Quickboost

1/72 P-38J Lightning Correct Air Intakes For the Academy kit

Stock Number: QB 72 198

Reviewed By  Ben Guenther, IPMS# 20101

MSRP: : $4.99 Website: www.quickboost.net When this item came in I took out my Academy P-38J Lightning kit (#2209) to compare the two air intakes. The Academy air intake is much longer in height than the Quickboost air intake. Taking out my Detail & Scale book on P-38J’s it became clear that the Quickboost version is much closer to being correct for that mark and later ones. It only took a few minutes with a razor saw to cut the Quickboost air intakes off their casting sprue and clean up the backsides. I then taped the kit’s nacelles/booms together and fitted the Academy air intake on one and the Quickboost on the other. Naturally, the Academy’s intake fit well, while the Quickboost left a very noticeable step. One is left with the choice to either: putty the gap, sand it smooth and rescribe the panel lines, or to just file the plastic nacelles to fit and rescribe the panel lines. Either way will require some careful effort on your part. In addition, the Academy’s intakes have screening details inside of the air intakes. The Quickboost air intakes are open at the rear and allow you to see the seam joint on the nacelles. You will have to cover this up. Pros: The Quickboost air intakes have the shape for an accurate P-38J. Cons: Not a drop in fit; will require an effort on the modeler’s part to blend the air intake into the Academy’s nacelles. I can recommend it with reservations, as long as you know what you are getting yourself in for. I would like to thank IPMS/USA and Quickboost for the opportunity to review this product.