Bf-109G-6 Radio Compartment

Published: June 25, 2016
Company: Eduard

One feature of the Bf-109 is the easy access of the radio compartment in the rear fuselage. This feature is easily replicated on Eduard’s new Bf-109G-6 thanks to this Brassin set.

The Brassin set consists of six pieces of light grey resin perfectly molded. The bigger pieces are the two sidewalls. Removal from the resin pour stubs is easy enough, except for the radio mount which is very fragile. Care will be required on this piece.

As an Eduard set it would be incomplete without a fret of photo etch. This one on nickel plated metal has five pieces of pre-painted parts. Removal is easy enough from the fret. Interestingly, Eduard seems to have forgotten to add the latches on the outside of the access hatch. I used a beading tool to impart the latches. Not a big deal but… more

Bf-109G Exhaust Stacks

Published: June 25, 2016
Company: Eduard

The Eduard Bf-109G-6 and G-5 are beautiful kits. One of the complaints or discussions on the kit is that the exhausts have to be added early in the build and then have to be masked.

This Brassin set addresses this. Included in this clear vacuformed package are four pieces of light grey resin that are perfectly formed. There is additional detail included on the resin, namely the spark plug wires. The exhausts are hollowed out nicely. Also included in the packaging is a fret of nickel plated photo etch.

Adding the parts is easy enough. You just have to add the inserts with the opening in the front before you close up the fuselage halves. Then you can add the exhausts and photo etch deflectors at any time. I added mine at the end of my build. Care must be taken when adding… more

Bf-109G-6 Cockpit

Published: June 25, 2016
Company: Eduard

The new, new 109 from Eduard is one of the finest renditions of the G-6 ever released. This is what they were going after the first time. Like the first release this model comes with a variety of Brassin pieces to ‘upgrade’ your 109. The kit cockpit is quite nice out of the box, but there is room to make it better. That is where the Brassin series comes in.

In a sturdy cardboard box, you are treated to 24 resin pieces molded in light to medium grey resin that are blemish and bubble free. Being an Eduard product it wouldn’t be right if they didn’t include photo etch. This offering features two frets of photo etch. The first one is a pre-painted fret which is quite beautiful. The other one is a brass fret that includes various detail parts. There are some simple decals and film… more

Bf-109G-6 Late Series

Published: June 23, 2016
Company: Eduard

The Messerschmitt Bf-109 has to be the most iconic aircraft of all time. It evokes primal feelings in the hearts of modelers everywhere. How else can you explain the outcry when Eduard first released their Bf-109G-6? There were scale issues, some shape issues, and accuracy issues. Coming on the heels of Eduard’s Spitfires and MiG-21s, there was high expectations. Those expectations were dashed and all hope was lost. Until Eduard decided to take the high road and retool the entire model. Is this latest incarnation from Eduard everything that we have come to hope for? Let’s find out.

Packaged in sturdy top opening box. First off everything about this model is new with nothing, NOTHING, left from the original kit. The modeler is treated to four sprues of light grey plastic with… more

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