Review of 1/48 RocKit Studio Ka-52 Upgrade Set – Unboxing & Introduction
I. About the Manufacturer
RocKit Studio is a start‑up model studio specialising in one‑stop upgrade solutions for model kits. Starting with scale aircraft models, they are gradually expanding their product line to include 3D‑printed parts, photo‑etched components, metal turned parts, and more. Guided by the philosophy “Rebirth Your Kit”, they are committed to helping modellers enhance the detail and functionality of their models, giving kit builds a second life.
In recent years, the Ka‑52 helicopter has become a hot topic in the modelling community, thanks to its imposing appearance and formidable combat capabilities. However, the market has long lacked a high‑quality kit, leaving many modellers disappointed. While Zvezda’s 1/48 scale Ka‑52 filled the gap, its level of detail failed to meet modellers’ expectations. To address this, RocKit Studio invested considerable effort into research, repeated refinement, and meticulous development to create this upgrade set, striving to deliver a superior building experience.
As their first product, the RocKit Studio is well aware that it may have room for improvement. They sincerely welcome feedback from modellers and promise to keep refining their future releases, staying true to their original mission of “rebirthing models” and contributing to the growth of the domestic modelling scene.
II. Unboxing Experience of RocKit Studio Ka-52 Upgrade Set
I had the privilege of being among the first to try out 3D‑printed RocKit Studio Ka-52 Upgrade Set (hereafter referred to as RS), and I would like to share my unboxing impressions.
The set comprises three main components: the rotor head, the landing gear with tyres, and the electro‑optical turret. The packaging is neat and compact. Removing the parts from the supports is straightforward, thanks to the well‑designed support structures – a pair of side cutters or a hobby knife is all you need. I even tried removing parts by hand (not recommended), and thanks to the high toughness of the resin material, nothing broke. The overall print quality is impressive: layer lines are almost invisible and will be completely covered after a coat of primer.
For modellers with some experience in 3D‑printed parts, removing all components from the supports should take no more than 30 minutes. Care and patience are the keys to a clean removal.
It is worth noting that I previously built a Ka‑52 model using an upgrade set from the Russian brand Quinta Studio (hereafter referred to as QS), so I will include some side‑by‑side comparisons in this review.
III. Detailed Review of the Upgrade Parts
1. Rotor Head
The instructions are clear and easy to follow. The upper and lower sections of the coaxial rotor can be secured without glue. Based on my building experience, I recommend not gluing part F28 permanently, so that it can be left separate for easier painting later. The main shaft is of appropriate length, ensuring a stable fit once inserted into the fuselage.
I have prepared comparison photos of the RS and QS rotor heads (the grey one is RS; the painted one is QS). As you can see, the RS part features much richer piping detail, and the control rods and drive shafts are also very well executed.
Grey and colored paddle grain details and comparison：
2. Landing Gear and Tyres
The landing gear incorporates metal axles, providing both structural support and functional realism, accurately replicating the hydraulic cylinder construction of the real aircraft. During the painting stage, proper masking of the metal axle areas will significantly enhance the final appearance. The tyres are designed with a weighted‑effect profile, and the detail is precise – overall, very satisfactory.
Landing gear details：
Clear pipeline details：
3. Electro‑Optical Turret
The electro‑optical turret consists of two halves (front and rear covers) and comes with a pre‑cut, adhesive‑free transparent film sheet that offers excellent clarity and finish. (Note: the review sample had some scratches inside the turret, but the production version does not have this issue.)
I would also like to share a tip for building electro‑optical devices: start by priming with black surfacer, then hand‑paint the lens area with silver. Use a circle cutter to cut a piece of holographic film to match the lens size and apply it (you can also use the decals included in the Zvezda kit). For the transparent film sheet, I recommend using a dedicated clear‑parts glue, which dries completely transparent – avoid using regular cement.
Details:
IV. Summary of RocKit Studio Ka-52 Upgrade Set
RocKit Studio’s first product, focused on the popular Ka‑52 attack helicopter, offers rich detail and high print accuracy, effectively addressing the shortcomings of the original kit and giving modellers more options. We wholeheartedly support the development of domestic upgrade sets and look forward to seeing more quality products from RocKit Studio in the future, bringing even more surprise to the modelling community.
Next issue, let's take a look the Unboxing Review of Flyhawk FH3030 Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind 1/72 Model Kit
The above content is translated from the WeChat Official Account of moxing.net, Original article is Foreign Language, https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5Cp6ye2_WhOM3ZlwLIWPLg