Bf 109F-4

Published: October 18, 2017
Company: Eduard

Entering service in June 1941, the Bf 109F (Friedrich) corrected some of the limitations revealed in the Battle of Britain, namely the ability to carry extra fuel in a drop tank under the centerline. Other distinguishing features included strutless tail planes and a refined nose profile. Personally, I always associated the Friedrich with Hans-Joachim Marseille who scored many of his 158 victories in this version of Messerschmitt's ubiquitous fighter.

This kit is another in the "Weekend Edition" series from Eduard. As with the other kits I've built in this series I didn't finish this one in a weekend, but if you really devoted a weekend to it you probably could. But why? I say that because this is one to savoir. While the box art is not exactly inspiring, the kit inside is.… more

Bf 109F-4 Weekend

Published: October 15, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a detail set for the excellent Bf 109F-4 (kit84146) from Eduard that I wrote up in a separate review. Another in the "Zoom" sets this includes the instrument panel, rudder pedals, seat harnesses and other small cockpit details. There are radiator faces for front and back, screens for the tropical filter and the actuator arms for the filter cap. One important addition is the tail reinforcement strips added to the "F" series aircraft after a structural weakness was revealed. Topping off the set are some details for the canopy and antennas.

As with all the Zoom sets I've used from Eduard this one is worth the instrument panel and seat harnesses alone. I used all but the tiniest parts and am really happy with the results. Highly recommended the addition to an already… more

P-38 H/J Lighting "European Theatre"

Published: August 8, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

Yet another rebox of a familiar kit from Hasegawa. This time we're treated to two P-38s with limited edition "European Theater” decals representing the early H model "Texas Ranger" flown by Lt. Col Jack Jenkins and a J model "Jenne" flown by Capt. Roy Scrutchfield. The later regalia is very familiar to those of us who built the Monogram kit from years ago.

The kits are old Hasegawa molds with raised panel lines and basic cockpits but they still look good. To maximize the molds, Hasegawa lets the builder do the surgery to convert the as molded J variant into an H. That is facilitated by an indented section on the backside of the nacelles guiding where the cut should be. Once I cut those away I found the new nacelle parts didn't quite line up and I had to resort to some plastic… more

2014 Mustang GT

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Revell

In 2010 Ford introduced a restyled Mustang known internally as the S-197 platform. The fifth generation of the iconic pony car featured design cues from the 1960s fastback including a body shape with hard edges, scalloped side panels and hooded headlights for a more aggressive look. As it turned out, this generation would mark the return of the Mustang muscle car. In 2011 the GT version featured the return of a much improved 5.0 Liter Coyote V-8. This dual overhead cam 32 valve power plant made over 400hp in its normally aspirated form. The S-197 platform was also the basis for the return of the infamous Boss 302 (2012-2013). This kit represents the last year of S-197 body style that was replaced by the current S-550 body style in 2015. In the last few years I’ve reviewed a number of… more

Dornier Do 17z vs. Boulton Paul Defiant Mk 1

Published: April 1, 2016
Company: Airfix

History

On 26^th of August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, the two aircraft represented in this kit met over the English coast, during which the Do-17z would fall victim to the guns of the Defiant, and the Defiant itself would fall victim to escorting Me 109s moments later. Two of the four German crew were lost in the encounter. The Defiant’s crew survived a crash landing. Fast forward to 2013 when an underwater survey revealed this very Do-17 in shallow sand off the English coast. In an extraordinary effort the RAF museum sponsored an expedition to raise the wreckage from its watery grave. (Click here for the Recovery article). It will eventually be placed in the… more

Do-17 Metal Landing Gear

Published: March 3, 2016
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

This set (SAC #72120) replaces the main gear legs and retraction struts along with the tail wheel. You have to use the kit main wheels and fenders. You get five metal reproductions of the kit parts in the usual soft white metal. That’s where my difficulty with this set started. Airfix has done an excellent job of reproducing very delicate landing gear parts in plastic. The main gear legs trap the main wheels and the flexible properties of the plastic parts help. It also really helps when you install the gear parts into the finished gear wells. There’s a lot of fiddling once the parts are the bay and again the plastic assisted by snapping back to its original shape. The metal parts on the other hand, bent and were very difficult to realign once the glue set. For… more

Defiant Mk. I Metal Landing Gear

Published: March 1, 2016
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

Another of the many sets from SAC that I’ve used. Like those this one (SAC #72110) reproduces the kit parts in soft white metal with one exception, the tail wheel part leaves a gap over the tire that looks more refined then the kit part. Test fit the main wheels on their mounts because that is the point the part was cast from. When you cut it from the sprue, it needs some file work to get a good fit. The metal parts in this case have the advantage of allowing slight adjustments once they’re in place. That’s helpful because this aircraft has some strange angles in the gear mounts. In the photos I’ve installed one Airfix and one SAC main gear leg for comparison. This set is a nice addition to a nice little kit.

Thank you IPMS and SAC for the sample.

Defiant Mk. I Rounded Exhaust

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Quickboost

This is direct replacement for the Airfix part. At first glance you might question why a replacement is needed as the kit part is actually very nice. Upon closer examination you’ll see that Aires has spared the trouble of drilling out the exhaust tips to represent the open ends of the pipes. It’s worth the price of admission if you what to avoid that tedious task. The parts are easy to get off the casting block and a perfect match for the mounting holes on the base kit. Aires also makes another set with fishtail ends (set # QB 72 483) reviewed elsewhere in this site that don’t come in the Airfix kit. Thanks to Aires for improving an already great kit.

Defiant Mk. I Fishtail Exhaust

Published: February 23, 2016
Company: Quickboost

This is direct replacement for the Airfix part. Like their rounded exhaust (part 72 482 see my other review) this is also a direct replacement for the kit parts. This detail set has the exhaust ends drilled out to save you the trouble of doing so. That’s especially helpful given the oval shape of the exhaust ends. The parts are easy to get off the casting block and a perfect match for the mounting holes on the base kit. Thanks to Aires-Quickboost for giving improved options for both exhausts provided in the base kit.

Boulton Paul Defiant Control Surfaces

Published: February 23, 2016
Company: Aires Hobby Models

This set replaces the horizontal stabilizers and elevators of the base kit. While the Airfix parts are certainly nice in their own right, this set allows the control surfaces to be posed and have slightly thinner trailing edges for a more scale appearance. Be very careful trimming the resin away from the mounting tabs and test fit to ensure as close a fit as the kit parts provide. The elevators fit very well into a recess molded into the stabilizers. If you want to have the rear control surfaces offset this is the way to achieve that. Thanks to Aires for the sample of a well done set.