LZ Models 1/35 BR 52 Locomotive Upgrade Set First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Over the last few decades, those of us who also love model railroading have been blessed with a variety of kits in 1/35 scale. It started slowly with DML's rolling stock, but then CMK released the BR.52 in 1/35 scale. Since that time, other companies started producing locomotives and rolling stock in 1/35 scale including the Leopold and Karl Morser railway guns, Trumpeter's BP-42 armored train series, and more.

LZ Models has produced the AMS modeler's dream, a number of resin parts to add many of the valves and pumps missing on the Trumpeter BR 52 kit and will also enhance the CMK kit as well. The website indicates that there are 100 resin parts in this set. I noted when I set up the above photo that LZ Modls is pushing the limits of resin casting with these very fine wing nuts that go everywhere and I'll probably use the wing nuts produced in styrene available from several detail companies. There are a also a number of small valve wheels included in resin and these too are going to be very fragile in resin, but LZ Models also provides these same valve handles in photo-etch.

It is clear that LZ Models has done some serious research to replicate these parts and this detail set includes a mini-CD with images to show how these parts should go together. You can also see photos of the real subassemblies as well as the resin replicas by looking here.

I'm looking forward to trying these parts on my own BR 86 project. This set is very reasonably priced and the details are really nicely cast. Hopefully LZ Models will update their instructions with some more information about which parts go together and where on the locomotive they should be installed.

My sincere thanks to LZ Models for this review sample!