AH-1Z Canopy Mask

Published: November 14, 2020
Company: Eduard

I hate masking canopies. It always takes so long and it is not as much fun as the rest of the build. That is the primary reason to buy canopy masks.

The latest offering from Eduard is for the Kitty Hawk AH-1Z. Accurately cut from Kabuki tape, which I think is the best masking material out there, this set provides outlining for the side canopy sections. Each individual panel is constructed from two pieces of masking material which are then filled in with masking fluid. The overhead panels are actually single piece masks which is nice. The other parts that you are provided are for the turret clear parts.

These will fit and make the whole process of canopy masking a non-event. They will save you time and give you accurate crisp outlines with minimal work.

Highly… more

Croatian Air Legion-Bf-109G-6s on Eastern Front-15(Kroat)./JG52

Published: August 12, 2015
Company: Delta One Decals

With the release of the Revell-Germany Bf-109G-6 and G-10 Erla it is just natural to want to put markings on them that aren’t included in the box.

Delta One has been providing some unique looking 109s on their decal sheets and this one is no different. The Croatians had a staffel similar to the Spanish staffel in JG-52. They were proud and carried the This decal sheet provides markings for seven aircraft, six G-6s and one G-5. Most of the aircraft sported the “Flying or Winged chessboard” on both sides of the fuselage.

The decals are printed on a 6x5 sheet with an additional separate sheet containing one chevron. The swastikas are broken down into two parts. There is a variety of the Flying chessboard. Interestingly is that the lack of standard markings. Typically a… more

MiG-19S (Farmer C) Gun Barrels Set & Pitot Tube and Shenyang J-6/F-6

Published: April 13, 2015
Company: Master Model

The MiG-19 and Chinese version of it, the J-6/F-6, are essentially the same aircraft. The Chinese version had an additional wing hard point on each wing. One thing about early MiGs is that they had long pitot tubes. In plastic they are fragile and easily bendable. The clean up of the plastic part is difficult to ensure that you keep a round cross section. Then if you are like me I ALWAYS break them off, either on the way to a show or just in handling the model.

• AM-48-092 - MiG-19S Gun Barrels / Pitot tubes sets - $10.00
• AM-48-093 - J-6/F-6 Gun Barrels / Pitot tubes sets - $10.00

Master out of Poland are some of the… more

Yugoslav G-6s

Published: April 12, 2015
Company: Delta One Decals

Delta One has been producing some unique decals, especially for the Bf-109. So that means that I had to check them out. This particular sheet covers the Yugoslav Air Force Bf-109s in service from 1945-53.

This sheet comes in a ziplock baggie that contains an eight page booklet with history and line drawings for the subject aircraft. There is a little history on the 109 in Yugoslavia. There is also a brief description of each aircraft including the colors and historical use.

Decals are provided for six aircraft, four G-6 aircraft and two UMe-109, which is a version of the G-12. The profiles have both side views, top view and a partial bottom view. The aircraft are interesting with some unique paint schemes. The actual decals are on 3 x 3 inch sheet. They are printed in… more

Dassault Mirage IV Refueling Probe Boom

Published: April 9, 2015
Company: Master Model

The Heller Mirage IV is a slightly older kit, but still the only option in town. The Mirage IV has its refueling boom off of the nose so it sits out there just waiting to be knocked off or bent. Enter Master from Poland.

Why do would you want to use the Master turned metal part? Well there are numerous reasons. The first, and most important, is that turned metal is stronger. Another reason is that you don’t have to worry about the mold line or keeping the round cross section all the time worried about losing detail. These reasons are enough for me to use the metal parts.

Packaged in a Ziploc bag, this set is a single piece of machined aluminum. The refueling boom is perfectly rendered and captures the shape of the tube and probe. This set is simply a replacement of the… more

Messerschmitt Bf-109G Opened Cockpit’s Rear Bulkhead – Standard

Published: April 5, 2015
Company: Quickboost

This set is the first set that I can remember that allowed the modeler to pose the bulkhead behind the pilot in the open position. This will definitely set your Bf-109 apart from the rest. The one thing that comes to mind immediately is adding this set to make a Galland like opening with the lobsters and champagne. Yes I know that was an F model but you get the idea.

Molded in light grey resin with the minimal resin flash, there are three parts for this set. There are four parts on the two pour blocks but you only need the three. The big piece is a one piece affair that will slide nicely into your kit. You will have to remove the pour block on this piece but after that it is already done for you. The bulkhead is a direct replacement for the kit part, but this piece is opened… more

Messerschmitt Bf-109G Cockpit’s Rear Bulkhead Closed

Published: April 5, 2015
Company: Quickboost

I’ve built three of the Eduard Bf-109s and absolutely loved the finished product. Is it over-scaled? Slightly. Get over it. It is a nice 1/47th scale model. I can’t wait for their reengineered one too.

That said there are a lot of really nice things to do with the kit. The rear bulkhead is a separate item added when the fuselage halves go together. This little gem of resin has the bulkhead with the access door closed. This part is properly proportioned and has the proper relief of the door. Adding it to the model will be easy enough and the part is a direct replacement for the kit part.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can get yours directly from Aires at https://www.aires.cz/en/ or… more

F-15 Eagle Landing Gear

Published: June 21, 2021
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

The F-15 sits up high on fragile bird like landing gear and let’s face it the plastic kit parts are pretty flimsy. This is where white metal landing gear come in.

Packaged on a cardboard backing with a plastic enclosure glued on the front, the parts are loose inside the packaging. There are three white metal parts, one for each landing gear. The three landing gear parts are made of white metal that looks blemish free, however, my example had the large support strut slightly bent. Nothing drastic or dramatic, it was easy enough to straighten out. I can’t find any seam lines on any of the pieces. All the pieces had one little attachment point that will need to be removed. Very small and easy enough to do with hobby knife and sandpaper.

The SAC metal landing gear is a… more

MiG-21 Landing Light

Published: April 3, 2015
Company: Quickboost

The landing lights under the wings on the MiG-21 is quite a visible feature. The Eduard kit has you just add a plastic piece over the area. It may be adequate for some but for others it will just beckon those to detail it. Enter the Quickboost set.

Two resin blocks are included. One is crystal clear with outer part of the light and then the other part is a very tiny filament part. It is as realistic as the real thing. The other resin block is molded in light grey resin. This is the housing for the light. Just paint this part gloss silver, add the filament and you will have a perfectly realistic landing light housing.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can get yours directly from Aires at … more

Messerschmitt Bf-109G Opened Cockpit’s Rear Bulkhead Eq. MW-50 or GM-1

Published: April 3, 2015
Company: Quickboost

The MW-50 and GM-1 were used to raise the operating altitude and provide more power for the DB-605. The storage area behind the pilot had an access panel inside it to allow the Schwarzmann a place to service the system. This unique setup has never been available before in model form as far as I know.

Molded in light grey resin with the minimal resin flash, there are four parts for this set molded on two pour blocks. There is minimal flash on the one part but nothing that a knife blade and five seconds couldn’t take care of. The instructions are simple enough and show you how to add the parts. It really is a no-brainer. The storage area is provided in a single piece with the additional compartment cut out of the bottom of the area.

This set will work perfectly for your… more