F-16C Barak Block 40 Cockpit Set

Published: January 21, 2012
Company: Aires Hobby Models

I love the looks of the F-16 and, in particular, the Israeli versions with its unique paint schemes. This new set by Aires is for the Kinetic’s F-16C Barak Block 40.

The majority of the cockpit set is the five molded resin pieces, with four of them in light grey and one in light caramel. The detail is exquisite, especially the one-piece cockpit tub with ejector seat rails and side controls. How were they ever able to mold and pull that? I have no idea, but it is some of the finest casting I’ve ever seen anywhere. This is the typical quality that I’ve come to expect from Aires. Well, even if your control stick is broken off, Aires provides you with another one, so don’t fret if it is loose in the packaging.

Also included is a fret of nickel that has the ejector seat… more

WWII USAAF ETO Fighter Pilot Figure

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Ultracast

I’ve come to expect that Ultracast puts out some of the finest figures available anywhere. This latest release is just that. Sculpted by world renowned artist Mike Good, this piece is typically perfect. Molded in light cream-colored resin, the castings are blemish-free and perfectly cast. All the pour blocks are easily removed.

You get a body with a very thin film between the legs that is easily removed. The pose is very natural looking. You get a single arm for each side that is keyed to ensure alignment. The other thing is that they fall on a natural line so you can paint them separately if you’d like. The left hand is nicely molded with a cigarette between the fingers.

You get a choice of two heads, one with a flight cap and one with the flight helmet. The last piece… more

Bf-109A thru D Models - Book with Decals

Published: January 19, 2012
Book Author(s): Mariusz Tukasik
Company: Kagero Publishing

Kagero’s Top Drawing books offer the modeler a good reference for rivet patterns for those so inclined. Also, they are great references for those trying to accurize a kit.

This book contains six view drawings, top and bottom plan views, left and right side profiles, and front and rear views of all four aircraft types, A-D versions in 1/72nd and 1/48th. The 1/32nd scale drawings are actually on a separate foldout and only include the B-1 and D models. There are also some detail drawings of internal items, such as seats and instrument panels included. Cross section drawings are provided for the scratchbuilder as well. There is also a small drawing that shows the external differences.

If it was just drawings and riveting diagrams, then it wouldn’t be from Kagero. Besides… more

Battle of Britain Part III - Book with Decals

Published: July 4, 2020
Book Author(s): Maciej Goralczyk, Janusz Swiation, and Arkadiusz Wrobel
Company: Kagero Publishing

If you are looking for a definitive account of the Battle of Britain, this is not it. If you are looking for inspirational paint schemes and the decals that go with those schemes, then this is your book.

Kagero has always released really nice books with interesting paint schemes and this one is no different. There are eight aircraft depicted, six Bf-109s, one He-111, and one Bf-110. Descriptions of each aircraft and its pilot accompany the three- and four-view full color profiles. The descriptions are written in English and Polish. Each description gives the color callouts and a little bit of history of each pilot who flew it. Particularly interesting is the He-111, which has tail and fuselage artwork. The 109s all show unique paint schemes with the description documenting the… more

Bf-109E-4 Interior Self Adhesive Set

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Eduard

The Eduard Zoom sets are simple and very effective. The detail on these parts is quite phenomenal.

This set contains a single fret of self-adhesive pre-painted photo etch. Some people question whether using these pre-painted pieces is actually modeling. My opinion is I don’t care. They can replicate detail that I can’t even begin to obtain and it saves me time. So it looks good and takes next to nothing to install. I’ll be using them as long as they make them. The gun sight reflectors are included on a clear acetate sheet.

Besides the instrument panels, this set includes seatbelts, rudder pedals, map case, oxygen cover, and various switches. All this detail will be easy enough to add and will enhance the look of your cockpit with the minimal amount of work.

… more

Ta-152 Interior Self Adhesive Set

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Eduard

Often times, when building a model, I want to do nothing more that spruce up the cockpit area. That is where the Eduard Zoom sets come in.

The sets, such as this one, typically contain one fret of self-adhesive, pre-painted photo etch. The detail that is included on these pre-printed parts is absolutely fabulous. It is much better than anything I could ever paint, even on my best days. Besides the instrument panels, you also get the seatbelts and rudder pedals. You will need nothing else to make an award-winning cockpit.

Also included in this set is a clear acetate sheet with the gun sights printed on it.

Adding this set to your model will require nothing more than sanding some detail off and adding the photo etch. Simple, effective, and realistic looking.… more

P-51 Mustang Decals Part 2

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Lifelike Decals

Lifelike Decals always offers some unique decal options and this sheet is typical Lifelike quality. Designed for the Tamiya P-51D and the Trumpeter/Revell P-51B, these decals offer some very unique looking machines.

The instructions are on three sheets, two single-sided A4 sheets and one half-page. The single-sided sheets include the profiles and plan views, as well as the historical and research data. The smaller half-page sheet contains the stencil placement.

Lifelike Decals has used Cartograf out of Italy to print their decals. Cartograf printing is perfect, with even the smallest detail being picked out. The decals are thin, in perfect register, and with good color saturation. They also respond to setting solutions and conform to compound curves. There are three… more

P-51 Mustang Decals Part 1

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Lifelike Decals

Recommended for the exquisite 1/32nd Tamiya P-51D kit, Lifelike Decals’ latest decals are beautiful markings and options to rival those included in the kit.

Typical of Lifelike, there are four aircraft included on the sheets. The instructions are printed on two A4 single sided sheets and one half A4 sheet. The first one is the cover and the plan views. The inside sheet includes the historical data and the research used to determine markings. The smaller third sheet is a stencil sheet.

The decals are printed in perfect register and color saturation by Cartograf, so you know they are really thin. Printed on four sheets, the colors are vibrant and will look great on the model. The first sheet includes the red, yellow and light blue markings. The light blue I thought was… more

Nakajima Ki-44 Decals Part 3

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Lifelike Decals

Want a variety of marking and painting options for your Hasegawa Ki-44? Well, Lifelike Decals has exactly what you are looking for on this sheet. It features four aircraft in four distinct paint schemes and marking options.

The instructions are printed on two single-sided A4 sheets in full color. The first page is the cover and the back with the plan views of the subject aircraft. Interestingly, the second aircraft is not shown in the plan views. The other page includes the history and the research used to determine the markings. This is one of the things that Lifelike Decals does better than most manufacturers, in that they show you where they got the research and the logic behind the color call-outs. They don’t even pretend that they know all the answers but give you, the… more

Nakajima Ki-44 Decals Part 2

Published: January 19, 2012
Company: Lifelike Decals

This is the second decal sheet that Lifelike has released for the Hasegawa 1/48th scale Nakajima Ki-44 Tojo. This particular sheet is unique with the inclusion of a bunch of aircraft with kill markings on the sides.

The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf, so they are very thin and in perfect register. The decals are included on three sheets. The first and largest sheet contains everything but the kill markings. The second sheet is a small sheet that includes ‘scratched’ number ‘2’, which is perfectly executed, and the kill markings. To show you the level of attention to detail, there is a third sheet that is a correction sheet for the one set of kill markings that is finer and better executed than the previous sheet. Well done, Lifelike.

The instructions are… more