I wish to express extreme gratitude to Yahu models for providing IPMS/USA with this release. Yahu has a history (since 2013!) of providing exceptional aftermarket Instrument panels at a reasonable price, and we appreciate their support!

Designed for ICM’s 1/48 DO-217N-1 model, Yahu’s instrument panel and associated radio tuning faces make an excellent upgrade for a world-class model. I had not built any of ICM’s Dorniers until this set showed up, and the fact everything was a perfect fit into the existing kit parts made the experience even more pleasurable.

Yahu’s set adds the additional bits required for an excellent upgrade out of the package. Yahu, unlike other companies, assembles their instrument panels for the modeler. Not that I don’t mind modeling using PE, but Yahu’s products are ALL this way (I’ve used others) and have been singularly impressed with the final product.

Arma Hobby has released a new 1/72^nd scale diorama base representing a WWII US Navy or Royal Navy escort carrier deck. The molded plastic has great recessed detail; all you need to do is apply the paint.

In the Box

The base is made from injected light gray styrene and the molded detail quality is very fine for 1/72^nd scale. The size is 6 X 6 inches (152 X 152 cm). It is encased in a one-piece fold-out cardboard envelope-style packaging.

The front side of the box has some color photos of what a finished carrier deck might look like. The back and side of the box have a QR code and website that will take you to Arma Hobby’s webpage for free 3D files for wheel chocks, bomb carts, and arrestor cable mounts. This is a nice benefit for those who have access to 3D printers.

I’ve been looking forward to building my namesake for a while now and jumped at the chance to take a look at this wonderful panel replacement from Yahu Models. The panel replacement set comes with photoetch replacement panels for both the front and rear cockpits and as well as the aft panel in the rear cockpit.

Assembly is straightforward, carefully remove the photoetch parts with a sharp hobby blade on a firm hard surface so as to avoid bending the metal parts. I sprayed gloss clear over the backing parts and matt gloss over the front cover prior to gluing the parts to each other. The gloss gives the illusion of glass over the instruments. At the same time the aft panel receives only a coat of matt clear.