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Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
March 8, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$22.99

ICM continues to add to its excellent aviation figure series with this latest contribution, WWII Pilots of British Naval Aviation. The title of the kit is a bit of a misnomer as the included figures only feature a single pilot. The other two figures are a sailor and a naval officer. In addition, I was surprised to see that this set only included three rather than the usual four that ICM offers in such sets.

All that being said, I’m actually quite taken with the figures provided. The naval sailor and officer are, to the best of my knowledge, the first ever offered in plastic in this scale, and the detail is lovely. The pilot figure comes with a beautifully detailed parachute and harness slung over one shoulder, and with very little modification (mostly the color of his pants) could be changed out to an RAF fighter pilot with ease.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
March 8, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$25.00

In yet another happy move, ICM has now released a set of very nice figures to support their growing line of 1/35th helicopter kits. Set in the Vietnam War era, this set of four figures depicts a typical support crew performing general maintenance on a helicopter, with a commanding officer pointing to an area needing attention. Three are wearing the standard working cap for ground personnel including one bare-headed figure.

All four figures are in the casual ground *uniforms for maintenance work and are on the whole relatively easy to assemble. Some attention needs to be paid, however, to the loose hands that attach to wrists – obviously intended to provide some flexibility in positioning for your particular diorama.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
March 7, 2024
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$23.59

History

The Bell P-400 was a development of the Bell Model 14 P-39 Airacobra series, which originated in the late thirties. It was an unusual design in that it featured an engine mounted behind the pilot, and a cannon firing through the propeller shaft.It also was equipped with a tricycle landing gear. It was designed for high performance, and the U.S.Army ordered quite a few before the beginning of World War II.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
March 4, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$9.51

New P-47D Thunderbolt “Bubbletop” vacuformed canopies are available from Brengun for the 1/144th scale Platz/Eduard kit.

There are two (2) canopies in the package. There are no instructions, but the product is self-explanatory.

The clear vacuformed plastic is thin and has very good clarity with very little distortion when looking through it.

Upon closer inspection of the canopies, there is a difference in the moldings. One is for an open canopy since there is a space gap between the windscreen and canopy. The other has no space thus making it a closed canopy installation.

Care must be taken when dealing with vacuformed parts. A new blade in your hobby knife will be a must when trimming away the canopy from the rest of the plastic. Light sanding will also be needed to smooth the rough edges.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
March 4, 2024
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$9.51

New P-47D Thunderbolt “Razorback” vacuformed canopies are available from Brengun for the 1/144th scale Platz/Eduard kit.

There are two (2) canopies in the package. There are no instructions, but the product is self-explanatory.

The clear vacuformed plastic is thin and has very good clarity with very little distortion when looking through it.

Upon closer inspection of the canopies, there is a difference in the moldings. One is for an open canopy since there is a space gap between the windscreen and canopy. The other has no spacing thus making it a closed canopy installation.

Care must be taken when dealing with vacuformed parts. A new blade in you hobby knife will be a must when trimming away the canopy from the rest of the plastic. Light sanding will also be needed to smooth the rough edges.