History

The Curtiss C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft, manufactured by Curtiss Wright Co. and the first flight was March 1940. There were 36 C-46 delivered to the JASDF and they served as JASDF’s main transport aircraft. Serial numbers 140, 143, and 145 were converted to C-46ECM and served with the Electronic Warfare Training Squadron of the Air Defense Command. Each of these three aircraft were configured differently resulting in all three aircraft having different antenna locations. C-46ECM No. 143 is on display at Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park, and No. 145 is on display at JASDF Iruma Airbase.

Yellow Wings has been producing superb decals for the time frame 1930 to 1941 for a while now. They are well researched and well printed and they specialize in very bright and exciting schemes.

This set is specifically designed for the Lindberg kit and contains two options for the United States Army Air Corps.

• Curtiss P-6E, 32-277 94th Pursuit Squadron, Selfridge Filed, MI, 1930
• Curtiss P-6E, 33rd Pursuit Squadron, Virginia Beach Summer Camp, 1934

Their are decals to represent both planes and are perfectly in register and very colorful. One is blue/yellow and the other is olive drab/yellow. Included in the instructions are full color views of the planes with specifications for the plane, antennae placement and location of the decals. Another sheet defines the colors with references to several brands of paint and a history on the other side with color history also.

Monograms' AT-6/SNJ kit has been around for quite a while. The plane trained many flyers and was used for many years with some still being flyable to this day. Yellow Wings, who specializes in decals for planes between 1930 and 1942 has come out with a new set for USMC SNJ-3's from 1942.

Included in the package are two complete decals sheets with markings, color bands and insignia for two aircraft. They are printed by Microscale and have great color and register. Wing Walks are also included for both aircraft. Next is a full color sheet showing the color and markings along with aircraft performance. Lastly, there is the info sheet detailing the history, band information, prop color info and more along with a guide to specific paints.

The planes represents on this sheets are:

Quickboost provides one set of Dornier Do 217 exhaust stubs. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. These Quickboost parts are specific replacements for the kit parts found in the Monogram Pro Modeler’s Do 217E-5 (85-5954), Revell’s Do 217E-4 kit (85-5526), and Revell’s Do 217E-5 (04557)

Quickboost has molded the exhaust stubs perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhaust stubs have no mold seams to sand off along with the superior detail for the exhausts. Be very careful removing the parts from the resin block. I used a photo-etched saw along with a couple swipes of a sanding stick to have great looking parts. Test fitting revealed no discernable differences that should cause any problems compared to the kit parts

Need a little something to spice up that 1/48 scale plane on its base? Aerobonus to the rescue with a set of four FOD (foreign object debris) buckets. The set is one casting of four buckets with a piece of wire to form the handles and decals.

Assembly is basic with the modeler cutting the bucket free and adding the handle. I did use a drill and pin vise to open the handle holes slightly. Cut the wire and bend like a handle and your done. the color call put is for blue grey. I used medium blue gray from Testors and then gloss coated for the decals. The decals come in white or black lettering and I chose the white and they went on well. A quick flat coat and then paint the handle silver and we're done. Just that quick and easy.

The set is simple, well made and would make a great addition to the base or a diorama. Recommended. My thanks to Aires for the chance to build and paint these great little buckets,.