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Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Pavla Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$19.66

If you are looking to improve the cockpit, both inside and out, for your 1/72 scale EMHAR F-3H Demon, I would direct your attention to this cockpit and canopy set from Pavla Models. Recommended for the EMHAR kit released in 1991, this set provides a new front end for the plane in detailed resin, which is a step above the old plastic detail provided in the kit. Modelers with some experience in using resin parts should have no issues with utilizing this set, and experience with vacuum-formed canopies will be very important if using the windscreen and canopy included in the set.

From my perspective, Pavla Models continues to quietly add new items to their product lines in order to add detail to existing kits; many of these lines are intended for aircraft modelers, but there are some AFV items as well. Pavla Models provides replacement canopies that are vacuum-formed as well as cockpit sets, ejection seats, and general detail sets for aircraft.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Res-Im
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.63

If you are looking to improve the appearance of your 1/72 scale FJ-1 Fury, I would direct your attention to this photo-etched set from Resin Improvements. Although recommended for the VALOM kit, I was able to use the set effectively with the release from SIGA with only some minor plastic and metal removal. Most of the cockpit parts are pre-painted, which makes them both quick and easy to use right out of the package. A modeler with some experience using photo-etched parts should not have any issues with utilizing this set.

One of the newer companies that the IPMS/USA has picked up for Review Corps items is Resin Improvements from the Czech Republic. Although I had not previously heard of the company, their web site shows a 2011 date on it. I also noted when the set arrived that the photo etch fret has “© Eduard 2014” engraved on one end. In addition, the instructions are identical to those found in Eduard photo etch detail sets.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Master Details
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$21.00

Here is the third review of the three sets from Master Model which are all common in design but different in utility; IPMS USA sincerely appreciates Master’s support of our reviewer corps, and thanks to our leaders for sending these my way!

This set contains turned aluminum rocket noses and a decal sheet to provide warhead options for the previously reviewed Early and Late Master Details 1/24 British RP-3 rockets. (Sets 24 0011 and 24 0012).

The instructions are comprehensive, and explain coloring, details, and what each warhead is. I can see these used in the case of either ground attack against armor, such as on a Hurricane or Typhoon, or the Naval attack Mosquito squadrons.

All parts are individually bagged by item within the generic display header bag; this prevents damage and ensures you have the correct bits in the correct order.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Res-Im
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.58

The Beaufighter crew/operator canopy was attached to the fuselage panels and during maintenance -or emergencies- the panels could unfastened and the canopy would swing open to the side (the crew would normally enter via a hatch in the fuselage floor).

This detail set provides you with two canopy sets, one for the “observer” configuration and another one for the “rear gunner” of the Beaufighter. I believe the observer configuration (radar operator) was only used in the MkV/NF version of the Beaufighter.

The canopies are casted in clear resin. Please note that this replacement part includes some sharply casted detail in the panels surrounding the canopies as well. In order to use this set you are expected to remove some plastic from the fuselage of the airplane and the extra panels around the canopy will replace the removed parts. By the way, the removal is done along panel lines so it will be easy to do the removal on the model parts.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Avantgarde Model Kits
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$44.99

The Aero Vodochody L-29 was a Soviet and Warsaw Pact primary jet trainer developed and manufactured in Czechoslovakia. The design won a Warsaw Pact competition beating the Yakovlev Yak-30 entry and the Polish PZL TS-11 Iskra. The L-29 competition represented a clean-sheet approach and gave the Eastern bloc its first jet trainer not derived from a fighter. Rugged and reliable the L-29 has since been surpassed by the Aero L-39 and other aircraft, but it continues the soldier on in the air forces of former Soviet client states or break-away republics. Georgia is a notable example, since it has an aircraft manufacturing infrastructure in Tbilisi, and its L-29s are in a state of excellent repair.