HybridCAST Landing Gear Set
Eduard P-51D Mustang
Set 2

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 KLG4804EDU for the Eduard P-51. 

The set includes 20 resin, resin/metal hybrid parts and provides you with:

• a pair of highly detailed, metal-reinforced landing gear struts.

• a pair of wheel hubs slit into left and right-hand sides.

• three sets of main gear tyres that feature three different tread patterns.  The tyres have not been cast with any bulges to simulate the weight of the aircraft.

• a pair of landing gear covers,

• a pair of torque links,

• a pair of hydraulic retract actuators, and

• a pair of brackets to secure the gear covers to the main gear struts.

Also included is a single A-4 sized sheet of assembly instructions that also show a picture of the parts to act as a “parts map”.

Given that the set is for the Eduard kit the top attachment points as well as the wheel attachment mimic those of the Eduard parts.  The main gear legs are cast with a stainless-steel metal rod inside them.  This rod not only reinforces and strengthens the strut but also acts as the polished metal portion of the oleo.  The gear retracts also feature the same style of (smaller) rod design.

Kazan advises that the torque scissors as well as the gear brackets are a friction fit and will “gently snap” into place.

The casting of all parts is superb with little clean-up required apart from the removal of small wedge of resin from the cast-in brake lines on the main gear legs.  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.

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 $26.99.  Not cheap by any means but they are stunning and will enhance your Eduard P-51!

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 4 February, 2021

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