Box Art / Packaging / History

Academy have produced a newly boxed iteration of the 1999 Revell Leopard 1A5, parts are well molded and very little flash was observed. The box art is glossy and depicts artwork of a Leopard in German Markings and NATO Camouflage scheme. The instructions did not give any history of the MBT, but briefly, the Leopard 1A5 was the main service version of the Leopard 1 post 1987 when some 1800 Leopard 1’s were converted to the new variant. The newer variant improved on fire control systems, gun stabilization and night fighting capabilities adding a laser rangefinder and enhanced thermal imaging. Some are indeed in service today in Ukraine.

In 2020, the JASDF celebrated the final year of service for the RF-4E, which had entered service in 1961, with a specially marked airframe, serial 57-6907.

Korean modeling company, DXM Models, has released a set of 1/48 decals for this airframe and has kindly sent IPMS/USA a sample. This set included two sheets of decals, one for the stenciling and standard markings, while the second is devoted exclusively to the special markings applied to the airframe.

A full colour instruction leaflet includes comprehensive decal placement and painting guides for top, bottom and both sides. Colour callouts are in Mr. Color, Humbrol and FS standard where applicable.

The decals are printed for DXM by Cartograf, which ensures quality. The colours are strong, even the tiniest of stencils is readable under magnification and the colours are perfectly aligned. I expect them to behave properly with appropriate solutions, as with all Cartograf’s offerings.

I like small air forces so whenever a book comes out covering planes flown by them I am interested, especially if it shows schemes used by those smaller air forces.

The Bazzocchi Connection is focused on two designs by Engineer Ermanno Bazzocchi who joined Machi during WW2. The Introduction covers early designs leading up to the MB.326 in 1961 after the firm became Aermacchi. This plane later evolved into the MB.339 and these two aircraft make up the bulk of the narrative and pictures.

The book moves through the development history of the MB.326 before moving into operational use. One interesting aspect is tables listing all operational aircraft by serial numbers under the air forces they flew with and with a notes column listing each planes outcome.

Each country is listed in alphabetical order (after Italy) and the history is discussed including any combat these trainers entered into. The cover art shows a South African MB.326 downing an Angolan Hind-24.