Model Art Special No. 5 is a “must have” for those who want to build a IJN Type Zero Carrier Fighter. This is number 5 in the Air Model Special series and focuses on what most modelers and historians consider the classic IJN fighter aircraft of WWII. In 136 pages this publication covers the A6M1, A6M2a, A6M2b, 21^st Kokusho A6M2K and the Nakajima A6M2-N.

It should be noted that the text is in Japanese with virtually no English translation for those of us who are English-Only speakers and readers. But no matter, the quality of the images and the clever design of the photographs, tables, and charts is more than sufficient to get the message across successfully.

Aires has added the wheels and masks for the AV-8B Harrier to their line of resin aircraft accessories. This latest addition is molded in a grey resin; it’s smooth, seamless and bubble free.

For comparison I pulled out a Tamiya and an Airfix Harrier from my stash. There really is no comparison. The Aires parts are solid and have a crisper detail. The paint masks are also a very welcome addition to assist in painting. Aires doesn’t recommend any particular kit, which would have helped out because the front wheel they provide won’t work with the 2 kits I compared it with. The Tamiya and Airfix kits had the front wheel molded onto the strut. The two center wheels worked well.

I very highly recommend this product if you want a nice set of tires for your Harrier model. I’d like to thank Aires Hobby Models and IPMS USA for the chance to do this review.

How often have you wanted to build a FW-190A only to discover that your subject aircraft didn’t carry the ‘normal’ type of prop? It has happened to me a few times. You can either live with it, which I did at the time, or you can shelve that particular aircraft until the new props become available. Well that time has come courtesy of Ultracast.

Like most of Ultracast’s products, this set is packaged in a small zip lock bag on the cardboard backing. The resin is a light caramel colored with no blemishes anywhere. There are no pour blocks on the blades. There is a minimal amount of flash on the spinner and cooling fans. All of which will be cleaned up easily and quickly with a new blade.