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I’ve always liked to let the pictures tell the story, but in this case, they can’t show you what a spectacular fit everything is in this kit. I must give them an A+ for pre-planning and engineering here. Every piece just click fits into where it was supposed to without issue, with only one exception.
This set of “upgrade” decals is another product by Afterburner in a long line of high-quality decal sets. Designed for the Hasegawa F-18 Super Hornet, this Upgrade Set provides well over 100 markings, stencils, instrument panel faces, restraint harnesses, and even red landing gear door edge markings for the awesome Hasegawa Super Hornet.
This set of decals easily achieves all of the standards for high quality decals. The decals do not allow for underlying colors to bleed through after application. Registry is dead on, and the decal proportions are correct and proper. There is very little carrier film that will need to be trimmed away. The sample taken from the sheet indicated that the decals are strong enough to withstand some handling during the application process, and yet thin enough to adhere to any raised or engraved detail upon which the decal is placed. The sample was treated with SolvaSet and did not show any sign of a negative reaction.
New from Aero Research comes another in the “Modelers Guide” Series, and this time it’s the Sabre and Fury that undergo Jay Sherlock’s microscope. Soft cover (spiral bound) with 152 pages of tech data, kit reviews in all scales, model changes and options that include explanations on the various wing changes to Sabres and Furies. There are also numerous photographs, both in color and black and white, included. This is followed by a breakdown on the various aircraft themselves, beginning with the XP-86 and plowing through the 29 Sabre models and 7 of the Furies. With each aircraft, there is an explanation as to what the differences are for each one. The final chapters deal with serial # lists, operating units, surviving aircraft and finally references.
The Mosquito was flown by 100 RAF, four RAAF, two USAAF and one RCAF squadrons, plus 45 other units. The RCAF unit was the 418 "City of Edmonton" Squadron
This squadron was formed at Debden on 15 November 1941 in the night intruder role, equipped with Bostons. However, work up was slow and it was early spring 1942 before the squadron was fully operational, flying its first mission on March 26th.
As well as flying the standard Boston, it also used examples armed with a solid nose mounting 20mm cannons which proved to be quite effective in the night fighter role. In May 1943, the squadron converted to Mosquito VIs and, on 15 September, 1943, performed in the escort fighter role to a force of Lancasters from No 617 Squadron attacking the Dortmund-Elms Canal.
Designed for the Trumpeter/Hobbycraft 1/32 F-105G is Aires’ new cockpit set, which is comprised of 33 gray resin, one clear resin and almost 100 photoetch parts. Casting is flawless, which is normal for Aires. The photoetch has nice relief.
I sanded the cockpit and sidewalls down and test fit them in the Trumpeter kit. The fit is good and not much thinning will be needed. You will need to sand the pour area off of the bottom of the cockpit. The test fit did show that the back of the cockpit interferes with the bomb bay in the kit. This was easily remedied by cutting the back bottom portion off of the kit at an angle and the fit tightened right up. The sidewalls required a slight trimming but fit tight and looked great.
