Let's start the Tupperware party then!
I normally start off my builds with a sprue tour. I've already built this kit once before so I think I'll skip it. If anyone is interested, you can PM me and I can send you a link to that build. We'll skip straight to the aftermarket goodies that I have lined up for this build.
The one that I am most excited (and nervous) about is the A.M.U.R. Reaver G-10 Correction Set and 109G/K Spinner and Prop assembly. I believe they are a Russian company and I purchased these from a Russian vendor on Ebay.
The G-10 Correction Set is essentially a engine cowling replacement for the Revell G-10 kit. It is comprised of four pieces cast in smooth creamy resin. In addition to the one-piece cowling, you get the gun breech cover that connects the engine cowling to the front windscreen area, a supercharger intake and the grilles for the oil cooler intake.
I don't know enough to make any claims on the accuracy of this upgrade but I can tell you that it makes a noticeable difference in the lines of the G-10 cowling, especially in width. Looking at the comparison pics on the AMUR Reaver website, you can see the fatter, more stout cross section of the Reaver cowling (on the right) versus the Revell cowling.
Accurate or not, I happen to like the chunkier, more... pugnacious stance of the this cowling. The resin seems to be a quality casting with no apparent bubbles and crisp panel lines. The small air scoops are hollow... a nice touch!
I won't be able to show you a direct comparison between the complete cowlings since the Reaver cowling will require some major fuselage surgery. That's the nervous part for me. I haven't made a larger exterior resin replacement and I'm crossing my fingers that it goes smoothly. I also have a Alleycat Models replacement cowling. It didn't fit well on my last G-10 build so I am just presenting it for comparison purposes. Designed as a drop-in replacement to the Revell cowling, I think the biggest difference is the space between the gun troughs.
The Reaver 109G/K prop set was purchased to ensure that the spinner is a perfect match for the cowling.
The spinner and backplate is cast as a single piece, which is a big improvement over the 2-piece Revell spinner, which puts a very awkward seam in the middle of the spinner.
It looks pretty good. I also have a Henri Daehne 109G/K spinner and prop but I'll be saving that for a future K-4 build methinks.
Rounding out this update is the Barracuda Studios Exhaust and Intake set. I picked this up primarily to replace the kit exhaust, which do not have hollow ends and due to their cross-sectional shape and stacked orientation, would be difficult to hollow out manually.
This set also includes a supercharger intake and some small air scoops that will both go unused since the Reaver set takes care of those already.
The aftermarket tour to be continued...
