Polish Air Force 1939 Through German Eyes Vol. 2

Published: August 27, 2011
Book Author(s): Andrzej Glass and Tomasz J. Kopanski
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

This is the second volume that deals with the Polish Air Force after the German invasion in 1939. Pictures of Polish aircraft are very rare, especially before the pre-war period. This was a security protocol implemented by the Polish government. Because of the success of this protocol, there are very few photos of the aircraft used by the Polish Air Force. The conquering Germans are therefore the best reference for the airplanes. Needless to say, most of these pictures are previously unpublished.

This book picks up where the other one left off with more airfields, this time concentrating on the ones located in the Silesia, Lublin and Wilno regions. Most airfields are shown in twenty six maps. As with the first volume, you are treated with photos of a wide variety of aircraft,… more

Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. H Mid-Production Autumn '43

Published: August 27, 2011
Company: Dragon Models

OK, what does an airplane guy know about tanks? Well, let’s see – they make great targets and make a mess of a training area. Truth be told, I did win a trophy at the Nats for a tank. Surprised? So was I. As an airplane guy I always wanted to build some tanks, in particular German tanks, but for the longest time it was the zimmerit that prevented me from buying them. Then it was all the aftermarket stuff to make the kit “correct.” Thankfully, Dragon has started retooling their kits to make them more accurate, and they contain aftermarket stuff right in the box. On top of that, they priced their new kits, with all the aftermarket, at the same price as their previous releases. Then they added zimmerit on the appropriate kits. I couldn’t think of any more reasons to not buy these kits. Of… more

Luftwaffe Cockpit Placards

Published: July 4, 2020
Company: Airscale Model Aircraft Enhancements

The latest release from Airscale is a sheet of decals to replicate 1/48^thscale Luftwaffe cockpit placards. The cockpit placards are on a single sheet of film. These are typical of the rest of Airscale’s releases. High quality decals printed by Fantasy Workshop.

Included on this set are General Warnings, Notices, Manufacturers Data Plates, Primary Instructions and Radio Labeling. You get plenty of placards to do numerous aircraft. If there was a downside, it is that there aren’t any instructions as to where these placards go. A little bit of research will take care of that though.

These decals are the same as any other water slide decals. This will be a nice addition to your model. I know I can’t paint this detail.

Highly recommended

You can… more

IAB-500 Imitation Aerial Bomb with BD3-23N Pylon

Published: July 11, 2011
Company: Aires Hobby Models

This is one big bomb or imitation bomb. Its construction is typical Soviet design. Molded perfectly in light grey resin the bomb itself is a two piece affair with a nose cone and tail section. Also included in this set is an exquisitely molded bomb rack. The rack is a piece of art with sway brace arms molded in place. How they molded it and got it to cast is beyond me.

Decals are included for the stencils and the instructions show where they belong.

The bomb can be painted either light grey or dark green.

As far as I know this bomb has never before been available in any form. It is used on the Mig-21, Su-7, Su-22 and Su-24.

This bomb, or imitation bomb, will make a very unique addition to your model. It is big and typically Soviet looking.

Highly… more

UB-16-57 Soviet Rocket Launchers

Published: July 11, 2011
Company: Aires Hobby Models

Aerobonus is a new sub-division of Aires that seems to concentrate on the armament of former Soviet Union aircraft. This set contains two rocket pods cast in light grey resin that are perfectly formed with no blemishes or bubbles anywhere. The rocket pods are easy enough to assemble as there are only two pieces to each pod, the front and aerodynamic rear fairing.

Also included are decals for the stenciling and alignment of the sections. The decals are nicely printed and are easy enough to add.

The modeler just needs to add pins to the holes in the mounting lugs and drill a corresponding hole in the model. Painting is easy enough, aluminum with steel for the tubes.

This type of rocket pod was used on the Su-7, Mig-21 and the Mi-8. So you can update your OEM Su-7… more

UB-32 Soviet Rocket Launchers

Published: July 11, 2011
Company: Aires Hobby Models

Aerobonus’ latest release is the ‘big’ rocket pod used on a variety of aircraft. For me this rocket pod usually mounted on the Mi-24 Hind helicopter. It was also used on the Mig-21, Mig-23, Mig-27, and Mi-8/17.

Perfectly cast in light grey resin, with no bubbles or imperfections, these rocket pods are beautiful. The tip and the openings are beautiful renderings. The pods are cast in two pieces, the nose cone/center section and the exhaust fairings. Cutting them off and attaching them is easy enough.

Decals are provided for the stencils, alignment marks and the serial number on the side of the pods. The instructions show where they would go.

Painting them is easy, aluminum. Attaching them is easy enough just add pins in the mount lugs and then attach them to the… more

Bf-109K-4

Published: July 10, 2011
Company: Academy Models

The Kit

Academy provides you with six sprues of light grey plastic and two small clear plastic. The sprues are the same ones that were issued by Hobbycraft, but there is a difference. The difference is the inclusion of three additional items, two cowl guns and a pitot tube made out of turned brass. These items are little gems of work. The guns have hollowed out ends and look perfect. The decals are printed by Cartograf and provide markings for one colorful aircraft. Being from Cartograf they are in perfect register and suitably thin. In essence, perfect decals.

The instructions are easy enough to understand and broken down into twelve steps. The marking option provides a four view drawing that will help you mark your airplane.

The Build

Typical of most… more

Junkers Ju-87B Stuka M.G. Drum Magazines

Published: July 10, 2011
Company: Quickboost

There are limitations to plastic molding that resin doesn’t have to worry about. Such is the case of the Italeri MG Magazine Drums. The kit items are nice but they lack the subtle detail on the sides and the handles. Well Quickboost recognized this and has provided us with two sets of magazines. The magazines have the detail perfectly rendered.

Perfectly molded in light grey resin these parts are simple to add to the kit. The detail parts will dress up the interior of the Stuka in an easy and effective way.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain your copy at www.quickboost.net or through your local hobby shop or online retailer. Let them know we sent you.

Junkers Ju-87B Stuka Exhaust

Published: July 10, 2011
Company: Quickboost

The new Italeri Ju-87 Stuka is a great example of this airplane. The exhausts are like most kit exhausts molded solid. I can’t thin the ends out to save my life. Thank God for Quickboost.

The exhausts are molded in light grey resin with realistic weld lines and hollowed out ends. These exhausts are typical of all of Quickboost exhausts in that they are drop in replacements for the kit item so they are no more difficult to deal with than the kit item. Simply remove, paint and weather and install.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain your copy at www.quickboost.net or through your local hobby shop or online retailer. Let them know we sent you.

Focke-Wulf Ta-154 Exhaust

Published: July 10, 2011
Company: Quickboost

The Dragon/Revell Ta-154 Moskito is a twin engine aircraft that just begs for detail. One of the easiest things that can be done is to upgrade the exhausts. Now I don’t know about you but I suck at hollowing out exhaust stacks. I can’t even imagine doing it on 24 of them as least not what I would claim as my work.

Molded in light grey resin these exhausts are perfectly formed with hollowed out ends and realistic weld lines. They are drop in replacements for the kit items which are molded solid, not very realistic. The Quickboost exhausts are perfect and easily removed from the pour blocks. Simply remove, paint and weather and install.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain your copy at … more