Developed in 1917 as a follow up to the MG-14, the MG-14/17 Parabellum was a machine gun used on WWI German aircraft that was capable of firing 700 rounds per minute of its deadly 7.92 mm ammunition. In addition to use on aircraft, my internet research also located photos of the guns used by the infantry. The offset 3-power scope shown in many of the photos is included with this Eduard release.

The Su-7 - in 1/48 scale - has one kit in town: the late 80s kit from Kopro/OEZ recently re-boxed by Eduard. The model is somewhat limited in surface detail and different manufactures offer ways to enhance it. Among them is Master Model which offers a drop-in replacement for the guns and pitot tubes (nose and wing).

As you can see in the pictures, the guns are a vast improvement over the originals, which are basically a plastic rod. The metal replacement parts have nice hollow ends and have different lengths to properly reproduce the placement of the guns in the Su-7.

The wing’s pitot tube has a much fine shape than the plastic one. Please note that you will have to keep the base of the plastic pitot tube and modify it to receive the turned brass one. Very simple to do with a file and a drill bit.

New on the scene, at least to this modeler, is the availability of canopy frame decals for modern jet aircraft. Close examination of many modern jet canopies and windscreen reveals a thin line between the clear and the subjects primary paint color. Often times a model omits replicating that detail, and occasionally modelers will attempt to replicate with paint or colored decal strips.

Furball brings a simpler, yet more elegant solution: Purpose-fit decals to replicate those thin lines. Picking up where canopy masks leave off, the Furball canopy frame decals provide a precise, crisp, easy-to-use solution. Furball Aero-Design delivers well with its 1/48 set designed for AFV Club’s F-5E/F Tiger II kits.