The UK’s Fantasy Print Shop has released another set of 1/48 decals in their Euro Decals range, this one covering the F4U-1 and F4U-1A Corsair in US Navy, RNZAF and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm service.
Seven options are offered on a single sheet. These are:
Arma Hobby has released a new 1/48th scale P-39N Airacobra. It is the new tooled 2024 version following the P-39Q, released earlier, and they share the same sprues, but the wing sink marks noted in the “Q” boxing looks to be fixed.
The kit is enclosed in a side open box with all the contents sitting in a sturdier cardboard tray. The sprues are enclosed in a single plastic bag and within are more bags that hold three (3) steel ball bearings (for nose weight), the clear sprue, and another for a small 3D printed nose air louvers.
The injected plastic hardness is on the medium side. The recessed and raised molded details are good for this scale.
Euro Decals’ new 1/72nd scale decal sheet “Supermarine Spitfires Over Malta” provides decals for nine different spitfires involved in the defense of Malta in 1942 and 1943. There are decals for one IXc, three Vb, and five Vc spitfires.There are enough decals provided to build all of the nine options, so you’ll have some extra roundels and fin-flashes for the spares box. The specific aircraft represented are:
This review covers packs 7, 8, and 9 of the Agora Models Jaguar build. Please see parts 1 and 2 of this review for the first 6 packs and more information about the kit.
Pack 7 starts off easy by assembling the two halves of the mufflers (or “silencers” per the instructions) and installing them onto the floor assembly from pack 6. The rest of pack 7 is devoted to building the left front and right rear wheels and then inserting the left front wheel into the tire and installing it onto the front subframe.
I am finally getting the hang of putting these wire wheels together. My biggest frustration with installing the first two sets of spokes on each wheel has been getting each spoke pointed in the correct direction to seat properly on the rim. I have found that it is easiest to turn the spoke while it is only about halfway inserted. Once it is turned, it is pretty easy to pull it the rest of the way through and get it into place without disturbing the other spokes.
This book is 349 pages long with 84 color photos and dozens of B&W photos. It has information on over 4000 aircraft in around 700 locations throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. Whether it be in a museum, private collection, military gate guard, junkyard or even backyard, you will find information on the preserved aircraft, wrecks, cockpits, and major sections. The book is broken down into 10 major sections. After the preface and acknowledgments there is a use guide and then sections by geographical background. These geographical sections are broken down to England, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. Each of these sections are then separated out in alphabetical order by County and City/town. All known existing aircraft or substantial remains are listed with specific locations and whether or not they are accessible to the public. The two color photo sections cover 50 pages total.
Adam Jońca is an illustrator and author. He has contributed to several Stratus / MMP series, including Polish Tracks & Wheels [3 Volumes]; Polish Armoured Trains [3 Volumes; and Single Vehicle [4 Volumes].
From ICM’s website,
Since the summer of 2023, Leopard 2A6 tanks have been in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They actively participate in battles in the east and northeast of Ukraine. Some of them undergo specific modifications due to the nature of modern combat. Recent combat engagements have imposed new requirements, particularly improving protection against shaped charge munitions and attack drones. To address this, additional protective elements in the form of grids are added to the combat vehicles. Solid screens of various types are also used to protect the running gear. The Leopard 2A6 tanks of the Ukrainian army undergo such modifications, and several of these combat vehicles were seen in action in the fall of 2023.
I like the P-39 series aircraft as they are unique and not flown in combat as they were designed. Like a lot of early war aircraft, they were used because newer models weren’t available. As such, the P-39s flew in combat in the Pacific, and the Russians particularly liked them for ground attack. Like the aircraft, my experience with this model looks good from afar, but far from good.
Reference the Arma Hobby website for this P-39Q.
New Arma Hobby 2024 molds
The model includes a code to download a 3D printer file with detailed cockpit accessories:
This English language book, Messerschmitt Me 309 Development & Politics, is authored by Dan Sharp and Calum E. Douglas and was published on July 3, 2024.
This is a reissue of the Monogram original from the 1980s. Done in an odd 1/32 scale, this kit is a trip back in time for me because I didn’t build car models back then. The kit is very basic by today’s standards but there are a few areas where the detail is quite good. I found the interior had very good texture on the seats and especially the dash. Trans Ams had a brush rotary finish in metal and the texture molded on the kit part looks convincing once painted.
I did use some plastic card stock to fill the front seat backs since they come hollowed out. Chassis detail is acceptable for the scale, but the engine is too small for the engine bay. The “Shaker Hood” sits too low if installed per the directions, so I glued it to the bottom of the hood. The only other part I wrestled with was the glass.
