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Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Ultracast
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.85

Ultracast has been producing some of the best and easiest to use aftermarket items for years. Well, they haven’t changed their key for success.

The latest releases are designed to be added to the Accurate Miniatures P-51B/C Mustang kit. What can you say about these little gems? In both sets you get two banks of exhaust stacks molded in light cream-colored resin. The exhaust ends are hollowed out perfectly. They are beautifully cast and are easy, drop-in replacement for the kit parts. Just remove the parts from the pour block and paint – a simple and easy way to do a tedious job.

Review Author
Phil Pignataro
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.99

I doubt the P-38 Lightning needs any introduction to modelers, as it has been a favorite of many of us for a long time. This Hobby Boss release is one of their latest in the Easy Build series of 1/72 scale kits and is a late-war -L version. It’s a reasonably priced kit with excellent surface detail and markings for two aircraft. The four-page fold-out instructions are straight forward, easy to follow, and have a full color paint and decal guide. Color callouts are for Gunze Sangyo, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya, and Humbrol paints. As an Easy Build kit, there is a low part count and it is designed for quick assembly. If you thought construction begins with the cockpit, you are correct. The cockpit, though, has more detail than the other Easy Build kits I’ve done, since it has a separate instrument panel, seat, and control yoke. There’s plenty of room for additional detail, though.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.50

It is no secret that I love the Eduard Bf-109E kits. Having built three of them in various forms has provided me with some insight on these little gems. One thing that would be nice is the ability to articulate the elevators, as is frequently seen on the real thing. I can never get this to look correct to my eye when I do the work.

Quickboost has the answer. Molded in a light olive drab resin, this set comes in four parts – two horizontal surfaces and two elevators that already have been modified with beveled surfaces that allow the modeler to articulate the control surfaces without issue. The detail on the parts is exactly as good as the kit parts.

If you do articulate the controls, don’t forget to offset the stick in the cockpit as well. Down elevators mean forward on stick. My next Eduard 109 will have this set installed.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.25

The recent release of the RS Model Ki-100 Otsu and Kou kits has prompted Lifelike to release a new sheet of decals for these aircraft.

The instructions are typical for Lifelike, with two A4 single-sided sheets printed in full color. The exterior sheet has three-view drawings and the references used to determine the color schemes. The interior sheet has the left side profiles and the references used to determine the markings. The history of the pilot is discussed in brief, adding a nice dimension to the markings.

The best thing about Lifelike is that they are not afraid to say that they don’t know something if it isn’t known. I like this approach. They also have made good on new information on their website and, where appropriate, they have printed new decals and provide them for free or a small fee. What other decal company does that? None.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.25

The Ki-84 Hayate was the premier Japanese fighter of the war. It also sported some really colorful markings that are a natural for an airplane modeler.

The instructions are printed on two single-sided A4 sheets in full color. Five aircraft are included in the decals. The exterior sheet has the three-view drawings and the references used to design the decals.

The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf and are very colorful. They are in perfect register and thin. In my opinion, Cartograf is the best decal producer in the world. I’ve used all kinds of setting solutions on them and they perform flawlessly. The decals not only include the aircraft markings but also some stencils.

The first Hayate has never before been seen in print, let alone as a decal. The aircraft has a unique spackled look to it with a beautiful white tiger on the tail. This aircraft was flown by Lt. Shuho Yamana of Army Transportation Unit in the fall of 1944.