B-58 Engine Intake/ Exhaust Set

Lone Star Models, 1/48 scale

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Reviewed by "Bondo" Phil Brandt

The decades-old 1/48 Monogram B-58 is still highly regarded by modeler fans of modern jets. And the real thing, albeit only in museums, still looks as much or more aesthetically pleasing than most other current airframes.

I knew Mike West, the talented Lone Star Model’s one-man show, was planning to do a B-58 three-cockpit resin set, but it’s still in progress, so I was surprised when, at San Antonio’s ModelFiesta, he placed a B-58 resin intake/exhaust set in my hot little hands. Woweee! An email from well-known Left Coast modeler and all-round good guy, Bob Moore, informs me that he did the original masters and sold ‘em to Mike.

The smoothly-cast components overcome one of jet aircraft modeling’s biggest headaches, how to sand and smooth jet engine intake seams after the halves are glued together. The B-58 kit is especially difficult in this respect because the compressor face and spikes essentially prevent the intrusion of almost any sanding media.

The seam bugaboo’s ancient history now, because all ya gotta do is cut off the front one inch or so of each assembled engine pod and glue on the seamless resin part, including the new resin compressor face and spike. One tiny caveat: there is a small strake (which fairs into the support strut) on the top of two of the B-58's four J79 pods. All four of the Lone Star intake castings have this strake, so you’ll have to gently sand off said fairing on two. Another note: some of the sharply-edged intake openings are very slightly egg-shaped–perhaps they were removed from the mold too early after pouring-- and will require judicious use of hot water and squeezing. Not a big deal.

The exhaust assemblies are just as deep as the Monogram parts, but have much more internal detail; the pix speak for themselves. Sharp-eyed Hsers will notice that some of the pre-production exhaust assemblies are one-piece and one is two-piece. Mike told me that pulling the one-piece master from the RTV mold is so difficult that he elected to go the two-piece route when he begins volume production.

All in all, this is a welcome aftermarket addition; highly recommenced!
 

Lone Star Models products are available online from their website http://www.lonestarmodels.com

Review and Images Copyright © 2007 by Phil Brandt
Page Created 07 March, 2007
Last updated 24 December, 2007

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