Reviews

1/350 1/4 CVN Airwing Detail Set
#350-30 Photo etch set by Gold Medal models

The new Trumpeter 1/350 Nimitz Class Carrier has made quite a splash on the market. It builds nicely out of the box, and includes the best 1/350 scale aircraft on the market. But as with any kit, they can use some extra detailing. The aircraft are lacking under wing details and while their plastic landing gear and props are really thin, they are thicker than a true scale parts due to the limitations of injection molding. This Gold Medal Models set will remedy that situation and allow you to have true scale details. This set will allow you to do 1/4 of a typical supercarrier airwing. So if you are going to display your carrier with a full airwing on deck, you will need four of this set.

The fret is relief etched on a .008" [0.20 mm] brass sheet. The sheet is actually relief etched on both sides, so details that are visible on both sides have a more "too-scale" appearance. The thicker brass means that the landing gear can actually support your aircraft.

Additional detail shots of the photo etch fret.

click images to enlarge

The instructions are well written and well illustrated. They show each aircraft in profile view with notes on where the parts go. My only complaint is that the back side is blank and could have been used to show some 3D exploded views of the assemblies. Though this is a minor thing as the placement of the parts is explained very well in the views.

Included in the set are:

A-7 Corsair landing gear, gear doors, bomb racks, and tail hooks.
F-14 Tomcat landing gear, doors, and tail hooks.
A-6 and EA-6B Intruder and Prowler landing gear, gear doors, refueling probe, bomb racks, boarding ladders, and tail hooks.
F-18 Hornet landing gear, gear doors, and tail hooks.
E-2C Hawkeye props, landing gear, gear doors, and tail hooks.
S-3 Viking landing gear and gear doors.
F-4 Phantom landing gear, gear doors, bomb racks, boarding ladder, and tail hooks.
EA-3B Skywarrior gear doors, and tail hooks.
RA-5C gear doors.
SH-3 main rotors and cap in folded and deployed, and tail wheels.

Conclusions:

This is an excellent set for any 1/350 modern carrier. Besides the Trumpeter kit, it will also do a 1/350 USS Enterprise airwing. This set has a retail price of $24.00 US and is available direct from Gold Medal Models or wherever fine ship accessories are sold.