Boomerang
Enhancement Set for the Special Hobby Kit

Red Roo Models, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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The 1/72 scale Special Hobby Boomerang was a long awaited release. I think that about six years elapsed between its listing as future release and its arrival on stockists’ shelves.

It was worth the wait; until then there had only been the old Airfix offering, or the good but challenging Tasman kit that that looked much like an offering from Ventura or High Planes. There were a few little niggles as there usually are with any new kit, but the Special Hobby kit was generally very good.

The main problem was that it failed to include the fuselage structure located behind the side windows. This meant that the finished model would have a see-through effect in this area if built out of the box.

This enhancement set comes in an A-5 sized plastic zip lock bag. It contains a few small but high quality resin parts and a length of wire. Some extensive A-4 notes printed in colour take up most of the room.

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The instructions cover how to use the enhancement set, and then go on to provide a range of useful material for finishing a Boomerang model. They note matters like the correct length and position of the pitot, the landing light, radio fits, IFF antennae wires, and the use of the belly tank by the aircraft the kit decals depict. There are several walk-around images; these are black & white for in-service aircraft and coloured in the case of a restored Boomerang

Perhaps most useful is the very thorough painting guide provided with the package. Laid out as a table, this covers the visible airframe components and their correct paint finish. The table cross-references paint names to FS.595, and lists several paint brands that include the colours in their ranges. Informative remarks expand on the paint data for several areas of the airframe. The paint guide ends with some additional notes that discuss factory and unit applied paint finishes.

The enhancement set parts include:

• Rear window backing,

• Left & right wheel doors,

• Left & right leg doors,

• Main wheels, and

• Flame damper exhaust pipe (Bonus for the Mk II version).

There is also a V-shaped piece of 0.011” brass wire for mounting the undercarriage doors.

This set fixes the biggest weakness of the Special Hobby kit by providing the fuselage structure behind the side windows. I think that this alone is worth the price, as it would take quite a lot of time to carve a part yourself. The undercarriage doors and wheels will help to refine the appearance of your Boomerang model. Whilst the flame-damping exhaust is nice to have if you wish to make a Mk II, it is the detail notes and paint guide that are the real bonuses.

Value is a very subjective matter, and First Look reviews do not normally comment on it for this reason. However, this enhancement set is superb value for money in my view. You would have to be mad not to buy it if you own a Special Hobby Boomerang. The same goes for those of you who still plan to build the Airfix or Tasman kits.

This set is highly recommended.

Thanks to Red Roo Models for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2012 by Mark Davies
Page Created 9 June, 2012
Last updated 10 July, 2012

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