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1/32 resin Spitfire detail sets for Tamiya Mk.IXc.

1/32 resin Spitfire detail sets for Tamiya Mk.IXc.
Barracudacast
Catalogue and prices: As listed per item below
Available from Barracuda Studios

 

Hot on the heels of the recent interior detail sets for the magnificent 1/32 Tamiya Mk. IXc kit, from Barracudacast, come these excellent exterior and engine sets. The items I have here are the following:

 

Merlin Engine Rocker Covers

One of the very few failings with the Tamiya Spitfire kit concerns itself with the engine, or more accurately, the rocker covers. The glaring omission is the Rolls Royce logos on each outward facing side. Hard to believe that a kit into which so much effort was expended, has this ‘problem’. Not to worry, Barracudacast to the rescue! This very simple upgrade set contains direct replacement rocker covers. The part is identical to the kit part, but with the addition of the Rolls Royce logos. It’s as simple as that, and the difference it will make will be definite. There are also a couple of other small, accurised ancilliary parts included too. Now you can add sauce to that delicious Merlin! Casting is flawless, and also in the now familiar pale cream resin from Barracuda Studios. A single casting block holds all parts, and the contact area is small, so removal and cleaning up will be a cinch. Also, no washing of the resin will be required as no mould release agent is used in production.

 

4 and 5 Slot Mainwheels

Tamiya supply rubber tyres in their flagship Spitfire kit. You either love these, or hate them. I get the feeling that most hate them. There are also questionable longevity questions about the material too, but either way, you can’t escape the fact that trying to remove seam lines and paint these isn’t going to be easy. They also aren’t weighted. Uncle Roy to the rescue again….

Two different sets of these are available, in both 4 and 5 slot (spoke) versions. These replacements are indeed weighted, and cleanly cast in Barracudas’ regular resin, again with no need to rinse before use. A simple replacement that will enhance and give the u/c area a better look and feel. Each wheel is cast with its own casting block, affixed to the flatted/weighted area so removal will be clean and not ruin the lines of the wheels. These wheels may also be used on Hasegawa and PCM kits too.

 

Spitfire Gun Covers with Wide Blister

At first look you nay not notice any difference, but look again. These replacement blisters have a far more accurate shape to the front of them. The Tamiya offering is a little ‘odd’ in shape, in terms that it isn’t as rounded as it should be. These replacement parts literally drop into place on the Tamiya kit and no surgery is needed. A very simply yet effective way of making your model more accurate.

Each set is cast onto one block, using Barracudas mould-release free resin, and are perfectly flawless. Casting block connection is low on the front end of the blister, in a place that won’t interfere with the lines and fit of the part. Removal will be simple and clean-up zero. At a very fair price, it is well worth popping a set of these on your prize masterpiece.

 

So what do we think?

If you are buying one of the new Tamiya Mk.IXc or indeed Mk.VIII kits, then you would be selling your efforts short in not adding these very reasonably priced upgrade sets to your pride & joy. No surgery is required for any set, and you need no resin experience to use them. Recommended? Absolutely, and VERY highly!

 

 

Overall: 10/10


Many thanks to Barracuda Studios for the review samples used here. To visit and purchase these items click HERE