HybridCAST Landing Gear Set
Tamiya F-14A/B/D Tomcat

Kazan Model Dynamics, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

Kazan Model Dynamics products are designed and manufactured in Canada.  The company specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality multi-media detail sets in 1/48 scale.  Their first release was the stunning F-14 spine set (KAZ005HAS) for the Hasegawa kit and it was a beauty but is sadly now out of production but fear not as they are working on a new set to suit the Tamiya kit.  Since then they seem to have been concentrating on producing undercarriage sets with the current catalogue covering the Eduard P-51, F-6F Hellcat, Spitfire, Bf-109s, as well as the Tamiya F-14.

The subject of this preview is KLG4802TAM for the Tamiya F-14A and F-14D family of kits.  The set includes 42 individual resin parts on 20 casting blocks.  The provided parts completely replace the front and both of the mains landing gear on Tamiya’s kits.

The ends of the parts that attach to the kit have been engineered in the same manner as the Tamiya parts so that the gear legs and their retraction links will basically be a “drop fit”.

All three of the gear legs have been cast with a stainless-steel metal rod inside them.  This rod not only reinforces and strengthens the legs but also acts as the polished metal portion of the oleo.

There are a few “options” included in this set:

• Three types of main gear hubs - early, mid, and late.  This is a nice inclusion as it enables you to use the set on either of Tamiya’s -A or -D kits and to “model to the picture” if you are building an individual aircraft.  Makes the painting of the rims and tyres easier too!

• The retraction struts of the main gear are provided in both the locked and unlocked position; and both of these options include the retraction pistons in stainless steel as well.

Assembly instructions are by way of a single A-4 sized sheet that also show a picture of the collective parts to act as a “parts map” is also included

The thought that has gone into this set is commendable.  Kazan advises that eight of the twelve parts required to make up each main gear leg is a “snap fit” i.e. you can simply snap them into position, and adjust them prior to adding a little CA glue to permanently secure them.

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The casting of all parts is superb with little clean-up required apart.  What clean up and how to achieve it is detailed on the instruction sheet.  You will also need to clean up the edges of the parts where they are removed from the casting blocks.  Kazan help you out here as the parting lines are clearing defined and the wafer at the parting point is very, very thin.

Now for the $64,000 question.  Are the Kazan parts more detailed than the Tamiya ones that they are replacing?  The answer is yes, I think that they are!  The Kazan parts are a lot crisper than the injected moulded parts.  The main ger legs are also cast as a single piece unlike the Tamiya ones that are two-part.

The parts come packed into a plastic zip-loc bag that is wrapped in a small piece of bubble wrap to protect them.  This and the and the instruction sheet are contained in a smallish cardboard box.

Kazan lives up to their promise with this set.  The parts are beautifully detailed and the casting is faultless.

Kazan list these USD $34.99 and unfortunately, their website lists them as “Sold Out” but my bet is that they will be producing additional sets in the future.

Footnote:

Kazan has a blog at https://www.kazanmodeldynamics.com/the-kazan-blog#/  It is well worth a visit as it will provide you with hints and tips on using their products as well as information on upcoming sets.

Thanks to Kazan Model Dynamics for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2021 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 3 February, 2021
Last updated 10 February, 2021

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