Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
February 2, 2016
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost provides you with a F4U-5 engine reductor, distributor covers, and engine pump. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. There supplied instructions note the swap out of the kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. One part, the magneto is not used with the F4U-5’s R-2800-32W Series E engine and appears to be a carryover for a F4U-4B R-2800 engine (QB 48 045). The F4U-5’s R-2800-32W Series E engine was a fairly unique engine and was not used in any other aircraft.

Quickboost has molded the parts perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhausts provide you with no mold seams to sand off.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
February 2, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$29.95

The Aircraft

When the first B.534 flew in 1934, the aircraft was well ahead of its contemporaries in other air forces. The British were using Hawker Furies, the US had Curtiss Hawks and the Russians had the I-15. With the German takeover of much of Czechoslovakia in 1939, many of these planes were taken over by the Luftwaffe. The B.534’s combat record is sparse, although some flown by Bulgaria did attempt to intercept the Ploesti raid, and a 534 flown by a pilot of the Slovak National Uprising shot down a Hungarian Ju-52 in October of 1944, the last recorded victory by a biplane.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
February 2, 2016
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.50

Quickboost provides you with one set of Vought F4U-5N flame dampener exhausts. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. These Quickboost parts are specific replacements for the kit exhausts which replicate a standard F4U-5 without the flame dampened exhausts. If you wish to do a post-war F4U-5N that had its flame dampener exhausts removed for the standard F4U-5 exhausts, I would point you to the Quickboost 48 661 set that is gorgeous.

Quickboost has molded the exhausts perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhausts provide you with no mold seams to sand off along with a hollowed out exhaust.

Book Author(s)
Thomas M. Cleaver
Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
February 2, 2016
Company
SAM Publications
MSRP
$28.47

Sam Publications has published another incredible reference work, this time on one of the mainstays of the navy’s air power in the Pacific theater. Author Thomas M. Cleaver has put together a 175-page opus with just about every aspect of the Hellcat one could want. Whether you’re a history buff, modeler, an aviation enthusiast or all of the above, this book will be a necessity for your files.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
February 1, 2016
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.50

Normally I don’t build outside of my pre-1945 comfort zone, but I’ve always liked the shape and look of the Tucano/Super Tucano. When Hobby Boss released this kit I couldn’t pass on making the purchase. As with any decent kit there is always room for little improvement and this kit is no exception. Joining another resin aftermarket manufacturer, Aires is now offering a set of replacement stabs/elevators for the Tucano.