Albatros D.Va

Published: May 25, 2016
Company: Eduard

One of the best looking aircraft of WWI, in my opinion, is the Albatros series of fighters. This streamlined plywood aircraft was widely used during the war. Flown by many of the great aces such as Manfred von Richtofen it proved itself a worthy warplane. Despite this, the Albatros had a fatal flaw, in that the lower wing would twist and occasionally fail.

The kit contains two sprues of light grey plastic. The plastic has fine engraved panel lines and raised access panels. It is beautifully detailed. There are two frets of photo etch. One is pre-painted, and the other is brass. There is also a set of masks to aid in painting the wheels, an oil cooler, and the red surround on the tail surfaces, should you decide to use that marking option. Decals are printed by Cartograf, so you… more

Loach-Low Level Scouts

Published: May 24, 2016
Company: AOA Decals

The Loach, tiny, maneuverable and deadly to the enemy. This little helicopter was loved by its pilots, crew and maintainers. The mission was deadly serious and many helicopters never made it to their first maintenance inspection.

This sheet from AOA is a welcome addition for the Dragon/Italeri kit and the anticipated Kitty Hawk Loach. Having only flown in this legendary helicopter once with a Vietnam hero, Hugh Mills, I can say that this sheet is awesome. While Hugh Mills and the Dark Horse aircraft have been done a lot for their colorful sharkmouths it is refreshing to see some new markings. Vietnam aircraft sported some colorful markings and until recently they have gone unnoticed. Thanks to AOA that is no longer the case.

Contained in a ziplock bag is a decal sheet… more

SG-38 Schulgleiter

Published: April 10, 2016
Company: Brengun

The SK-38 is a small glider produced in Germany before and during the war. It was also produced by the Czechoslovakian government after the war. With the release of the Special Hobbies two kits the modeler can now do this historically significant aircraft.

Brengun has produced a small nickel plated photo etch fret that is designed to enhance the kit. There are limitations that plastic pieces can’t do. That is where the PE comes in. This little fret adds the intricate details throughout the kit. The photo etch replicates the metal parts on the real thing, while the kit plastic does the same for the wooden pieces.

The SK-38 is a simple little glider and kit and with this photo etch set you can replicate the intricate details.

Highly recommended

Thanks to… more

F8F Bearcat Control Surfaces

Published: April 10, 2016
Company: Aires Hobby Models

The Bearcat was just too late to join the fight in WWII but was used by the French in Indochina to great effect. It is a sexy and compact naval fighter.

An easy way to add some life to your static model is to reposition the flight control surfaces. I’ve never been able to do this effectively. Well Aires has come to the rescue. The latest release is molded in light grey resin with no flaws anywhere. Two horizontal surfaces and two elevators are included.

Removal of the parts from the pour block is quite easy. The horizontal surfaces are slotted so are drop in replacements for the kit parts. The elevators can then be added and deflected as you see fit with superglue. You may want to pin it to get a more solid join. Don’t forget to move the stick in the appropriate… more

The Dogs of War - USA/USAF/USMC/VNAF O-1 Bird Dogs in the Vietnam War

Published: April 9, 2016
Company: AOA Decals

When you mention the Vietnam Air War most people think of the F-4 Phantom or the F-105 Thunderchief, not some slow moving single piston-engine airplane like the O-1 Bird Dog. But this little airplane played a pivotal role in close air support role over South Vietnam. The Model USA kit has been out for sometime but the markings options have been limited, that is until now. Thanks to AOA Decals we now have plenty of marking options.

Two decal sheets are contained in a 6x9 inch Ziploc. The instructions are printed in full color on four 8.5x11 double-sided pieces of paper. The cover is a beautiful full color shot of an O-1 on a mission over Vietnam. It will aid the modeler in weathering the model. Some color callouts are listed and the backside of the sheet has the stencils. The… more

Military Underwear WWII on the Clothesline

Published: April 9, 2016
Company: Aerobonus

Dirty clothes? Who would have thought that you’d be able to find resin clothes for a clothes line? Aerobonus now provides you with four sets of shirts and pants to add to a clothesline.

Often seen in South Pacific scenes strung from an aircraft to a tree, drying laundry could be an integral in a diorama. This set includes four shirts and four pair of pants. Each pair of pants and each shirt is different. The end of the pant legs and shirt sleeves are hollowed out. They are all molded in light grey resin without any blemishes. Simply remove them from the pour block, paint and hang up the laundry.

A simple, yet effective, diorama idea thanks to Aerobonus.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review item. You can obtain yours by… more

US Navy Portable Fire Extinguishers

Published: April 8, 2016
Company: Aerobonus

Sometimes when you are building a diorama there is that one thing that will set yours apart from the rest. This is one of those items.

Aerobonus has provided unique pieces for the aircraft diorama buffs in the past and these little gems are just what the doctor ordered.

On airfields, regardless of eras, there are always fire extinguishers. They are in the background but always around the engine, just in case of engine fire. Aerobonus provides you with four fire extinguishers cast in blemish free grey resin. The resin encompasses the cylinder, the horn and extinguisher handle. You will have to supply the wire to make the hose. That alone would be quite nice but that’s not all, Aerobonus also provides you with decals to make your individual fire extinguishers. While the… more

P-51B/C Mustang Control Surfaces

Published: April 8, 2016
Company: Aires Hobby Models

The Tamiya Mustang kit is one of my favorite kits. The fit is good and it looks the part. Sure the cockpit floor is not right but that is the only thing.

One thing that real aircraft often have is displaced control surfaces, especially the elevators. Until now if you wanted to do that you had to perform surgery and thin and bevel the tail then fill the elevator and shape it too. Let’s face it, this was a pain in the …. Thank God that Aires also likes to see aircraft with the drooped elevators and has provided an easy answer.

Perfectly molded in light grey resin this set provides both side horizontal stabilizers and both elevators. The parts are simple enough to remove from the pour stub and they are perfectly formed for adding them. The horizontal surfaces are direct… more

MiG-21UM Air Scoops

Published: April 8, 2016
Company: Quickboost

Ever have one of those things that you just couldn’t do or at least couldn’t do well? For me that is hollowing out exhausts and air intake scoops. That is why I need gems like these from Quickboost.

Molded in light grey resin, these perfectly cast pieces are very thin. They are a direct replacement for the kit intakes which are solid plastic. On this mold block are seven intakes, it is amazing to see how thin they are able to get the lip on these intakes and still cast them. I know I could never do that. The hardest part will be to remove them, but once you get that done adding them is simple.

These intakes will add to the look of your MiG with minimal work. The realistic look of hollowed out intakes are easily seen on the model. Making this set well worth the money.… more

Free French Fighter Pilot WWII Normandie-Niemen (1942-1945)

Published: April 7, 2016
Company: Aerobonus

Normandie-Niemen were Free French fighters who flew for the Russians following the fall of France. Their exploits while flying Yak-3s is the stuff of legends. Until now, if you wanted to have one of these pilots in your diorama, you had to settle on a Russian pilot in Russian flight gear. Not anymore.

Molded in light grey resin, this pilot figure contains four parts: the body; arm; and two heads, one with a dress hat and one with a flying helmet on. The pose is completely natural with the pilot standing upright with a parachute draped over his shoulder. You can put either head on him. I’m going to put the dress cap on mine, since it is uniquely French. Both faces are well sculpted and very high quality.

Assembly is easy, just remove the parts from the block and assemble… more