Since the F-86 is my favorite aircraft, I just had to have the Aires Wheel Bay detail set when it came up for review. This set is made to fit the Kinetic / Italeri kit in 1/32. They are both the same kit with different boxing.

I bought a couple of the kits last year and thought they were great, with super detail. This wheel bay detail sets takes it over the top.

The set is cast in very brittle light grey resin. The casting blocks are easy to remove with a razor saw and some sanding. Included with this set are all of the necessary struts and a set of very clear instructions.

Unfortunately, there are no color references, so I had to resort to Squadron’s very fine F-86 Walk Around book by Larry Davis. In this book are many fine detail photos and some wonderful drawings by Don Greer and Richard Hudson.

History

From 1953 to 1957, Chevrolet had three full-sized automobiles it was selling to the public – the bottom of the line 150, the mid-range 210, and the top of the line Bel Air. The 210 model was Chevrolet's bestseller up until 1955. It offered the widest choice of body styles in 1953, including a convertible, Sport Coupe hardtop, two- and four-door sedans, and a station wagon.

However, in 1954, the 210 convertible and hardtop were dropped and a deluxe model called the Del Ray Club Coupe was introduced. This model came factory-equipped with interior furnishings found on higher-end models like the Bel Air. Drivers could enjoy upgrades such as padded vinyl seats, a lighted glove compartment, two door armrests, and carpeted floorboards. The cost of the Del Ray was now within $100 of the Bel Air with its luxury and premium trim and it never achieved the sales Chevrolet had hoped for.

This is the latest Squadron at Sea edition from Squadron and, in my opinion, one of the most interesting publications ever produced. It is a 136 page book of high quality black and white and some color photos, most of which have never been published before.

The first section deals with the history and building of the ship. I found this very interesting, especially the part about using cardboard boxes and cutouts to help lay out different configurations for various compartment layouts (way before computer aided programs).

There are also sections on commissioning, trials, overhauls, reconfigurations, armaments, and inactivation. Another section that really got my interest was the part about the ship being hit with friendly fire, something you don't hear about too much during WWII.

The color drawings would be most helpful to those that decide to build a model of the BB 55. There are several different paint schemes to choose from.