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Book Author(s)
Marat Khairulin
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$75.00

Following up the first two in this series, The Russian Aviation Colours 1909-1922: Camouflage and Markings, Volume 1 Early Years and Volume 2 “Great War”, comes MMP’s latest tome. This book, focused on the ‘Red Stars’ is planned to be followed by at least one additional volume on ‘White Armies’ (Volume 4). The authors leaned heavily on Russian private archives, as well as archives, libraries, and museums.

The book is a nice hardbound unit, with a nice glossy cover, and 167 pages on high-quality stock with a matt finish. Mainly clear black and white period photos are supplemented with modern day color photos, color period posters and postcards, colour side and top views, and colour unit emblems and personal markings. The text is in English and quite readable. I counted 311 black and white photographs to go with an additional six color pictures. There were 99 color side profiles and another 132 color drawings highlighting markings details.

Review Author
Mark Costello
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$32.95

This set is designed for the Italeri 1/32 scale F-35A Lightning II kit. This set contains 1 sheet of etched brass details for the exterior of the aircraft as well as details for the weapons and weapon pylons. There is an afterburner ring for the engine exhaust, ladder and ladder door details, refueling bay details, screens for the exterior and details for the weapons. The instructions are the normal Eduard instructions with clear drawings showing where the PE parts go and what details need to be removed from the kit plastic parts.

Review Author
Mark Costello
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.95

This set is designed for the Italeri 1/32 scale F-35A Lightning II kit. This set contains 1 sheet of etched brass details for the landing gear bays and weapons bays. There are panel faces for the nose gear bay, boxes for the weapons bay, nose gear doors, main gear and other miscellaneous details. The instructions are the normal Eduard instructions with clear drawings showing where the PE parts go and what details need to be removed from the kit plastic parts.

The first step deals with the nose gear bay and doors. There are a few panel faces to be placed in the bay replacing the molded detail. There are also a couple of boxes to be folded up and added to the gear doors. The added details improve the looks of the kit parts.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Videoaviation
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$21.12

Videoaviation is a small company out of Italy manufacturing big things. In this case, they provide large scale modelers the items missing from many of our 1/32 models to bring them to life, particularly in a diorama setting if you have room!

This set is simple but detailed. In it you have parts for the cart, the bomb adaptor trailer, and six A/N (Army/Navy) M64 500 Lb. HE bombs. The fuse and anti-roll lugs are integral with the bomb body. Once you remove the pour disk from the bomb body tail, drill a hole in the extreme center and install the aft fuse propeller and extension rod NOW verses later like I did. It’s hard to install with the fin assembly in place.

The fins themselves need to be carefully removed from the pour stub with a very fine razor saw, that way you won’t break them off. These simply slip on the tail of the bomb, and line up perfectly with the mating surface. Best bomb fins ever; thin, scale-like, and durable if you drop them. (I know).

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.95

SAC once again provides a very nice set of cast metal gear to help your model stand out in public places. And this one is as simple as it gets. THANKS ROSS for providing this set to IPMS USA, and to Dick and Dave for sending it to me. Particularly Dick, who HAND DELIVERED the item (along with other cool things) to me at the Nationals.

This set is the usual SAC total replacement of the kit items, with improved assembly and ease of installation.