AH-1E, AH-1F, and the Marine Corp AH-1J, AH-1T, and AH-1W.  Until now, the kit offerings of this prominent armament feature have been poorly molded in plastic.  Well, fret (no pun intended) no more – Master Model has your cannon.

You get three turned metal barrels and one end barrel nut.  There is a fret that has the mid-barrel clamp and the rear barrel clamp.  The barrels are perfectly formed and are literally miniature gun barrels.  Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are grooves in the barrels.  This set is absolutely gorgeous.  The hardest part of this set will be not to lose the end barrel nut.  Everything about this set is perfect.