Nakajima Ki27 TYPE97 FIGHTER (NATE) '4th Flight Regiment'

Published: December 17, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

The Nakajima Ki27 Type 97 Fighter, code named “Nate” by the Allies, was designed in 1935 to replace the older Type 95 fighter. It served in the Imperial Japanese Army in China beginning in 1938.

Hasegawa has replicated this interesting fighter in fine detail. The parts were crisp with very little flash on the parts or trees. Finely molded rivets cover most of the fighter, and they look… more

Kawanisi N1K1-Jb Shiden (George) TYPE 11 Otsu 'Rollout'

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Hasegawa

The Imperial Japanese Navy ordered the N1K1-Jb in 1942 as an interceptor.

Hasegawa has come out with a fine representation of this Imperial Japanese Navy Kawanishi N1K1-Jb, with the Allied code name of “George”. The kit decals represent three factory-fresh “George” aircraft.

Building the kit is straightforward, with little flash on the sprues and pieces. Assembly begins with… more

T-33A Photoetch Sets

Published: August 20, 2017
Company: Eduard

Most modern model kits, although well detailed, could use some aftermarket parts to give the kit that extra “pop” of reality. Eduard has done such an accessory with their “Big Ed” kit for the 1/48 Great Wall Hobby T-33 kit. The “Big Ed” kit actually contains four items: a painted photoetched T-33 interior and exterior detail kit; painted photoetched steel seatbelts for the ejection seats; a… more

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger Interceptor

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Revell, Inc.

Convair’s F-102A originated as a response to a requirement for a Mach 1+ interceptor fighter. Based upon the XF-92 research fighter, the F-102 became the U.S’. first delta-winged fighter. The triangular wing was named after the Greek letter D (delta), which it resembled in shape.

The kit comes molded in light grey plastic with a total of 97 parts with very little flash. The detail on… more

A-1 Skyraider 20mm Gun Barrels with Flash Hider & Pitot Tube

Published: August 2, 2017
Company: Master Model

Guns and pitot probes on most plastic model aircraft leave a lot to be desired. There is often a mold seam down the center of the guns or pitot probe. Another set of problems are that the same parts, once cleaned up, are usually oval shaped in diameter, and the guns do not have that proper “hollowed” look of a real gun barrel. In some scales, such as 1/72, it would be difficult if not… more

A-1 Skyraider 20mm Gun Barrels & Pitot Tube

Published: July 31, 2017
Company: Master Model

Guns and pitot probes on most plastic model aircraft leave a lot to be desired. There is often a mold seam down the center of the guns or pitot probe. Another set of problems are that the same parts, once cleaned up, are usually oval shaped in diameter, and the guns do not have that proper hollowed look of a real gun barrel. In some scales, such as 1/72, it would be difficult if not impossible… more

IM-99 BOMARC Ground–to–Air Guided Missile

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Revell, Inc.

During the 1950’s, Boeing Aircraft Company (BO) teamed up with the Michigan Aeronautical Research Center (MARC) to create the U.S. Air Force’s first nuclear-armed surface-to-air missile. Combining both entities and shortening Boeing created the name of the new missile – BOMARC.

Revell has reissued its classic kit of the IM-99 BOMARC missile. This kit dates back to 1958, and has some… more

P-51 Mustang w/Rocket Tubes

Published: June 7, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

The North American Company’s P-51 is well – known for the massive aerial dogfights with the Luftwaffe during World War II. A lesser-known use of the P-51 was a strafing aircraft, shooting up targets of opportunity. This model depicts one of the many armament loads that P-51s used for strafing.

The kit comes with 125 pieces, with most molded from polystyrene. There are three parts… more

F-4 Ejection Seat Belts (Steel)

Published: May 14, 2017
Company: Eduard

Some of the hardest details to make realistically in modern jet fighters (or any aircraft) are the molded – in seatbelts, especially those on ejection seats. Using strips of masking tape leaves a bit to be desired. Eduard has come to the rescue with sets of photo-etched seatbelts for different aircraft.

The Eduard steel photo-etched set for the F-4 in 1/48 scale is a very impressive… more

Mk 82 with Airbrake (Early)

Published: May 14, 2017
Company: Eduard

The basic Mk.82 500 pound bomb has been used in numerous applications, ranging from a simple “iron” bomb, up to “smart” bombs. This resin set from Eduard is a version of the Mk. 82 bomb called a “snake eye” that used fins that opened like petals to slow the speed of the bomb dramatically.

The kit comes with six basic Mk. 82 bomb shapes (what is known as the bomb core), six inert… more