F-8 Crusader Scoops

Quickboost, 1/48 scale

Quickboost is another newcomer to the seemingly crowded world of resin aftermarket aircraft details sets.  Well, a newcomer yes, but in name only as they are an offshoot of the Czech based Aires Hobby Models, arguably the best producer of mixed-media detail sets. 

The rationale behind Quickboost is to allow Aires to release small parts to the modeller rather than having him (or her) purchase a comprehensive set to just use one part. 

QB 48 028 is a perfect example of this.  The set comprises two hollowed-out resin afterburner cooling scoops for the 1/48 scale Hasegawa F-8 Crusader.  These scoops were fitted to the aft fuselage tail cones of F-8C and subsequent variants of the Crusader.  The scoops directed cooling ram air to the exhaust nozzle and aft fuselage engine bay. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Hasegawa provides these scoops as a solid piece and being solid, they really don't look right at all.  Sure, you can apply modelling skills, a sharp modelling knife and/or a Dremel tool to the parts and hollow them out or you can have done with it and purchase this Quickboost set. 

The scoops are moulded in mid grey resin and are perfectly cast without pinholes or flash.  At first glance, the scoops look to be identical to the kit parts but on closer examination, they appear to be more refined, slimmer in the waist and more true to the originals.  The surface of the scoops is smooth and shiny which augers well as you will have to finish them in your choice of natural metal paint as the one-to-one-scale ones are made of aluminum and were not painted at all. 

The parts come paced in a re-sealable cellophane bag with a stiff piece of card and a folded instruction sheet.

Quickboost's website, http://www.quickboost.net/catalogue.htm lists the set at €3.30, or around $5.30 Aussie dollars, very reasonable as far as I'm concerned. 

Having already gone the modelling route once and having managed to ruin one of the scoops, I know what I will be doing for my next F-8 project! 

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