Valiant Wings has just released the 24^th volume in it’s Airframe and Miniature series, dedicated to the Junkers Ju88C through T models. This follows on the heels of volume 23 which covered the Ju88A through B series.

The book consists of 256 pages, including over 200 photos (of operational as well as museum aircraft), scale line drawings, color profiles, several model builds, a set of 1/48 plans and more. The contents are printed on high-quality, semi-gloss pages, with heavier stock covers. This book follows a similar format to others in the series.

The first 25 or so pages, titled “preface” (one of the more in-depth prefaces I have seen!) pick up where the previous volume ended, and dive into an historical overview starting with the Ju88C. This overview continues through later models and into post-war usage as well as captured airframes.

When I saw this kit on the review list, I decided to build it as a preview of the “Dual Combo” of single seat MiGs by Eduard I have in my stash. All I can say is I can’t wait to start them now! This issue from Platz provides parts for one two-seat MiG 15 UTI version of this famous little fighter. Included are markings for the Finnish AF as advertised on the box but also two Polish AF examples. The parts are typical Eduard with excellent surface detail perfectly delicate for this scale. Colors are given for Mr. Color, Aqueous and Tamiya paint lines. A masking set is also included for canopies, back seat blast shield and windows under the fuselage. The decals are printed by Rocketeer Decal and are up to the standard of the rest of the kit.

This is the first Then and Now book that I have read, and I am hooked. The period photographs and history are supplemented with after the battle photographs. The research that goes into finding these key places in photographs is amazing and really adds to the story with the human element of seeing the location years later and imagining the scene before you.

Casemate Publishers website describes this book as such,

The SF.260 is a 1964 Italian design used by military forces around the world as a basic trainer. Sleek and aerobatic, it is still flown today by aerial display teams and Air Combat USA as well as private owners. The trainer version was in service for over 40 years.

Knowing my interest in colorful trainers, John Noack asked if I would like to review the kit. I jumped at the offer, cleared my workbench, and began this, my first ever kit review.

Special Hobby has been a producer of unusual aircraft for many years, and I have a bunch of their kits. As time has passed and technology has improved their models have gotten much more refined. This kit has fine surface detail, small sprue gates, and some flash. There are no ejector pin marks in visible areas, but there are small sink marks on the fuselage halves where the alignment pins are molded, and a larger one on an antenna not used in my version.

ICM has provided this great new release for review, in 1/48 scale model of the B-26B Marauder. This is based on the original release from a few months earlier this is the D-Day Anniversary version with addition ground and flight crew included.

• Eight grey Sprues
• One Clear Sprue
• One Decal sheet
• One Instruction guide including printed mask templates
• One instruction sheet for the figures
• Plus, one sprue of the Flight and Ground crew

The detail quality is excellent in every way with this kit, crisp and detailed molding has become the norm for ICM.

The assembly is quick and easy.

The assembly starts on the left-hand side of the main fuselage. The few ejector pin marks should be filled/cleaned up on both halves of the fuselage.

Stages 1 to 6 are the assembly of the interior parts of the left fuselage. Be careful with G17 and G26 as they are very fragile. No issues were found in these stages.