Details

The set consists of one photo etch sheet.  The PE parts are an unpainted natural metal (silver) color.  This set is kind of interesting.  You use the kit parts and these simply wrap around the existing belts, providing a very good looking ammo belt tray combination.  The instructions are quite adequate in explaining the bending and placement of the details.

The down side of this beautiful set is that once the plane is completed, it is hard to see all the work you have done.  The new details are a little difficult to apply.  I found if you glue the sides first, than wait a little bit for the glue to set, then you can bend the top down to fit.  Also, the bottom of the belts are not detailed.  This is especially noticeable in the forward bombardier’s compartment.

HIGHLY recommended.  One should have experience working with photo etch and using ACC glues or epoxy.

Thanks to Eduard for providing us with such a nice detail set, and thanks to IPMS USA for giving me the opportunity to review and build it.

Eduard of the Czech Republic had released a 1/35 scale photo etched (PE) upgrade designed for the Trumpeter SU-152 Late, kit #05568. This upgrade consists of two PE sheets packaged in a sturdy, cardboard-supported bag with a two-page instruction sheet.

I used Trumpeter’s SU-152 Early kit, #01571, for a few parts since I was already doing a review of it. There are only a couple differences between the early and late SU-152 and this kit would work on either quite well.

We get replacement parts for 16 areas on the SU-152. The first step is for the replacement of the plastic exhaust deflectors, but Trumpeter already includes a PE replacement in their kit of equal quality. A huge improvement over the kit parts are the two engine grilles on the rear deck. The kit comes with solid plastic parts with the screen and frames molded together. I built up one of these grille assemblies and included a photo of both.  I must say that the PE assembly looks great, except the plastic kit part has better bolt details around the edges.  There are new front fenders, mantle cover, grab handles, and a fender box.

The two-seat MiG-21U, US, and UM family each has a uniquely shaped pitot tube with guide vanes.  Master Model represents this pitot tube quite accurately.

This set comes with two turned metal barrels and a fret of six vanes.  You only need four vanes.  The metal barrels are designed to be slipped into each other.  The absolute crazy thing is the small mounting holes for the vanes that are drilled in the outer metal barrel.

The instructions recommend that you add the outer portion with the vanes after the model is completed to avoid damage.  Sounds like good advice.  The vanes are very small.  Foresight is appreciated – Master Model includes two extra vanes just in case the carpet monster needs to be fed.

Master Model produces the best pitot tubes in the industry.  Between the strength and the scale thickness, you will immediately see the need for these pitot tubes on your MiG-21.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Master Model for the review set andd IPMS/USA for the review space.

The MiG-21PF and PFM are represented in model form by the Academy kit.  This pitot tube is quite simple compared to some of the others in the MiG-21 family.

The set is simple in that it has a single turned metal barrel.  The pitot tube is scale thickness, but the thing I like the best is additional strength of the brass tube.  The instructions are quite basic and show the proper angle of the pitot tube in relation to the fuselage.  A simple .6mm hole in the kit will prep the model for the turned metal pitot tube.  Then, it is just as simple as inserting the pitot tube.  Painting instructions are included.

This pitot tube is typical quality from Master Model.  Its strength and scale thickness make this a required addition to your MiG.  Just be careful you don’t poke yourself with the tubing.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Master Model for the review sample and IPMS/USA for the review opportunity.
 

The Eduard MiG-21bis is a very nice kit right out of the box; however, the pitot tube could be better.   There are limitations that plastic can’t overcome, not even with the best injection molded technology.  Even so, the pitot tube sticks out so far on the MiG-21 that it’s bound to be broken off in handling.  Besides, you can get a scale thickness with brass that you couldn’t get any other way.

Master Model has set the standard when it comes to these pitot tubes.  This pitot tube is the same quality I’ve come to expect.  This pitot tube has two perfectly turned brass barrels, one that fits inside the other.  Then there is a fret of six photo etch vanes.  If you look really, really close, you will see there are super tiny holes on the pitot tubes to mount the photo etch vanes in.  This will require a steady hand and an Opti-visor with the maximum magnification to get right, but, oh, the results are worth the effort.  I would have liked to have a second fret of vanes just because they are so small that I am afraid that even with two extras they will go flying.

Designed for their Fw-190D-9, this beautiful upgrade set from Eduard is for those who want to show off the detail under the forward cowlings.  Featuring six light and dark grey resin pieces, everything is perfectly formed and blemish free.  The guns are hollowed out at the ends and the cooling slots are opened as well.  There is also a small fret of photo etch that holds seven pieces of nickel plated parts – six cowl fasteners and one windscreen oil cleaning pipe.  The oil cleaning pipe will require the most care, as it is very, very thin.

The set is contained in very secure thick plastic packaging that prevents any damage to the delicate parts.  Including the set into your build should prove no big problem as it follows the basic kit formula, except with richer detail.  You will have to mount the shelf to the vertical plastic kit piece, but the resin has larger attachment surfaces which will help ensure the proper alignment. This alignment is essential when building the Eduard Focke Wulf series.

The diminutive A-37 Dragonfly by Monogram/Encore is a nice kit, but the engine intakes and exhausts leave a little bit to be desired.  One way to fix this is to hide the see-through with these covers from AMS Resin.

Molded in light grey resin, these four pieces are beautifully formed.  They simply have to be painted red and added to the intake and exhausts.  You may want to add Remove Before Flight tags which aren’t included but readily available.  Because they are tapered, these are easily added after the model is done so if you already have a built kit, don’t fret, you can add these at any time.

These simple plugs are easy to add, inexpensive, and they do what they are designed to do, cover the intakes and exhausts.

Highly recommended

Thanks to AMS Resin for the review set and IPMS/USA for the review opportunity.
 

Sometimes in the model building universe that most of us live in, the planets align just right and a little glimmer of satisfaction shines through.  This is the case with these fire extinguishers.  I am currently building a conversion of an M3 IDF Sandwich Car.  When the review list made its second round and no one had laid claim to the Plusmodel items, I volunteered to do the ones that no one wanted.  When they arrived, I thought where and how I could use them instead of just painting and showing them off.  Looking over my reference material, I noticed that many of the different Sandwich vehicles and the M3 in particular had fire extinguishers mounted on the right front panel in front of the engine access panel!  How neat is that?  WooHoo!!!!  Confetti everywhere, and too bad not all modeling experiences work out that well.

Plusmodel has been making resin aftermarket items for as long as I can remember.  Many moons ago, I purchased their GI Rats, thinking it was meals and finding out they were actually 1/35 resin rats.  The items I have purchased and received since then have been nothing short of excellent.  Their line has continued to grow and expand and they offer a wide range of items for the aircraft, armor, and figure modeler in several of the popular scales.

Plusmodel offers item number 375, which is the U.S. Flamethrower M2-2, which contains a backpack, two 5-gallon fuel cans, the flamethrower box and the flamethrower itself.  Their Easy Line is new to me and I must say it is impressive.  This particular kit uses two boxes from kit number 375.  Most of their Easy Line items require little to no preparation and are quickly finished.  This, of course, is a bonus to any model builder.  The U.S. Flamethrower box fits this bill.  You get two boxes and decals to finish them.  The boxes have fine wood engraving, but I think it will be lost in the painting process.

The Aircraft

The Junkers Ju-52/3m was a continuation of the Ju-52/1m.  The 3m stands for three engines (dreimotoren), the 1m stands for one engine (einmotor).  The prototype was built with one engine, but it proved to be badly underpowered, so two more engines, one on each wing, were added.

The other feature of the Ju-52 was the corrugated skin on the wings and fuselage.  The idea, originated by Junkers in World War I, was to add strength to the aircraft without adding weight. The Ford Trimotor used this, too.  Although it worked, the corrugations added drag.  It can also be an additional task for the modeler when filling seams.

The Kit

The PE set consists of two frets of PE.  They seemed to be set up so that one covers the interior, the other the exterior.  Some of the parts are prepainted, and some are left in “natural” brass.

Construction and painting