Quickboost

1/72 A-1D Skyraider Rear Wheel Well For the Hasegawa kit

Stock Number: QB 72 186

Reviewed By  Ben Guenther, IPMS# 20101

MSRP: $6.50 Website: www.quickboost.net The rear wheel well in the Hasegawa Skyraider kits is formed when the fuselage halves are glued together, creating a boxy container shape with a seam line running down the center. In addition, both sides have slight punch-out marks that need to be removed. The Quickboost Skyraider rear wheel well addresses and eliminates all of these faults for you. You have an accurate representation of the wheel well shape (exactly like the photo in Detail & Scale) with reinforcements correctly done and even a circular access panel to boot.

The only downside is this part is not a drop fit item as others in the line are and there are no directions on what to do. Hasegawa’s plastic walls have to be removed (I used snipers) and cleaned up. You could bond it in now, but I would hold off on doing that. You still have to attach the rear wheel assembly, which as made by Hasegawa has a large locating lug on the bottom that fits the hole in the kit’s rear wheel well. Remove this lug and sand the bottom flat, then you’ll have to take a file and reshape the wheel assembly bottom from a rectangle to a taper. (With the taper’s small end at the rear of the Quickboost wheel well) Go slowly and trial fit until you get the plastic rear wheel assembly to fit into the Quickboost resin part. When the time comes for you to bond in the kit’s rear wheel assembly you can use CA or epoxy or in addition use a pin. Drill a hole in the plastic part, insert a pin (I use .032" brass rod, or you can use a straight pin or paper clip) and drill another hole in the Quickboost resin part. I like to use the pin for the added strength it gives. Once you have fitted the kit’s rear wheel assembly you can then bond in the Quickboost part to one side, making sure you have center it in the opening.

Was it worth the effort? Yes, the Quickboost part corrects flaws that would take even longer to correct in the Hasegawa kit. Anyone which some experience in correcting errors will not find it hard to use the Quickboost Skyraider rear wheel well. However, someone who has never done this before may find it a bit intimidating. One last nit to pick, the Packaging states "A-1D" and I believe this is a typo, as Hasegawa only made kits of the A-1Hs and Js.(or if you prefer AD-6s and 7s) But I’m pretty sure that this part would fit any 1/72 Skyraider kit. I would like to thank IPMS/USA and Quickboost for the opportunity to review this product.