Valiant Wings’ Airframe Detail series reaches number 12, with the Bristol Bulldog featured in this volume. The interwar period saw rapid development of airframes and engines and in the mid-twenties, the RAF found its service fighters were quickly becoming obsolete. Enter the Bristol Bulldog, which was an advance on what was then available, but, as a two-gun biplane, itself became obsolescent within a few years. Nevertheless, the type was widely exported and did see combat in the late 1930’s.
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Commemorative Reissue of a Vintage-style Funny Car Kit
MPC, or Model Products Corporation, is one of the classic names in American plastic model kits. The MPC brand is now owned by Round 2 LLC, based in South Bend, Indiana, which has reissued many vintage MPC kits using original or restored tooling. This 2026 release features an all-new decal sheet and represents a 1/25-scale 1983 Pontiac Firebird Funny Car, issued as part of the celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States (1776–2026). The box is shrink-wrapped and measures 9”x 6.25”x 3.75”. The box contains a total of 102 parts, including:
From the Model Rectifier Company’s website,
The Soviet Army T-80BV is a main battle tank that entered service in 1985, notable as the first production version of the T-80 family to feature factory-fitted Kontakt-1 explosive reactive armor (ERA).
It combined a high-speed gas turbine engine with a heavily reinforced armor package, making it one of the most elite, high-performance armored vehicles fielded by the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War.
- -Equipped with a 2A46M-1 main gun and a 12.7mm 6P17
- -Semi-connecting tracks included
While interesting, the details of this tank are lacking, so I reference the US Army CTC OE Data Integration Network website,
Aires began in 1995, making 2026 their 31st anniversary. They are based out of the Czech Republic and include not only the Aires brand name, but Quickboost, Aerobonus, and Wheelliant.
The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow) was a heavy fighter built in later World War II. It was a unique twin engine design with its push-pull configuration and the lower aerodynamic drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines, and it was considered one of the fastest piston-engined aircraft ever flown.
Sources differ, but only 37 to 48 Do 335s were built and none were known to have flown in combat. The Do 335B-2 was to be a heavily armed Zerstorer (destroyer) with its main feature being two wing mounted 30 mm Mk 103 cannons contained in special fairings with 70 rounds per gun in addition to the normal engine mounted Mk 103 and two 20 mm MG 151/20s in the nose cowl. Due to the increased weight, the B series also standardized on larger tires which required the nose wheel to rotate 45o for stowage during retraction, and an armored windscreen. Less than five Do 335B-2s were in production at the end of the war.
