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Cover

F-84E/G Thunderjet in Service of the (R)Neth. AF - History, Camouflage and Markings
Book Author(s)
van Kampern, Coen van den Heuvel, and Luuk Boerman
Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
Company
Dutch Profile Publications
MSRP
$22.75

In US service, the F-84 Thunderjet experienced early problems, but the E and G models proved the validity of the design. With its straight wing, it was very stable and was a great fighter-bomber. It is well known from its exploits in Korea. A portion of the F-84E production was exported to NATO to provide them with a modern jet attack airplane. When the greatly improved F-84G entered production, a majority of the production was exported to NATO and other countries.

This book provides complete details of the F-84E and F-84G in the service of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The book is written in Dutch and English. The first half of the book is in Dutch while the rest of the book repeats the information in English. Different photos are included in both halves but all photos feature descriptions in both languages. Twenty-four profiles are provided along with four plan-view drawings.

Parts Packaging

Hurricane De Havilland Propeller and Tool
Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.00

I've always been fond of the Supermarine Spitfire with its elegant design, but I certainly don't discount the role played by the Hawker Hurricane in defense of Britain in her hour of need. The Hurricane was far easier and quicker to produce than the Spitfire and made a very stable gun platform. Like the Spitfire, the early Hurricanes were originally equipped with a fixed pitch wooden propeller. By the end of 1939, Hurricanes were being equipped with either the De Havilland or the Rotol constant speed propeller, giving the Hurricane a much needed performance increase.

A quick review of the Quickboost website will show you that Quickboost offers the modeler a plethora of resin accessories from nose to tail in the popular scales. This review will focus on the nose and, specifically, a De Havilland constant speed propeller fitted to the 1/48th scale Hawker Hurricane. Quickboost recommends this propeller as a replacement on the Hasegawa Hurricane line of kits.

Parts Packaging

Ju-87G Stuka Spatted Undercarriage
Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.95

A new addition to Quickboost’s ever-growing line of resin aircraft accessories is the corrected spatted undercarriage for the Ju-87G Stuka. This set is to correct the spats that come in the Academy kit. It is up to their usual standards – molded in grayish resin, smooth, seamless, and bubble free.

The spats that come in the Academy kit are too short and at a different angle than they should be. A great plus to the Quickboost parts is that all of the separate parts are molded as one piece, eliminating seam lines. All you need to do is pop the wheels in and glue the assembly in place. The resin parts are very easy to install and add a neater appearance to the finished model.

I highly recommend this product if you want a really superior looking model. Usually, replacement parts need some work to get them installed properly, but this assembly just drops into place. Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS USA for the chance to do this review.

Parts Packaging

USS Saratoga CV-3 PE Set
Review Author
John Lyons
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$32.95

The USS Saratoga was the US Navy's third aircraft carrier, being commissioned a few months prior to its class-lead, USS Lexington CV 2, in November 1927. USS Langley CV 1, Lexington, and Saratoga were instrumental in developing a new generation of fleet tactics that embraced the capabilities of airpower.

Eduard has put together a really nice set of details for the USS Saratoga CV-3 Trumpeter kit. You get 2 sheets of PE that provide a lot of details that are not in the original kit, along with six pages of instructions to help you apply the parts to your kit. The details include upgrades for the turrets and island, upper deck safety rails & nets, stairway guide rails, and ladders. The set also comes with parts to upgrade the deck crane and the plane catcher net.

The PE parts are perfectly etched and can be easily cut from the trees without special tools.

Parts Packaging

B-24 Liberator Bomb Bay Doors
Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.95

Quickboost just keeps adding to their great line of quality resin aircraft accessories. The latest addition is for the Hasegawa B-24 Liberator. It is up to their usual standards, molded in grayish resin – smooth, seamless, and bubble-free.

The doors that come in the Hasegawa kit are okay but lack the level of detail that the Quickboost doors have. The Quickboost covers are superior and add just that much more realism to the finished kit. I shaded in one of the doors to show the detail that is molded into the Quickboost part. The resin parts are very easy to install and can be used on any other brand kit that is similarly molded.

I highly recommend this product if you want a really superior looking model. Usually, replacement parts need some work to get them installed properly but these doors pretty much just drop into place.

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS USA for the chance to do this review.