Product Review: Crazy Modeler PE Hood Pins

Crazy Modeler sent me some more cool stuff to look over- this time the photoetched Hood/Bonnet Pin Set.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/1388/cm2010yj.jpg

The set has two sections- the first side is devoted to 1/24 bonnet pins.

http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/1354/cm2027il.jpg

As you can see it has four different designs of pins. The etchings all look clean and well detailed.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9649/cm2041sm.jpg

The set includes an instruction sheet, indicating GT and WRC style pins (of course pics of the car you're building will usually tell you pretty easily what design you need). It also has bending and assembly instructions.

The other side of the set consists of hundreds of fasteners.

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/7376/cm2038vt.jpg

Phillips, flat head hex, Allen head, Dzus and others. The intruction set indicates these are for MotoGP, presumably 1/12 bikes. However, the selection of different sizes makes it just as useful for other scales also. This selection of hardware would work for bodywork hold downs on F1 cars in 1/20 and 1/24- not to mention the endless detailing possibilities for engines, suspensions, and other mechanical components. I plan to try out a number of these in detailing my 635CSi (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=563863) engine bay, so feel free to look in for some ideas.

Here's an example of the bonnet pins in use-

http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/4324/cm2056lj.jpg

http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/5493/cm2066jd.jpg

These are the one piece pin clip style. I used a pair of tweezers to bend the retaining loop up- in pics of real cars they hardly ever lay flat, and it give the parts a nice 3 dimensionality. I used a light wash to highlight some of the relief in the etching. Looks the part pretty well, I think.

In conclusion, it seems like a nice little set. The etchings all appear clean and well detailed, you get hundreds of little parts that will have you detailing lots of kits, and like so much of the stuff CM is putting out lately, they're very competitively priced. A set of bonnet pins can make a simple but striking difference in the appearence of a model, and they will be just as home on the bonnet of a street tuner as on a rally car.

Nice write up. Looks like a good product, I will have to pick up a set. Thanks for the review.

First, I don't intend to offend anyone with my comment, just some positive criticism. I've seen CM copy stuff from other manufacturers but they always try to improve them a lot, and this set shows. I've seen a few old threads in AF with very negative comments about this, but here's my point of view on this Hood Pins P/E. I can recognize that design comes from the Modeler's set, one of the best ones I've ever bought, but they were really hard to find and seems to be out of production now.

From this close up pics I can say they almost tripled the quantity of pins you could get and discarded the oldschool and GT40 latch pins that made up 1/3 of the Modeler's set and also added all those bolts and nut heads.

Hands down I can say this P/E is the best value for money you can get, and I'll definitely buy a few sets soon. I don't see anything negative for CM to pick up where Modeler's let off.

First, I don't intend to offend anyone with my comment, just some positive criticism. I've seen CM copy stuff from other manufacturers but they always try to improve them a lot, and this set shows. I've seen a few old threads in AF with very negative comments about this, but here's my point of view on this Hood Pins P/E. I can recognize that design comes from the Modeler's set, one of the best ones I've ever bought, but they were really hard to find and seems to be out of production now.

From this close up pics I can say they almost tripled the quantity of pins you could get and discarded the oldschool and GT40 latch pins that made up 1/3 of the Modeler's set and also added all those bolts and nut heads.

Hands down I can say this P/E is the best value for money you can get, and I'll definitely buy a few sets soon. I don't see anything negative for CM to pick up where Modeler's let off.

Here I have to state one point.This PE set is CM's original design.

Modelling art is a small world in some degree.Sometimes some completed design works seem similar though,people may not say COPY at random .IRRESPONSIBLE!

Then take a look at Fujimi F430 and Revell F430.Can we say Fujimi copys Revell ,or Revell copys Fujimi?

When CM start a design,they will have to completely follow the prototype modelling kits.I guess this is a principle of S27 and of Modeller's,too.
A real modeller will understand this and understand some similar design.

Thank MPWR for the excellent reveiw as always.

Those look good. After seeing the NSX PE set with hood pins, I was hoping they'd come out with a set of just the pins. Too bad I ordered the NSX pins without browsing the selection, and not ordering one of these sets, too.

Well, I think I agree with laurelflying's point. I wouldn't consider it is a copy from modeler's PE. Cuz there are many manufactors who have really similar products. For example, S27 and SMS. If we say there is a copy per say, I think they are all copying the real things:-). Anyway, personally, I am really glad to see CM making better and better products in their recent release and hope they could provide us more and more good stuffs in the future. The rule is still there. Let the quality and the quantitiy(LOL) speak. :-)

Here I have to state one point.This PE set is CM's original design.

Modelling art is a small world in some degree.Sometimes some completed design works seem similar though,people may not say COPY at random.

Then take a look at Fujimi F430 and Revell F430.Can we say Fujimi copys Revell ,or Revell copys Fujimi?

When CM start a design,they will have to completely follow the prototype modelling kits.I guess this is a principle of S27 and of Modeller's,too.
A real modeller will understand this and understand some similar design.

Looks like a nice hood pin set. The fasteners are a nice extra. I bought some Acu Stion pins a while back, and they are fine, still got loads left. At the time, I couldn’t get any CM products….


As for Modellers, I’m lucky to be able to find any of their stuff.. I buy what I can buy, if you get my meaning. I’m eagerly awaiting the new CM Seat Belt sets, and Exhaust decals. I’m watching www.hiroboy.com – UK CM retailer for those products..

So, CM have just marketed their goods better. It’s one thing producing something, but you have to get it out there, known about. Crazy Modeller has done this exceptionally well. We all know about Crazy Modeller, and there are now builds being created with CM products. Hats off to them. Done something I couldn’t ever do.

And not only that, these sets CM sell are always keenly priced… I got from Hiroboy a YZR M1 super detail set for £15. Amazing value, I was very impressed… I’ll perhaps pick some of these up, as I like CM products. I was happy when Steve decided to stock them…