One of the only obvious problems with Revell's basically superb PV-1 Ventura is the propellers; whereas the real aircraft was famous for its paddle-bladed props which created a very distinctive sound, for some reason Revell slipped up and included slim-bladed propellers which do rather stick out like the proverbial sore thumb as soon as you compare the kit with reference photos.

True Details have produced a neat resin update set to solve the problem with a new set of propeller blades and finely detailed separate hubs. The eight parts come packed in a small clear blister-pack with a piece of sponge backing to prevent them from rattling around in transit.

The casting is basically perfect in the review sample. There are no bubbles or flash evident, and cleaning off the casting points will be quick and easy. The new hubs are a definite improvement over the kit originals - a touch fuller, with additional details that extend to the rear face. The broad propeller blades look much better in shape, although I will spend a few moments to give mine a touch more aerodynamic twist - looking at reference photos, the full-sized don't show a very pronounced twist, but the resin parts do seem a tad flat to me.

Conclusion

True Details' Ventura propellers are very nicely produced and will provide an instant visual improvement to the kit. They're well priced, and the beauty of the Revell kit being very cheap itself is that you can afford to splash out on a few treats like these upgrades and still have a very affordable build. Recommended.

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