Product / Stock #s:

• AM-72-044 – MiG-21 BIS (Fishbed L/N) – $7.00
• AM-72-045 – MiG-21 F-13 (Fishbed C) – $7.00
• AM-72-047 – MiG-21 U, US, UM (Mongol) – $7.00

As I have mentioned previously, the MiG-21 is one of my favorite aircraft to model. Also, I have been impressed with the products from Master Model and jumped at the chance to review their latest pitot tubes for various MiG models. This review covers three different pitot tube sets that differ primarily in their length. They all feature pitot tubes with small vanes near the tip to measure angle of attack and yaw. The fronts of the pitots, where the vanes mount, are all similar.

History

The Sunderland prototype first flew on October 16th, 1937, and the first of the production Sunderlands flew on April 28th, 1938. Production started in 1938 and was ended after 8 years. 777 Sunderland’s of all variants were built, and it served in the RAF from June, 1938 ,to May, 1959! Twenty-one years in frontline service for the RAF, and even later for France and New Zealand. (The last New Zealand Sunderland was retired in 1965!!) The Mk I was 85ft 8in. long and had a wingspan of 112ft 8in. Weighing in at 44,600lbs, it was powered by 4 Bristol Pegasus XXII engines rated at 1010hp each, allowing for a top speed of 210mph at 6500 ft.(cruising speed was 178mph). The Sunderland could fly over 1700 miles and was equipped with a galley, bunks, a sink for washing up (with a 25 gal. tank), and a proper, flushing toilet with a supply of water in an 11 gallon tank!

Meng Models has released yet another great kit. Having built four of their kits now, I cannot say enough good things about them. One of their latest offerings is this great Mansyu Ki-98 Ground Attack fighter. Similar to their first aircraft release, the Katsuodori, the Ki-98 is another Japanese WWII prototype. This one, however, never made it past the wood mock up.

Subject

The Ki-98 was a Japanese prototype high-altitude ground attack fighter. The design has been rumored to be based on a cross between the Shinden fighter and the American P-38 Lightning. The twin-boom, single-seat fighter used a rear-mounted pusher engine, allowing the nose to house two 20mm cannons and a 37mm cannon. The prototype was destroyed prior to Japan’s surrender to Allied forces.