Reviewed by McLents

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With the release a while back of a couple of decal sheets by AeroMaster for the in and out of production Monogram T-28, the colorful images sparked a new interest in this 70’s kit. One of the Monogram kits that shows it’s age not so gracefully with a spartan cockpit, non existent wheel well detail and simplified undercarriage parts to facilitate “working features”, this old bird is in need of some update plumage to take it’s rightful place on a modelers display shelf.

One of those filling some of the detail void is Mike West of Lone Star Models with 4 sets. These are as follows:

1) Wheel Well Set (wing and nose wells)

Price $12 USD

The main gear well is a single piece casting exhibiting reasonable details including wing spar representation and some hydraulic/wiring evidence. I have no pictorial reference as a comparison to actual prototype, but its sufficient detail, at least to this reviewer. Ditto for the nose gear well. No locating holes present for installation of the kits landing gear struts. Fit in the wing is unknown at this time, although removal of the pinion posts in the wing and considerable sanding of the pour gate will be necessary.

2) Flaps set (right and left wing flaps)

Price $10 USD

The molded in kit flaps need to be removed from the top and bottom wing pieces which is a fairly simple task using the molded in engraved lines. The resin flaps have the curved portion that would be exposed as they are deployed cast in, and serves as a convenient locating assembly tab in the wing cavity. The bottom surface has the hinge parts cast in as required. Dry fitting shows the fit to be very good. Removal and clean up of the flap was also easy.

3)   Cowling Parts

Inincludes left and right exhaust/vent flaps with a separate piece to replace closed vent on lower left cowling surface.

Price - $8 USD.

The exhaust pieces have been cast to fill the void created when the kit parts are removed along existing panel lines. Cast parts have sharp detail with the exhaust stacks well defined, with the beginnings of the hollow tube evident. Deeper penetration into the exhaust stacks would be an easy matter if so desired. The large vent doors are cast in the open position with screen detail evident in the cavity which is nicely molded. The other vent door replaces the scribed one in the kit molding and may be displayed in the open position also.

It is unclear to me however whether it should be blanked off in the kit fuselage.

4)  Wheel Set

Includes both main wheels and nose wheel.

Price- $5 USD

Replacing the thin and basically two dimensional kit wheels, the main wheels have a more refined spoke pattern on one side and brake/disc detail on the other. The nose wheel has a refined spoke pattern both sides. (the photo shows the grey kit wheels and the new crèam colored castings). All three have the locating position for a strut axel. None of the wheels feature any built in bulging, but removal from the pour sprue automatically infers one. Each tire has a circular tread groove pattern cast in. My example nose wheel showed a bit of non-concentricity between the wheel hub and tire.

If you’re going to have a T-28 in your collection so you can use some of those colorful trainer schemes, these pieces will go a long way to bringing alot more life to that good old Monogram kit.    

Thanks to Mike West for supplying a couple of these sets
in addition to the ones I’d purchased for this review

Mike West may be contacted at lsmodels@pdq.net

Images and Text Copyright 2003 by McLents
This Page Created on 22 November, 2003
Last updated 22 November, 2003

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