Wheels and Seats Round Up

High Planes Models, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

cyber-hobby's 1/72 scale Sea Venom is available online from Squadron.com

High Planes Models is a Singapore-based (previously Australian-based) company that markets a wide variety of kits and accessories.  These include a number of in-house productions, ranging from comprehensive kit packages to ‘drop-fit’ detailing sets for other manufacturers’ kits.  The three 1/48 sets reviewed here fall into the latter category.

Hawker Hart/Fury/Demon wheels

1/48 kits of these aircraft aren’t thick on the ground.  I’m aware of Hart and Demon kits from Aeroclub and a Fury from Airfix, all of which date from the 1980s; there may be some others that I’ve missed.  Whatever kit you’re building, these replacement wheels from High Planes offer well-defined hub detail and smoothly cast tyres.  The wheels are attached to their casting blocks by only a sliver of resin – I was able to easily snap off a wheel without damage – so clean up will be straightforward.  The location holes on the inner hubs will need to be drilled out to accept the kit axle, but apart from this and some painting and weathering, the wheels are ready to use.

Hawker Fury seat and instrument panel

I like the fact that this set is clearly identified as applicable to the ‘Hawker Fury biplane’ – you wouldn’t want to mistakenly order it for use with your 1/48 Hobbycraft or Trumpeter Sea Fury kit!  The set contains two parts that will deliver a simple but effective upgrade to the cockpit of your 1/48 Airfix Hawker Fury model. 

The seat is particularly well done, although it has been cast without harness straps that you will need to source from elsewhere.

Likewise the instrument panel will be enhanced by the addition of decal dials, with each sealed in by a drop of gloss varnish.  Both parts are attached to substantial casting blocks, but should be easy enough to remove with a razor saw.

Martin-Baker SJU-5/Mk 10L ejector seats

This set contains two identical SJU-5/Mk 10L ejection seats that High Planes recommends for use with F/A-18, Hawk, Tucano, and other relevant 1/48 kits; I’d double check to make sure I was using the right seat for the specific aircraft I was modeling. 

The seats are complex and delicate castings that appear to accurately capture the shape of Martin-Baker’s SJU-5 seat as photographed on The Ejection Site.  There is a little flash present, but this is so minimal it can be wiped away with a finger. 

The seats are attached to their casting blocks with thick-ish stubs that will need to be carefully removed. 

High Planes has helpfully included a painting guide that consists of two colour photos and a list of relevant US Federal Standard colours.

These three sets are well produced and will enhance any models in which they are used.  The ejection seats, in particular, are worth considering as a simple way of adding some highly visible cockpit detail. 

Highly recommended.

Thanks to HPM Hobbies for the review sampl

Text Copyright © 2015 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 1 March, 2015
Last updated 2 March, 2015

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