Barracuda Mk.5
1/48 scale Multimedia Detail Set

Griffon

Reviewed by Brett Green

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Griffon Model Accessories has released a comprehensive exterior and undercarriage detailing set for Special Hobby's 1/48 scale Fairey Barracuda Mk.5.

Griffon's 1/48 scale Barracuda detail set comprises 29 parts in pale cream coloured resin and a single fret of photo-The contents of the kit cover the undercarriage bay and gear, exhausts, underwing bomb racks and a number of other exterior details.

The resin parts are beautifully cast and very well detailed. Casting blocks are sensibly planned to avoid too much complex cutting. A few of the delicate sway braces on the bomb racks were broken on my sample, but fine wire can be used to repair these.

The undercarriage was probably the most disappointing aspect of the Special Hobby kit Barracuda kits, but Griffon's detail set goes the full distance to address this shortcoming. Perhaps the most impressive parts in Griffon's whole set are the one-piece main wheel wells. These are cleverly cast with bulkheads and structural details in place. Many of the remaining resin and photo-etched parts are employed for the complex main undercarriage gear and doors.

The large rear canopy deck casting is also impressively detailed.

The cockpit is otherwise not dealt with by this set. Indeed, the Special Hobby kit covers the cockpit very well with the possible exception of the one-piece plastic instrument panel.

The resin parts are further enhanced with a photo-etched fret.

These mainly cover additional parts for the undercarriage.

Instructions are supplied on a single A5 sheet by way of exploded view diagrams. Some extra time familiarising yourself with the parts and test fitting will be very advisable.

Griffon Model Accessories' 1/48 scale Barracuda Mk.5 Detail Set is an impressive offering. It comprehensively deals with most of the shortcomings noted in the Special Hobby kit, and very effectively covers a number of additional areas too.

With all these enhancements in place, Special Hobby's new Barracuda Mk.5 will be a genuine showstopper.

This is not a set for the beginner, but if you have experience working with resin and small photo-etched parts, and you are planning to build either of Special Hobby's Barracuda kits, you really should consider Griffon's detail set.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Griffon Model Accessories for the review sample.

Griffon Model Accessories are available online from their website