From: "Submissions for ARC" To: References: <2826588.4653261276740761822.JavaMail.root@sz0051a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Subject: Re: Two Mikes' New Hawk intake set review Part 1 of 3 (due to 12 hi-res photos!) Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2010 10:39:05 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_003E_01CB1C2E.5100EE80" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01CB1C2E.5100EE80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today. Thanks = again for sending it in. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: showtime100@comcast.net=20 To: submissions@arcair.com=20 Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 7:12 PM Subject: Two Mikes' New Hawk intake set review Part 1 of 3 (due to 12 = hi-res photos!) Two Mikes Resin Accessories 1/48 scale BAe Hawk Full Depth Intake Combo Set designed for the Airfix T.Mk1 Hawk and Hawk 100 kits. product #48-035 $28.00 from Two Mikes=20 Product Article by PlasticWeapons A little over a year ago, Two Mikes resin accessories released a = corrected intake resin set (#48-018) for the 1/48 scale Airfix BAe Hawk = kits (T.Mk1 and Hawk 100 series kits). Now available at Two Mikes is = resin set #48-035. Two Mikes touts this new resin set as an = =E2=80=9Cindustry first=E2=80=9D for the Airfix Hawk kits. At the time = of this review, it is the first and only full resin intake detail set = available for the Airfix kit on the market. With this set, not only will = you improve the look of your Hawk kit intakes, you can now peer down the = intakes and see the engine compressor face! Wow! =20 Set #48-035 consists of left and right forward intake parts, left and = right fuselage parts, an engine compressor face, and a dorsal spine = replacement which replaces kit part #47. The review set I received in = the mail here at the Plastic Weapons factory was safely packaged and = undamaged. The resin parts were all bubble free and smoothly cast in a = medium gray color (think Tamiya medium gray XF-20 or Model Master light = sea gray). I really admire the way this intake set was mastered! Most = modelers are accustomed to having install intake tubes, in this set the = intake ducting is built into the resin fuselage parts! Nice touch Two = Mikes. In addition, the upper, fuselage resin parts feature the subtle = metal skin wrinkling characteristic of the BAe Hawk. How=E2=80=99s that = for attention to detail? =20 Instructions provided by Two Mikes is clear and straight forward. = Begin by removing the resin parts from their casting blocks with your = favorite razor saw or scriber, but take care in cutting off the forward = intake parts as they are attached very close to their casting blocks. I = accidentally removed a little portion of the left forward intake part on = mine while freeing it from its casting block. I=E2=80=99ll be needing = putty later! To attach the resin fuselage parts to the kit, first scribe along the = indicated panel lines on the plastic kit fuselage then remove that = portion and replace with the resin fuselage parts. Take your time = during installation, follow the instructions as written, and everything = will fit great! Remember, test fit your resin and plastic parts before = attaching them together with cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) or with epoxy = glue. Note: You=E2=80=99ll notice that in my photos, I taped the resin = and plastic parts together instead of committing them to glue. All the = resin parts in this Two Mikes set replace existing plastic kit parts so = after the new resin is attached, you can continue to build the Airfix = kit as if nothing happened!=20 However, I do hope you remember to paint the intakes and compressor = face prior to closing the fuselage parts! After all, you do want to look = down the intakes, right? Check your references for painting the insides = of the intakes. I couldn=E2=80=99t find much in the way of BAe Hawk = intake photos when I wrote this review. My guess is some shade of gray = but probably not white as Two Mikes would have cast the intake parts in = white resin! I experienced no fit problems at all when test fitting the resin = parts. It nearly fell together along with dry fitting the Airfix kit = parts. Some seam filling and clean up is necessary during installation = but I did not notice any resin shrinkage like other aftermarket sets = I=E2=80=99ve used. However my review sample=E2=80=99s intake ducts = didn=E2=80=99t quite line up with the resin front intakes and resin = fuselage parts. I sent a quick email to Mike Reeves at Two Mikes letting = him know about possible casting problems with the intake set. At first = Mike didn=E2=80=99t believe me but after he inspected some of the resin = castings, he sent me a new review sample several weeks later to look at. = Somehow there was a small glitch in the RTV molds so the initial = production batch of Two Mikes Hawk intake sets may have gotten their = intake ducting misaligned. Whoa, a Two Mikes recall! Unlike = Toyota=E2=80=99s recent slow-to-respond-to-problems recalls, Mike = promptly emailed customers who had purchased the intake set notifying = them of casting problems. Hopefully modelers who had purchased the = initial production batch of intake sets and experienced misaligned = intake ducts were able to get correctly cast parts. If not, contact Mike = Reeves at Two Mikes! Happily, my second review sample set=E2=80=99s = intake ducting now align with each other. Yay! I recommend this resin detail set to anyone who plans on building a = better and a little more accurate 1/48 Airfix BAe Hawk kit. Two = Mikes=E2=80=99 #48-035 BAe Hawk Full Depth Intake Combo Set is a little = pricey at $28.00 (Two Mikes=E2=80=99 M.S.R.P. =E2=80=93 = =E2=80=9CMike=E2=80=99s Suggested Resin Price=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 ha ha) = so for those modelers not really wanting to see down the intakes, I = suggest purchasing the less pricey $14.00 #48-018 BAe Hawk corrected = intakes if only to improve the kit=E2=80=99s intake profile. Just to let = you know, you really can=E2=80=99t see down the intakes to see the = compressor face without a penlight but of course you=E2=80=99ll know = it=E2=80=99s there!=20 If you must feed the A.M.S. in you, #48-035 is the one Hawk resin = intake detail set to buy - it's still the only one on the market of its = kind. Modelers can also choose to purchase #48-036 BAe Hawk Full Depth = Intake Set and Fuselage Insert for $21.00 but it doesn=E2=80=99t include = the front intakes (#48-018). Another option, modelers can just purchase = set #48-037 BAe Hawk Upper Fuselage (dorsal) Insert for $7.00 to improve = and replace the look and fit of kit part #47. Of course with this intake = resin set, a resin cockpit set would complement the intake set = too=E2=80=A6and new gear legs=E2=80=A6and decals=E2=80=A6or a new tool = Hawk kit=E2=80=A6why not? Thanks to Mike Reeves at Two Mikes for the review sample.=20 =20 Ryan F. - "Plastic Weapons" Photos and text =C2=A9 by Ryan F. "PlasticWeapons" ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01CB1C2E.5100EE80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =EF=BB=BF
 
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC = today. =20 Thanks again for sending it in.
 
Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourc= ecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been=20 hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's=20 watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on=20 Earth.
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 showtime100@comcast.net =
To: submissions@arcair.com =
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 = 7:12=20 PM
Subject: Two Mikes' New Hawk = intake set=20 review Part 1 of 3 (due to 12 hi-res photos!)

Two Mikes Resin Accessories
1/48 scale BAe Hawk Full = Depth=20 Intake Combo Set
designed for the Airfix T.Mk1 Hawk and Hawk 100=20 kits.

product #48-035
$28.00 from Two Mikes
Product = Article by=20 PlasticWeapons

A little over a year ago, Two Mikes resin = accessories=20 released a corrected intake resin set (#48-018) for the 1/48 scale = Airfix BAe=20 Hawk kits (T.Mk1 and Hawk 100 series kits). Now available at Two Mikes = is=20 resin set #48-035. Two Mikes touts this new resin set as an = =E2=80=9Cindustry first=E2=80=9D=20 for the Airfix Hawk kits. At the time of this review, it is the first = and only=20 full resin intake detail set available for the Airfix kit on the = market. With=20 this set, not only will you improve the look of your Hawk kit intakes, = you can=20 now peer down the intakes and see the engine compressor face!=20 Wow!  


Set #48-035 consists of left and right = forward=20 intake parts, left and right fuselage parts, an engine compressor = face, and a=20 dorsal spine replacement which replaces kit part #47. The review set I = received in the mail here at the Plastic Weapons factory was safely = packaged=20 and undamaged. The resin parts were all bubble free and smoothly cast = in a=20 medium gray color (think Tamiya medium gray XF-20 or Model Master = light sea=20 gray). I really admire the way this intake set was mastered! Most = modelers are=20 accustomed to having install intake tubes, in this set the intake = ducting is=20 built into the resin fuselage parts! Nice touch Two Mikes. In = addition, the=20 upper, fuselage resin parts feature the subtle metal skin wrinkling=20 characteristic of the BAe Hawk. How=E2=80=99s that for attention to=20 detail?
  
Instructions provided by Two Mikes is clear = and=20 straight forward. Begin by removing the resin parts from their casting = blocks=20 with your favorite razor saw or scriber, but take care in cutting off = the=20 forward intake parts as they are attached very close to their casting = blocks.=20 I accidentally removed a little portion of the left forward intake = part on=20 mine while freeing it from its casting block. I=E2=80=99ll be needing = putty=20 later!

To attach the resin fuselage parts to the kit, first = scribe=20 along the indicated panel lines on the plastic kit fuselage then = remove that=20 portion and replace with the resin fuselage parts.  Take = your time=20 during installation, follow the instructions as written, and = everything will=20 fit great! Remember, test fit your resin and plastic parts before = attaching=20 them together with cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) or with epoxy glue. = Note: You=E2=80=99ll=20 notice that in my photos, I taped the resin and plastic parts together = instead=20 of committing them to glue. All the resin parts in this Two Mikes set = replace=20 existing plastic kit parts so after the new resin is attached, you can = continue to build the Airfix kit as if nothing happened! =

However, I do=20 hope you remember to paint the intakes and compressor face prior to = closing=20 the fuselage parts! After all, you do want to look down the intakes, = right?=20 Check your references for painting the insides of the intakes. I = couldn=E2=80=99t find=20 much in the way of BAe Hawk intake photos when I wrote this review. My = guess=20 is some shade of gray but probably not white as Two Mikes would have = cast the=20 intake parts in white resin!

I experienced no fit problems at = all when=20 test fitting the resin parts. It nearly fell together along with dry = fitting=20 the Airfix kit parts. Some seam filling and clean up is necessary = during=20 installation but I did not notice any resin shrinkage like other = aftermarket=20 sets I=E2=80=99ve used. However my review sample=E2=80=99s intake = ducts didn=E2=80=99t quite line up=20 with the resin front intakes and resin fuselage parts. I sent a quick = email to=20 Mike Reeves at Two Mikes letting him know about possible casting = problems with=20 the intake set. At first Mike didn=E2=80=99t believe me but after he = inspected some of=20 the resin castings, he sent me a new review sample several weeks later = to look=20 at. Somehow there was a small glitch in the RTV molds so the initial=20 production batch of Two Mikes Hawk intake sets may have gotten their = intake=20 ducting misaligned. Whoa, a Two Mikes recall!  Unlike = Toyota=E2=80=99s=20 recent slow-to-respond-to-problems recalls, Mike promptly emailed = customers=20 who had purchased the intake set notifying them of casting problems. = Hopefully=20 modelers who had purchased the initial production batch of intake sets = and=20 experienced misaligned intake ducts were able to get correctly cast = parts. If=20 not, contact Mike Reeves at Two Mikes! Happily, my second review = sample set=E2=80=99s=20 intake ducting now align with each other. Yay!

I recommend this = resin=20 detail set to anyone who plans on building a better and a little more = accurate=20 1/48 Airfix BAe Hawk kit. Two Mikes=E2=80=99  #48-035 BAe = Hawk Full Depth=20 Intake Combo Set is a little pricey at $28.00 (Two Mikes=E2=80=99 = M.S.R.P. =E2=80=93 =E2=80=9CMike=E2=80=99s=20 Suggested Resin Price=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 ha ha) so for those modelers = not really wanting to=20 see down the intakes, I suggest purchasing the less pricey $14.00 = #48-018 BAe=20 Hawk corrected intakes if only to improve the kit=E2=80=99s intake = profile. Just to=20 let you know, you really can=E2=80=99t see down the intakes to see the = compressor face=20 without a penlight but of course you=E2=80=99ll know it=E2=80=99s = there!

If you must=20 feed the A.M.S. in you, #48-035 is the one Hawk resin intake detail = set to buy=20 - it's still the only one on the market of its kind. Modelers can also = choose=20 to purchase #48-036 BAe Hawk Full Depth Intake Set and Fuselage Insert = for=20 $21.00 but it doesn=E2=80=99t include the front intakes (#48-018). = Another option,=20 modelers can just purchase set #48-037 BAe Hawk Upper Fuselage = (dorsal) Insert=20 for $7.00 to improve and replace the look and fit of kit part #47. Of = course=20 with this intake resin set, a resin cockpit set would complement the = intake=20 set too=E2=80=A6and new gear legs=E2=80=A6and decals=E2=80=A6or a new = tool Hawk kit=E2=80=A6why=20 not?

Thanks to Mike Reeves at Two Mikes for the review sample.=20 =
  













<= BR>
Ryan=20 F. - "Plastic=20 = Weapons"















<= BR>




Photos=20 and text =C2=A9 by Ryan F. "PlasticWeapons" ------=_NextPart_000_003E_01CB1C2E.5100EE80--