Product Reviews
Master Details' Messerschmitt Bf -109 G Cockpit Interior, Maximum Detail Set, Flap Set and Landing Gear Set
Master Details' USAF Pilot and AN/ALR-69(V)-2 RHAW Modification
Master Details' U.S. Navy/Marines Jet Aviator
Item: 1/32 Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot and Ground Crewman
Item: 1/32 U.S. Army Air Force Fighter Pilot
Item: 1/32 F-102 Type J57-23 A/B Afterburner Can for F-100D
Item: 1/32 U.S. Navy/Marines Aviator, Pre-World War Two
Item: 1/32 U.S. Air Force Vietnam Combat Jet Pilot
Item: GREX Genesis Model XA Single Action Airbrush
Item: 1/32 F-102 Type J57-23 A/B Afterburner Can for F-100D
Manufacturer: Master Details
Stock Number: 32012
MSRP: $19.95 plus shipping
Ordering Information: www.masterdetailsfromusa.com
Advantages: Excellent sculpting, accurate details, no casting blocks.
Disadvantages: None noted.
The North American F-100 holds a significant place in aviation history. As the first of the so-called “Century Series” aircraft, the F-100 was the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in level flight and was the epitome of the U.S. aviation industry’s ability to engage with the Soviet Union in aeronautical advances during the Cold War. Unfortunately, the desire on the Part of the Air Force to add the F-100 to its inventory as rapidly as possible resulted in a number of problems in operational aircraft that would have been identified and eliminated in a longer testing program.
One of these issues was a tendency in the burner can to fail to open evenly resulting in directional stability problems. This issue was only corrected late in the aircraft’s service life, once they had been relegated to National Guard units. An enterprising Air Guard NCO proposed fitting burner cans from F-102s that had been sent to the bone yard. The F-102 burner feathers operated by mechanical linkage as opposed to the thrust driven system originally provided. The F-102 burner cans eliminated the problem once and for all.
Many of the earlier model kits of the F-100 such as Monogram, Esci and Italeri provided both styles of burner cans in their kits. Alas, Trumpeter elected not to follow suit with the release of their otherwise impressive F-100D in 1/32nd scale. Master Details’ latest 
release addresses this oversight by providing an excellent replacement late-style burner can. Cast in their usual cream colored resin, the set is beautifully detailed. In their usual tradition of high quality, none of the major parts require complex and time consuming removal of casting blocks, mold seams or flash. The only parts requiring removal are the incredibly fine actuating arms, but these will only require a quick snip with an X-Acto knife. Master Details also provides these parts in a separate zip lock bag as added insurance against damage in transit. The rest of the parts will be ready to use after a quick swipe with a sanding stick along the mating surfaces. All that is required to modify the kit to accept the new parts is one simple and easily identified cut.
Frankly, my only concern when looking over the set was my ability to position all of the actuating arms. The manufacturer recommends using white glue to attach the arms to the burner can and then carefully inserting the feathers and positioning the actuating arms 
accordingly. I think this will work quite well and will avoid my tendency to make a mess of delicate parts with superglue.
All told, this is another winner from Master Details and a must have for anyone wanting to do an ANG F-100 (one of the marking schemes provided in the kit).
Thanks to Master Details for the review sample.
