History

The Reggiane RE-2002 shows its ancestry, as its designers were obviously influenced by the Seversky P-35. The original RE-2000 was first flown in 1938, and since the plane had some problems, the majority of the RE-2000’s were exported to Sweden and Hungary. A few were used by the Italian Navy. Reggiane attempted to improve the design by installing a German DB-601A-1 liquid-cooled engine, resulting in the RE-2001. It was accepted by the Regia Aeronautica, but shortages of German engines, plus the fact that the same engine was used in the Macchi C.202 Folgore, restricted production to 252 aircraft. To keep the production lines going, Reggiane redesigned the plane for a third time, using a 1,175 hp Piaggio P.XIX fourteen-cylinder, intending the type mainly for the close support role. A bomb load of 1,433 pounds could be carried in a fuselage rack.

The EA-18G Growler is the US Navy’s newest ECM aircraft, replacing the venerable Grumman EA-6B Prowler. Now in service with several squadrons, the EA-18G provides our military forces the latest hardware for electronic warfare. Boeing modified the basic two-seat FA-18F Super Hornet for the ECM mission by adding numerous antenna, sensors, and stores, and by removing offensive items such as the 20mm cannon. To produce a model of this machine, Hasegawa essentially did the same. They took their basic FA-18F Super Hornet kit and added sprues with all the relevant pieces to produce the G model.

Trumpeter’s new kit of the 1/32 A-4 Skyhawk is one of the better kits that Trumpeter has recently come out with. However, as with all kits from all the makers of fine hobby kits, there is always room for improvement. In this case Quickboost has come out with an upgrade for Trumpeter’s air scoops.

Quickboost’s kit consists of three different types of scoops and one set of pitot tubes in a light grey resin and can be easily be “picked” off of the sprue and sanded so as not to hurt the design of the part. These are so precise and real-looking that they easily enhance the look of the aircraft kit.

I would definitely recommend this upgrade not only for how well they look but also for the price. They are definitely worth it and they won’t break the bank, either, and the best part is that any modeler at any skill level will have no problem attaching these to the kit. CA glue is necessary.