F-15A Fightin' 49ers

Published: December 5, 2025
Company: Two Bobs Aviation Graphics

Two Bobs Aviation Graphics are well known for their attention to detail, color accuracy, instructions and graphics, and quality. This latest decal set is no exception. The F-15A Fightin’ 49ers decal set comes with two decal sheets in a protective Ziploc sleeve (6”x 10”) and one-page glossy color instructions (17”x11”) that folds into a four-page booklet.

Included on the instructions, and their webpage, is a brief history of the 49^th Fighter Wing:

“Originally designated as the 49th Pursuit Group in 1940, the unit was one of the first combat units to deploy from the US to the Southwest Pacific after the attack… more

Acrylic Paint Set for WWII French Armored Vehicles

Published: December 5, 2025
Company: ICM

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII French Armored Vehicles continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a FCM 36 light infantry tank. The back shows three left-profile views of a Panhard 178 AMD-35 (Kit No. 35373), two FCM 36 (Kit No. 3573) in two different camouflage schemes, and with color callouts.

The colors include:

• Olive Green (No. 1068)
• Green 4BO (No. 1073)
• Deep Brown (No. 1008)
• Buff (No. 1041)
• Dark Rust (No. 1051)
• Gun Metal (No. 1027)

Painting instructions are on the side of the packaging, stating

• Shake well before use
• Paint is prepared for a… more

Acrylic Paint Set for US Armored Vehicles 1990-2000s

Published: December 5, 2025
Company: ICM

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for US Armored Vehicles 1990-2000s continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The back shows two M2 Bradley IFVs (Kit No. 72912) with color callouts for MERDC (Mobility Equipment Research & Development Center) Snow, Trees & Shrubs and Summer Verdant.

The MERDC scheme bridged the timeline in American military vehicles from the overall greens of the Vietnam era to the adoption of the three tone NATO camouflage in the 1980s. In December 1975, the US Mobility Equipment Research & Design Command introduced eight new camouflage schemes that were designated in Training Bulletin… more

Colors & Markings of the A-7 Corsair II, Part 1: U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Squadrons and Test & Evaluation Facilities

Published: November 25, 2025
Book Author(s): Mike Heideman and Rock Roszak
Company: Detail & Scale, Inc.

This is the first Detail & Scale book I have ever read, and after this wonderful experience, it will not be my last. In fact, I may have to start a reference collection. Even more impressive is that I don’t identify as primarily an aircraft modeler, but the photographs, captions and background information are so well done and presented, that I may have to start looking for models of aircraft highlighted in these fabulous books.

From the Detail & Scale website,

The Vought A-7 Corsair II was one of the backbones of the United States Navy’s strike capability for almost twenty-five years. During this time, the A-7 served with a considerable number of U. S. Navy light attack squadrons stationed on both coasts, and the aircraft entered the active inventory… more

Acrylic Paint Set for WWII RAF Coastal Command Aircraft

Published: November 23, 2025
Company: ICM

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII RAF Coastal Command aircraft continues this trend and consists of six 12ml wide mouthed paint bottles. The front packaging includes a presentation of a Bristol Beaufort Mk.1A WWII British torpedo bomber. The back shows three left-profile views of Bristol Beauforts, including Mk.1.A DX 135 in Temperate Scheme (1940-44) of German Field Grey (Green) and Dark Grey over Sky (Kit No. 48315), Mk.1A LR906 Late Coastal Command (1944-45) Coastal White with Off White with Dark Grey on top of fuselage and wings (Kit No. 48315) in, and Mk.1 L4516 OA-W Temperate Land Scheme of Leather Brown and Extra Dark Green over Black (Kit No. 48310) with color callouts.

The colors include:

• German Field… more

Morane Saulnier MS.A.I. "Over France"

Published: November 11, 2025
Company: Kovozávody Prostějoy

From the Kovozávody Prostějov instructions,

Morane-Saulnier MS.A.1 (also Type A1) was a French parasol-wing fighter aircraft produced by Morane-Saulnier during World War I. A number of escadrilles were created to operate the AI, but by mid-May 1918, most of the aircraft were replaced by the SPAD XIII. After structural problems had been resolved, the aircraft were then relegated to use as advanced trainers, with new purpose built examples being designated MoS 30. Many were used post-war after having been surplussed off, as aerobatic aircraft, including one which was flown by Charles Nungesser.

I have long respected WWI era plane modelers. I respect 1/72 WWI era plane modelers even more. And now, I question my sanity after tackling this one. This is… more

Ansaldo S.V.A.10 "Italian Services"

Published: November 11, 2025
Company: Kovozávody Prostějoy

I have long respected WWI era plane modelers. I respect 1/72 WWI era plane modelers even more. And now, I question my sanity after tackling this one. This is not a kit for a novice or even an uninterested intermediate modeler. With the right skill set and some other kits under your belt, and you want an Ansaldo S.V.A. 10, then this is your kit.

The Italian Ansaldo S.V.A. (Savoia-Verduzio-Ansaldo) was an interesting late WWI aircraft. Originally designed as a fighter, the S.V.A. 5 was determined to be inadequate for the role. However, its impressive speed, range and operational ceiling made it an excellent reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber. The S.V.A. 9 and 10 were essentially the same aircraft, with the former primarily an unarmed training aircraft, with its cockpit… more

Pacific Profiles, Volume 18 - Allied Bombers: RAAF Beauforts and Beaufighters 1942-1945

Published: November 2, 2025
Book Author(s): Kevin Gogler
Company: Avonmore Books

This is one of the rare Pacific Profiles books not written by Michael John Claringbould, although it is illustrated by him. Author Kevin Gogler is a son of a WWII Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Beaufort pilot, and this book is obviously a testament to his father and his fellow RAAF personnel who flew, and were associated, with the Beauforts and Beaufighters in the Pacific War.

From the Introduction:

“Amidst the enormous numbers of American aircraft that fought in the Pacific War, it is often forgotten that two British-designed types served operationally with the RAAF in large numbers. A combined total of some 1,280 Beauforts and Beaufighters were delivered to the RAAF and served with fifteen wartime squadrons plus a variety of training and support units.

… more

Hybrid Threats - Concept and Recognition Guide

Published: October 21, 2025
Book Author(s): Michael Fredholm von Essen
Company: Helion & Company

This is not an easy to digest book and doesn’t offer a modeler a lot of references, resources, or inspiration for modeling. Having said that, author Michael Fredholm von Essen, did an admirable job of defining a nebulous threat that is hard to recognize, much less counter. From his introduction,

This book describes hybrid threats to national security, and how to deploy them as weapons against an adversary. Designed to be difficult to detect or attribute, hybrid threats constitute a twenty-first-century concept which enables, often with the help of advanced technology, the use of military and non-military means under conditions of plausible deniability.

The end of the Cold War was marked by the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. A period of… more

Pacific Profiles Volume 17 - Allied Air Power: Netherlands East Indies 1940-1942

Published: October 21, 2025
Book Author(s): Michael John Claringbould
Company: Avonmore Books

The book is a fascinating and remarkable insight into the brief, intense, and crucial Netherlands East Indies (NEI) campaign from the Japanese invasion in December 1941 through capitulation of the NEI. This often overlooked campaign, particularly among Americans who were primarily concerned with the Philippines campaign. Pacific Profiles Volume 17 focuses on the allied air forces in the Netherlands East Indies campaign, including Netherlands East Indies (composing of the ML-KNIL - Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger (Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force) and the MLD – Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (Netherlands Naval Aviation Service)), Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), US Army Air Corps (USAAC) and US Navy (USN).