JHmodels

Modeling Stand for 1/24-1/48 Scale Monoplanes

Product # JHM4801 from HobbyLink Japan http://www.hlj.com/

Product Article by Nick Moore

 

JHmodels have released a range of plywood kitset stands to fit a variety of model aircraft scales. This particular stand is designed to accommodate monoplanes of scales 1/24 to 1/48. The components are assembled from laser cut 3mm plywood, some screws, nuts and rubber band. 

This may see to be one of those products that you’ve gotten by without for years and never had any problems. You may look at it and wonder if it will add any value to your modeling or even make it easier. I think in both cases the answer is yes – it’s a very worthwhile tool. 

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Most of the parts consist of one piece cut-outs of 3mm ply that assemble into what is a very lightweight structure. The four adjustable blocks, which can be moved back and forth depending on the size of the model, are assembled from seven separate pieces plus two nuts. Then the v-shaped supports are screwed to the blocks and finally they are fastened to the board with vertical screws into the base of each block. By loosening the screws everything becomes fully adjustable back and forth and up and down. I chose to put it all together with standard PVA wood glue and some clamps. This was fast and easy. I used CA glue to attach the rubber bands to the contact surfaces on the v-supports and the attachment feels sufficiently strong. 

This product is very simple in appearance yet it has been very thoughtfully designed. The wing v-supports have very gentle concave curves and with the rubber bands they cradle your model very nicely. The front and rear v-supports have similar curvature but also feature deep v-cuts to gently grip the model’s fuselage. Ruled lengths of 110mm are etched into the wooden surface for when you want to get really precise. 

The product has a feel good factor too. For someone who is usually handling plastic it’s very nice to make something out of wood for a change and the stand has a pleasant appearance once completed (although its going to get really grubby with constant use).

Priced at around the cost of a typical 1/48 scale kit maybe it’s worth forgoing just one more new model and grabbing one of these instead. Well recommended. 

This product can be purchased here: http://www.hlj.com/product/JHM4801 

My thanks to HobbyLink Japan for providing this review sample. 

Nick Moore

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Photos and text © by Nick Moore