Warsaw Pact Pilot

Published: August 17, 2012
Company: Plusmodel

With the release of the Eduard Mig-21 family and the upgrades to the older Academy Mig-29 and Su-27, as well as the reboxed Su-25 and Su-22s, it is amazing that it has taken this long to get a decent 1/48th scale pilot for these airplanes. If you are like me, I enjoy having a figure next to my airplane for scale comparison. Well, now I can do that with my Russian jets. Yes, I know, you are saying, “Floyd builds jets? And Russian ones at that?” Well, I haven’t yet, but I have all of them, so when I get that itch I can scratch it.

This figure is molded in two pieces of light grey resin that have no flaws that I can see. Aero Line posed the figure with his arm up shielding the sun while watching something in the sky. I like the pose and it seems natural. The biggest piece of resin… more

T-28B/C Cockpit Set

Published: August 17, 2012
Company: True Details

Squadron has released a new cockpit set for the Roden T-28B/C. Molded in bubble- and blemish-free medium grey resin, the detail included is far superior to what can be offered in plastic. The instrument panels have some impressive detail, especially the rear cockpit which includes the coaming and the wiring in the rear of the panel.

This set contains parts for the cockpit tub, two seats, rear bulkhead, side panels, instrument panels (both front and back), rudder pedals, sticks, and throttles. I don’t think there is anything left to add to the inside. I don’t know for sure, but I’ll bet that Jeff Verswyvel was heavily involved in the development. Jeff was the proprietor and master maker for Avionix and Black Box. This is up to the typical work I expect from this master modeler.… more

P-51 Mustang Wheels, Radial Tread

Published: August 17, 2012
Company: Ultracast

The P-51 has so many options that it is hard to keep up with them all. The wheels are one area where you can have diamond, cross hatch, smooth, and radial tread. Don’t worry, Ultracast has them all in their product line.

Just like the rest of the Ultracast wheels, this set has exquisite detail throughout. Some may go unnoticed, such as the valve stem for adding air to the tire. The radial tread is perfectly proportioned and looks fabulous. When I think of radial tread, I tend to think of modern airplane wheels, so if you are going to do a post-war modern warbird, these wheels are essential.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Ultracast and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Head for the Huey Diorama

Published: August 17, 2012
Company: Master Box Ltd

The latest boxing from the Czech company Master Box is a little diorama in a box. It tells the story of a Special Forces team heading back to the Huey from combat with a wounded comrade. This model just speaks Vietnam.

Molded on two sprues of tan plastic, this model has 131 intricate pieces that build up into five figures. The main characters are three soldiers, one wounded, all hobbling back from combat. The other two are covering the withdrawal. The parts are the best that plastic can do. The faces are a little soft but certainly acceptable and will benefit from good painting. The clothing is tiger-striped but could easily be olive drab. The equipment is nicely done, especially the rifles and grenade launchers. The packs and framework are particularly nicely done.

The… more

F-14 Tomcat Air Intake Covers

Published: August 16, 2012
Company: Quickboost

OK this is the neatest set I’ve seen in a while. You are treated to two intake covers, eight grab handles, and a decal sheet. A decal sheet? Yes printed in white lettering you can customize your cover with the squadron designation. I count over ten units before my eyes went buggy. That is a real neat treat.

The intake covers and handles are molded perfectly in light olive resin. The decal sheet has a protective cover that covers the 2.5 x 3.5 water slide decal sheet. Simply assemble the grab handles to the covers. Paint red. And then add the unit decals. You can weather them as you see fit. The real things are plastic and can get abused.

This is a great way to hide the seam on the intake trunking. Another great product from Quickboost.

Highly recommended

… more

F-100 Super Sabre Speed Brake – Late Version

Published: August 16, 2012
Company: Aires Hobby Models

The F-100 is an impressive model. I’ve built the 1/32^nd scale F-100 from Trumpeter and I have to tell you that I enjoyed the entire build. I enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought all three versions of the 1/48^th scale kit. It is the F-100D and F-100F that this set is designed for.

The later style speed brake had a cut out to allow its use with drop tanks and ordanence on the center line. This set is so easy to use that you would think it would be a Quickboost product. There is no cutting required. Just substitute the resin insert for the kit ones.

My set was molded in blemish free light grey resin that has beautiful detail. You get the speed brake, speed brake well, two actuators, and the two cutouts. The instructions are very simple and… more

P-40M/N Warhawk Exhaust-Fishtail

Published: August 16, 2012
Company: Quickboost

I love Hasegawas P-40s. I’ve built two of them and once you get over the segmented construction they are beautiful models. One extra thing to bring them to life is the exhausts. They are very prominent on the nose of the P-40, especially with the fishtail type.

Quickboost takes care of that for us modelers. What they have done is combine the three parts, two exhaust stubs and the base piece, into a single part. This will ensure that the exhaust stacks are aligned. Something that was a little difficult the way Hasegawa manufactured them. The only thing you have to be careful is that you remove them and don’t mix them up. There are right and left exhaust stacks.

The stacks are on six pieces of perfectly formed light grey resin with hollowed ends and the appropriate weld… more

Messerschmitt Me-262A Radio Equipment

Published: August 16, 2012
Company: Quickboost

The Hobby Boss Me-262s allow you the option of having an open radio compartment. The kit parts are okay but they lack the detail that only resin can bring. Enter Quickboost. They provide the two pieces in light olive resin. There are no bubbles or blemishes anywhere. A simple wafer thin backing plate is all that will be needed to be removed. The parts are then added as the kit parts would be. Simple.

So we have an inexpensive, simple, highly detailed part for your model. That is what Quickboost is all about.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Hamilton Standard 13’ 1” dia. 3-bladed Prop & Spinner

Published: August 16, 2012
Company: Ultracast

The F4U-1D, F7F Tigercat, Hellcat and the TBM-3 Avenger all used the same propeller. The Corsair needed the additional clearance for deck handling so the 13’1” Hamilton Standard prop was adopted. If you wanted to depict this or even more importantly, correct the AMT Tigercat props, you had to normally rob them from a Hellcat kit. You don’t have to do that anymore.

In typical Ultracast fashion you are treated to four resin parts, beautifully molded in off-white resin that includes three prop blades and a one piece hub. Construction couldn’t be simpler. Simply remove the parts and insert the props in the hub. The fit will be so good that you will be able to change the pitch until you are happy with them. The casting and the shape are like everything I’ve ever seen from Ultracast… more

Ju-88 Wing Bomb Rack and Loading System

Published: August 16, 2012
Company: Profimodeller

On occasion there is just something that comes out that you want to say, “WOW, what a great idea!” This is one of those products and one of those occasions. The wing racks in this package are nice enough but the addition of the bomb loading system is so cool! If you build dioramas this is a set that you must have.

The set provides approximately 50 resin parts molded in light yellow resin that are perfectly cast and blemish free. That said, my two wing rack ejector systems had two sway braces broken off in transit. Not a big deal as the resin pieces are kept in a Ziploc bag. There is a small fret of photo etch pieces as well. A length of wire is included to allow the modeler to “use” the pulley system.

The set is designed with the diorama modeler in mind. You get two bomb… more