This long-awaited title is #63 in the Osprey Combat Aircraft series and is certainly one to add to your collection. This softbound book contains 96 pages which are packed with English text, photos, and color illustrations which tell the history of the Aichi Type 99 “Val” from the early stages of WWII through 1942.

The Aichi Type 99 D3A Carrier Bomber was code named “Val” by the Allies. It was the most successful dive-bomber that the Japanese used during the war and it served in all areas of the Pacific until the end of the war. The Val can claim more Allied shipping tonnage sunk than any other Axis aircraft of the war.

This book contains detailed accounts which are all in English. All too often, we have books written in Japanese, which are not available in English for Western readers. Not so here!

The book’s chapters are broken down as:

Aires has been on the scene for some time now, producing some amazing details in resin and photo etch metal. Among aftermarket aficionados, Aires is the top of the pack for the level of detail and quality of casting. This set for the Monogram Promodeler or Accurate Miniatures 1/48 SB2C Helldiver is no exception.

In the Box

The details for this set come in a small bag stapled to the instructions and card backing. Parts are very finely cast and consist of two resin main gear wells and a smaller tree of parts for gun barrels and actuation rods. The large, one-piece landing gear wells are perfectly cast, and feature more refined detail than what comes in the kit. Instructions are clear and easy to follow.

Installation

To start, you will need the following tools:

Tamiya’s new 1/32nd scale P-51 has created a surge of new decals for that subject, and Lifelike Decals have done their part, as well. This sheet provides markings for four colorful Mustangs, three from the European Theater and one from the Pacific Theater: