Two Mikes Resins

1/48 Aero 1C 150 Gallon Fuel Tank For any 1/48 A-4 or TA-4

Stock Number: 48015

Reviewed By  Dick Montgomery, IPMS# 14003

MSRP: $9.00 Thanks to Two Mikes for this review item. Website: www.twomikesresin.com Two Mikes has produced a single-piece resin fuel tank for any A-4 or TA-4J Skyhawk in 1/48th scale. The recommended kit is the Hasegawa A-4 kit but the part can be used on any kit currently on the market produced by any kit manufacturer. The Box The product is contained in a small zip lock baggie packaged in a clear soft plastic box approximately 3x3x2 inches. A single page instruction sheet is included in the package that features some images and text regarding the placement of the part on your model. Two Mikes has taken extra care in packaging this product and that concern translates directly to an undamaged and pristine part when it is removed from the package. The Part The fuel tank consists of a single resin piece. A casting plug, attached to the tail of the tank allows one to handle the tank, and that plug must be removed prior to painting the tank. In order for the tank to appear "real" it must pass some basic visual quality control tests. It is important for this part to be symmetrical on both the longitudinal (front to back) and equatorial (side to side) axis. To test the symmetry of the tank it was placed on a piece of glass. The glass was tilted allowing the part to roll along the surface. Any warp in the part would make itself apparent as the part rolled along the glass. The tank nose displayed no wobble nor did the tank display any flat spotting or anomaly in its shape. The tank texture is extremely smooth straight from the package with no noticeable defects. There are two engraved "panel lines" on the tank. A small access panel is scribed on the side of the tank. A clean and uniform panel line delineates the "nose cone" from the main body of the tank. A set of very small indentations indicate the attachment points for the sway braces if one is using the Hasegawa kit. The tank is designed primarily as a "centerline" tank but the part can also be adapted to be used as a wing-mounted tank. The Instructions The instructions include a brief description of how the builder can use some of the components found in the Hasegawa kit to make the Two Mikes tank into a wing mounted tank with fins. The instructions are printed on one side of a single sheet of paper. Four color images show A-4s with a centerline tank in place. A fifth, larger image shows the Two Mikes tank in position on the under-wing part of an A-4. Decals and Markings There are no decals included for this product. Pros This is a single piece product requiring no assembly. Just open the box and get going. Scribed detail is precise and clean. Sturdy box. Well written and well illustrated instruction sheet. Reasonable price. Cons None. Conclusion This product is highly recommended.