Completed model

SSW D.III

Assembled nicely detailed cockpit

"Shidenkai no Maki" Kawanishi N1K2-J Shidenkai (George)

Right front

McDonnell Douglas FG.1 Phantom

New tank commander figure

T-55 Enigma

Finished- Tower Railing

S. M. Unterseeboot U-9

Runner Z and TR1

Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf. Type J/L/M, Part 1

Silver Undercoat

’62 Corvette Gasser

START Strakelet

B-52G Stratofortress "Gulf War" 25th Anniversary

Top view

SPAD XIII c1 WWI French Fighter

Completed Kit -3

Messerschmitt Me-309 V-1/V-2

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Product Picture

Boulton Paul Defiant Mk. I Accessories
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$33.95

The Products

This set provides the following:

  • CX414 - Die Cut Flexible Mask for Airfix Defiant Mk. I kit.
  • 73525 - Self and Non-Adhesive Photo Etch Detail Set for Airfix Defiant Mk. I
  • 72600 - Defiant Mk. I Landing Flaps

Flexible Masks Set (CX414)

This small yellow sheet of masking paper is die cut to provide masks for the window areas on the canopy and turret of the Airfix Defiant Mk. 1. This is worth getting on its own, as it is totally accurate and really cuts down on the tedious job of masking the clear areas on the model. Very clear instructions are given, so there’s no way of messing these up unless you really are a Neanderthal, and in that case, you should probably take up crocheting. I merely removed the little shapes with my pointy tweezers, and transferred them to their proper locations. Highly recommended.

Box Art

Boulton Paul Defiant MK. 1
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.00

History

The “turret fighter” concept dates back to the early thirties, and contrary to some histories, the first Turret Fighter used by the Royal Air Force was actually the Hawker Turret Demon biplane, which was tested and operated by No. 23 Squadron from 1934. A hydraulically operated power turret was fitted to a standard Demon fighter, itself a development of the Hawker Hart light bomber, and a considerable number was produced by Hawker and Boulton Paul. The turret itself was a Frazer-Nash creation, and all of the Boulton-Paul produced Demons had them, and some were retrofitted to the Hawker produced models. By 1938, the Turret Demon was being operated by No. 23 and No.64 Squadrons, but the type was out of first line service by 1939, being replaced by Blenheim Mk. 1F’s.

Product Picture

Hungarian Panzer Crew #2 and Hungarian SPG Officer and Panzer Officer
Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
Company
The Bodi
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$33.56

Krisztine Bodi is a European figure sculptor of some renown who started his professional career producing masters for the likes of Alpine, Young Miniatures and Mantis. As so often happens, Mr. Bodi eventually decided that working for himself might be the smart thing to do, so he set up his own line of figures under the brand name “the bodi”. The range now numbers nearly 100 figures in various scales, most covering the period of the Second World War.

My approach to reviewing these two figures sets (3 figures total) this time around is to provide you with photos taken by myself of the unpainted resin pieces, together with photos borrowed from the producer’s web site. This is because these beautiful sculptures deserve better than my almost non-existent figure painting skills have to offer. I want folks to see the quality of the resin parts, but also see what a good figure painter can then do with them.

Box top

Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB, Part 2
Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$149.99

Welcome back! Last time we had just completed the internal framework, engine, lower front end and cockpit of the big 1/24th Scale Airfix Mk.Ib Typhoon. This second installment will bring the wings, fuselage, nose and wheel-wells together, leaving the final assembly and finish for the last segment of this three-part review. To recall: I chose to expose only the starboard wing’s gun bay and starboard engine detail, and to cover up the lower front end encompassing the oil cooler/air intake.

Work is going along very smoothly, with a single exception being the front end of the aircraft. Whether the problems I encountered were self-inflicted or due to some flaw in the kit remains to be determined. More on that later – for now, let’s get back to work!

Box Art

USS Akron or Macon LTA Aircraft Carrier

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
AMT
Scale
1/520
MSRP
$30.95

Background

The USS Akron and Macon were lighter than air (LTA) aircraft carriers built for the US Navy in the 1930’s. Filled with Helium, ach rigid airship was designed to carry five single-seat Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks for scouting or two-seat Fleet N2Y-1 biplanes for training. A gondola was also designed to be lowered through the cloud layer for aerial surveillance. Both rigid airships crashed within two years after becoming operational. There’s a good article on these craft at: https://www.airships.net/us-navy-rigid-airships/uss-akron-macon/ .