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Book Author(s)
Andrew Thomas
Review Author
Keenan Chittester
Published on
May 17, 2011
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

This is the 98thtitle in Osprey’s Aircraft of the Aces Series. The softcover book has 98 pages, including nine pages of color side profiles, a bibliography, index and appendices. The appendices include detailed information on each of the 36 color profiles. There is also a comprehensive listing of the aces that flew Spitfires in the theater that includes the units they flew with, their theater claims and their total claims. The front cover has a dramatic painting of Spitfires attacking Me-323 transports over the Mediterranean Sea. The encounter is described in detail on the page facing the table of contents and makes for some very interesting reading.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
May 17, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$5.50

Trumpeter’s lastest 109 is the Bf-109F-4, it is nice but has some issues besides depicting a G-2 more than an F-4 version. One of those things that really needs to be addressed is the propeller. Quickboost offers three perfectly formed light grey resin propellers that are perfectly formed and blemish free. Replacement of the kit part is quite easy just remove these blades and substitute the kit ones.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost, Aires Hoddy Models and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
May 17, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.00

This little gem of a set contains four resin stubs. I know you’re thinking what is so special about them. The stubs are not straight pipes. They have a bulge middle and tapered end. The jewel in the crown is the flame dampeners inside the realistically thin end pieces. Designed for the Dragon Ta-154 kit I’m sure these could be fitted to the Promodeler one as well. Simply remove the pour block leaving the attachment stub and paint then add to the model.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost, Aires Hobby Models and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
May 16, 2011
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$39.00

The F-16 Fighting Falcon began life as part of the U.S. Air Force Lightweight Fighter Program (LFP) in January of 1972 as the General Dynamics entry in the competition. The evaluation YF-16 first took to the air on 8 February 1974. Sharing an engine with the F-15 Eagle gained the favor of the plane with the Air Force. The Falcon has a unique ejection seat that is reclined in the cockpit, and utilizes a fly-by-wire system to aid in flight. Due in part to a multi-stage improvement program or MSIP, the F-16 was upgraded to the C and D variants, which began replacing the A and B variants in 1983.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
May 16, 2011
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.99

The Spitfire certainly needs no introduction; it’s quite simply one of the most versatile and beautiful propeller driven fighters of all time. Because of that fact there has been no shortage of kit manufactures willing to produce any number of variations of this venerable design. Enter Airfix a name long associated with British aircraft models. This time we get a new release of the Spitfire Mk XII in 1/48 scale. In brief, the Mk XII was powered by the Rolls Royce Griffin engine and as a result sports some cowling bumps and a big prop spinner not seen on other variants. Couple the Griffith engine with clipped wings and you get a Spit designed to fly fast at low altitudes to counter low flying Luftwaffe fight bombers and later, V-1 buzz bombs, but enough of the history, lets have a look.

The Kit