I’m old enough to remember a time when Heller was the only game in town if you wanted to reproduce some of the fascinating French armor of the Second World War. Now we seem to have been presented with a number of choices, each with their good and bad points. However, permit me to discuss this particular rendition of this lovely little two-man vehicle on its own merits.

Hobby Boss has taken its own stance on reproducing this tiny machine by providing it with a complete interior, viewable through the numerous open-able hatches on the model. Frankly, this is one kit that begs for a maintenance diorama in order to show off its features -- anything else seems a waste of detail.

Among recent offerings from Brengun is a set photo-etch details designed to enhance the 1/72 Tamiya A6M3 Type 32 Zero kit. Set BRL 72071 provides about 70 parts on a single photo-etch fret and two on a printed acetated sheet that will combine to enhance the cockpit and exterior details of the a/c. The photos below show the fret and the instruction sheet that guide where the details are to be installed.

The small photo-etched parts on the fret are very impressive, but look strangely familiar to me. Familiar, because they are exactly the same as the parts on Brengun’s set BRL 72074 for the Zero type 22…yes, exactly the same. Not surprising though, because the detail parts they provide were the same on the original aircraft (with the possible exception of a small dial face on the instrument panel). One of the photos below from the Brengun website shows most of the parts installed.

Yellow Wings Decals has added two new sets to their line for 1/48 scale Curtis P-6E Hawks. Set number 48-085, or Part 2, provides colorful markings for two Langley Field based USAAC aircraft of the 8th Pursuit Group:

• P-6E #15 of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron
• P-6E #61 of the 36th Pursuit Squadron

The instructions show that in 1933, 8th Pursuit Group P-6Es sported Gloss Olive Drab #22 painted fuselages with Orange-Yellow #4 wings and tail surfaces and by 1936 fuselages were finished in Blue #23 with Orange-Yellow #4 wings and tail surfaces. Markings are provided for all national insignia, rudder stripes, aircraft numbers, fuselage bands and squadron markings as shown in the photo below of the decal sheet. An instruction sheet is included that also provides information about all paints that were used with Tamiya color matches.