Brian R. Baker
Reviews By Author
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MIG-15UTIPublished:
HistoryThe MiG-15 was the product of the Mikoyan and Gurevich Design Team, which was known as the MiG Design Bureau. After producing a series of moderately successful fighters during World War II, and numerous prototypes, their first jet powered design, the MiG-9 was not produced in significant numbers. However, after the war, when German aerodynamic research became available, a design was produced using some of the ideas that were incorporated into the Focke Wulf TA-183 jet fighter prototype, which include a sweptback wing. The original prototype first flew in December, 1947, powered by an imported Rolls Royce Nene engine, which the Russians later copied for use in production models. The MiG-15 became the standard Soviet fighter during the late forties, and continued in… more |
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Boulton Paul Defiant Mk. I AccessoriesPublished:
The ProductsThis set provides the following:
Flexible Masks Set (CX414)This small yellow sheet of masking paper is die cut to provide masks for the window areas on the canopy and turret of the Airfix Defiant Mk. 1. This is worth getting on its own, as it is totally accurate and really cuts down on the tedious job of masking the clear areas on the model. Very clear instructions are given, so there’s no way of messing these up unless you really are a Neanderthal, and in that case, you should probably take up crocheting. I merely removed the little… more |
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Boulton Paul Defiant MK. 1Published:
HistoryThe “turret fighter” concept dates back to the early thirties, and contrary to some histories, the first Turret Fighter used by the Royal Air Force was actually the Hawker Turret Demon biplane, which was tested and operated by No. 23 Squadron from 1934. A hydraulically operated power turret was fitted to a standard Demon fighter, itself a development of the Hawker Hart light bomber, and a considerable number was produced by Hawker and Boulton Paul. The turret itself was a Frazer-Nash creation, and all of the Boulton-Paul produced Demons had them, and some were retrofitted to the Hawker produced models. By 1938, the Turret Demon was being operated by No. 23 and No.64 Squadrons, but the type was out of first line service by 1939, being replaced by Blenheim Mk. 1F’s.… more |
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Letov S-16.1 Prague-Tokyo-Prague 1927Published:
HistoryThe Letov S-16 design work began in 1924 as an all metal replacement for earlier all-wood aircraft, and was intended as a two seat long range bomber and reconnaissance type. Powered by a 450 hp. Lorraine-Dietrich water-cooled engine, the prototype first flew in 1926, and the Czech Air Force ordered three test aircraft. In all, 89 S-16’s were built for the Czechs, and in addition, Latvia bought 21 and Turkey obtained 12. In addition, Yugoslavia bought one to test as a floatplane. The type served with distinction during the late twenties and early thirties, and a few were still operational in 1938 when the Germans occupied the country. In 1927, one of the first prototypes was prepared for a long distance record flight, and two airmen, S.C. Skala and Mateu… more |
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Junkers J.1Published:
HistoryThe Junkers J.1 (Company Model J.4) was one of the most advanced airplanes produced during World War I. When most other plane were of wooden construction with wire braced wings, the J.1 was all metal, with cantilever wings and tailplane, and featured a .20 inch armored shell structure which served as the forward fuselage, protecting the engine, fuel tanks, and crew. The structure was covered mainly by corrugated aluminum, which was to become a Junkers trademark later copied by Henry Ford for his Tri-Motor. Powered by a 200 hp. Benz Bz IV 6 cylinder in-line water cooled engine, the aircraft had an empty weight of 3,885 lbs. and a gross weight of 4,787 lbs. This resulted in a very heavy and underpowered aircraft, but given the role of the aircraft and the… more |
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Avia B.534 IV. seriePublished:
HistoryThe Avia B-534 was one of the classic biplane fighters of the 1930’s, and served with several Eastern European air forces, some lasting almost to the end of World War II. When the nation of Czechoslovakia was formed by the Treaty of Versailles, the Czech part was much more industrialized than the Slovak section, and it wasn’t long until a company, Avia, was formed, and began producing different types of aircraft for military and civilian use. In the early thirties, a biplane fighter was developed, eventually evolving into the B.534 series. Prototypes were powered by various radial and in-line engines, and the first B.534 has a License built Hispano Suiza 12 Vprs 12 cylinder liquid cooled engine. Several production batches followed, differing mainly in fuselage… more |
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Avia B.534 IV. serie Weekend S. A.Published:
This is a small photo etch sheet with numerous details intended for the Eduard Avia B.534 fighter kit that has been issued in 1/72 scale. The kit already has excellent detail, but the photo etch parts will enhance the appearance of the model, adding things that would be very difficult to scratchbuild. A very detailed instruction sheet is included, with drawings large and clear enough to be useful under any conditions. The sheet includes a two part instrument panel, some radiator details for the front and rear portion of the scoop, some metal bracing strips for the radiator housing, two steps for the left side of the fuselage, one small trim control wheel for the left side of the cockpit, a set of rudder pedals, a couple of access panels, a pitot tube assembly for… more |
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Avia B.534 Wheels and SpatsPublished:
This product consists of two resin wheel spat assemblies for the Avia B.534 kit. They are molded in one piece, and there is space next to the wheels to make the units look hollow so that a wheel could really be in there. Only slight trimming at the top sprue attachment point is require, a 10 second process. There is also a paper mask included so that you can paint the wheel and tire, and then mask it off and paint the surface of the unit. The instructions show a small silver panel on top of the spat, probably as a step for maintenance and refueling. The parts are packaged in a heavy plastic case mounted packed in foam, so there is no way they’d be damaged unless they were hit with something nuclear. This will make your model look better, and the mounting slots mate perfectly… more |
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Lavochkin LA-7 (Weekend Edition) with PE Parts and MasksPublished:
HistoryThe Lavochkin La-7 was a logical development of the highly successful radial engine fighter, the La-5, which was itself an improved LaGG-3 all wood fighter which, while having reasonable performance, was not satisfactory as a first line fighter at the beginning of the “Great Patriotic War”, as the Russians designated World War II. While the LA-5 went through numerous changes during its production life, it became obvious that the 1820 hp. Ash-82FN radial engine had reached its development peak, and that there was no suitable replacement for this engine, as the Ash-71F radial of 2200 hp. was unreliable and unsuitable for service use. Therefore, the Lavochkin Design Bureau decided to upgrade the basic La-5 design, making aerodynamic refinements on a prototype… more |
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MiG-15bisPublished:
HistoryThe MiG-15 was one of the early Soviet fighters which, using German technology and originally a British engine, achieved equality in the Cold War race for a modern jet fighter. Most modelers and historians are familiar with the history of the type, so I’ll spare the specifics and keep the historical section short. The prototype was powered by a Rolls Royce Nene engine, and early production models were powered by imported British engines. Competing with the similar Lavochkin 174 prototype, the MiG-15 won out, and entered production in 1948. Numerous variants were produced between 1948 and the mid-fifties, when the type was replaced by the similar MiG-17. The MiG-15 was produced in numerous variants, including fighter, fighter-bomber, two seat all weather interceptor,… more |