Quickboost

1/48 MiG-17PF Fresco D Ventral Fin For the Hobby Boss kit

Stock Number: QB 48 249

Reviewed By  Michael Novosad, IPMS# 36721

MSRP: $3.50 (Approximate) Website: www.quickboost.net The Replacement Part The replacement ventral fin arrives in a clear plastic envelope, and includes a foldout sheet of paper and a stiff paper stock backer. The foldout sheet include a line image of the replacement part, as well as a note "recommended kit: HOBBY BOSS". There are no instructions provided or required to replace the kit part. The kit ventral fin is molded as part of the left rear fuselage part. This molded-on part will be easily removed with a fine razor saw. I would install the resin ventral fin after the fuselage halves have been assembled. My sample arrived with a small chip on the bottom of the ventral fin. I have purchased several Quickboost aftermarket items and this is the first that I have encountered with any defect. The thin leading edge may be prone to chips. In close review of both the kit part and the Quickboost replacement, I detected a few subtle differences. As noted above, the Hobby Boss kit ventral fin is molded integral with the left rear fuselage half. There is a small section at the rear of the ventral fin that has an engraved panel line with some rivet detail. The Quickboost resin part is cast with a long casting block as well as a narrow strip that must be carefully removed from the ventral fin . The fin itself has raised panel lines on both sides of the front portion. The rear of the fin has what appears to be a very subtle flair on both sides. Research One of the many advantages to reviewing aftermarket parts is having the opportunity to research the accuracy of the replacement parts and the kit parts. The Internet has often come to the rescue. Here is what I found. I first reviewed the IPMS/USA walk around, and the only image of the MiG-17’s ventral fin was in shade, and no details could be seen. I then reviewed the Wikimedia Commons image of a Syrian MiG-17 captured by the Israelis. The entire view of the ventral fin was not very clear, but the panel lines included on the Quickboost part is correct as seen in this image. The flair on the rear of the fin could not be detected. The ARC MiG-17 walk around section did a have close up view of the ventral fin, but what could be seen at the rear more closely matched the Hobby Boss kit. On the other hand, the images of the MiG-17F and -PF ventral fin matched the Quickboost version. And finally, I reviewed the Squadron/Signal Publication Number 125, MiG-17 Fresco in Action. Again, it would appear that the resin part is more accurate than what is furnished in the kit. With the kit ventral fin lacking the front panel lines, I must give the nod to the Quickboost replacement part for the greater accuracy. Conclusion This replacement ventral fin really represents a minor detail in the overall build of this kit, but if the modeler is seeking a higher level of accuracy then the effort to add the Quickboost part is worth it. This part is recommended. I plan to add this part to my kit when I build it. One final word of caution when replacing the kit fin with the resin replacement: I would retain the kit fin in place until I could remove the resin part from its casting block. My reasoning is that the resin part is rather thin, and it may be possible to break it during the removal process. Care and caution are suggested during this effort. Thanks to Quickboost for the opportunity to review this fine replacement part.