This set is a replacement cockpit for the Italeri B-57B Canberra cockpit. It is well cast in a medium grey resin with no pinholes or short casts. Light flash was present on a couple of the parts but was easily removed. It should be noted that care must be exercised when removing the pour plug from the bottom of the cockpit. If you remove the plug completely up to the level of the bottom of the cockpit, the resulting floor of the cockpit is very thin. The set consists of the cockpit tub with detailed side consoles, side walls, and bulkheads, two pretty accurate, well detailed seats, front instrument panel, rear instrument panel relevant to the B-57B, throttle and gear levers (very fragile), a canopy strut jack, and a canopy support bow. This last piece has an extension that rests against the top center of the middle canopy bow. This extension is very fragile and prone to breakage.

This book is written by one who was there. 1st Lt. Wolfgang Wollenweber flew for the Luftwaffe from 1943 till the surrender. Beginning his service in Me-110s and continuing on to Fw-190s, a brief training stint on Me-163s and finishing up in the He-162!

The book begins with his assignment to 13. Zerostorerstaffel/Jagdgerschwader 5 in Salmijarvi. Where on earth is Salimijarvi you ask? So did Lt. Wollenweber! Having expected an assignment to warm North Africa he soon found himself heading to above the Artic Circle along the Artic Ocean to fight the Russians. A desolate area with stark living conditions and never ending day or night depending on the time of year. An area with little to do outside of combat and most depressing on those who served there.

SAC continues its prolific output of metal gear designed to support our increasingly resin-filled, detail enhanced large models; thanks for passing on this set to IPMS USA and to our leadership in forwarding it out for review!

This SAC set contains two main gear struts, strut extension braces, torque links, a tail wheel fork, the tail wheel oleo extension strut, and the tail wheel mounting trunnion tube. These are all identical to the kit items, with the exception of having more strength.

AND, the main gear strut on the SAC parts is assembled with the mounting trunnions in place; all total, 3 Airfix kit items replaced per strut with one item. Unity = Strong!