IPMS/USA Reviews

A newer addition to Scale Aircraft Conversions large line of metal landing gear is this set for the Wingnut Wings Junkers D.1.

Like most of SAC's sets, this is meant as a drop-fit replacement for the kit's plastic landing gear.  The set comprises of both main gear legs, the landing gear "wing" between the legs, and the main axle.  All are made of sturdy, white metal.

I could see no appreciable difference in the detail between the kit items and those in this set.  They look to be almost the same.  If anything, I believe the SAC details were a bit softer than the kit items.  The "wing" had a bit of a molding mishap and there is some excess metal on the top port side (see the photos).  I think this will be a bit challenging to clean up and retain the details of the rivets and corrugation.  The axle came slightly bent (which I know is common with white metal pieces, but still annoying).

Yet another addition to Scale Aircraft Conversions large line of metal landing gear is this set for the Wingnut Wings Sopwith Triplane.

Like most of SAC's sets, this is meant as a drop-fit replacement for the kit's plastic landing gear.  The set comprises of both main gear legs, the landing gear "wing" between the legs, main axle, tail skid, and tail skid adjusting piston.  All are made of sturdy, white metal.

Before starting this review, I was un-aware of RES KIT and now that I am aware, I will certainly keep an eye open for some of their other accessories. They supply modelers with resin ordnance, weapons, wheels, engines, intakes as well as figures. Check them out!

Currently on my workbench is an Airfix B-25C/D and I thought I might give the wheels from RES KIT a try on the model when it is finished. For a very reasonable amount of money, RES KIT provides you with a very nicely set of detailed wheels for any B-25 Mitchell. (Also available in 1/ 48 scale.) RES KIT supplies you with nicely molded set of wheels molded in dark grey resin. The wheels are molded separately from the hubs which really saves a bunch of time NOT having to mask the wheels for painting.

Res Kit offers a wide variety of resin parts and bits for a large number of aircraft in 1/48^th, 1/72^nd, and 1/32^nd scale. This review looks at the set of wheels for a P-51 in 1/48^th scale. The product is not specific to any particular P-51 kit and therefore, can be used on any 1/48^th P-51 that is in your "stash".

The Aircraft

Harriers are famous for being able to take off and land vertically. Of course, taking off vertically with a full combat load isn't practical, unless your mission is to drop a teacup of napalm just off the airfield border. Nevertheless, the Harrier has been successful, and it's because of the ability to adjust the exhaust to vector it through the nozzles to allow downward as well as normal push for vertical and normal flight.

The Kit

The entire kit is two sets of nozzles, one forward, one rear, left and right sides.

I used the Dragon AV-8B kit for this review, and the nozzles fit in the Dragon fuselage with no modification.

Painting

There seems to be some disagreement about the color of these nozzles. Some sources have both front and rear nozzles as metal exhaust, others the front in the same color as the fuselage with the rear one burnt metal. I decided the second option was the one, and painted the nozzles this way.

I did my AV-8 as one from VMA-311, based at MCAS Yuma, Arizona, which is about 150 miles from here.