Bf-109F-2/F-4 Cockpit Set

Published: January 18, 2012
Company: Aires Hobby Models

For me, Aires has always been synonymous with quality aftermarket products. This latest release is designed for the 1/32nd Hasegawa Bf-109F-2. Like many of their cockpit sets, this set is based off of resin parts, accentuated with photo-etch metal parts and a pre-printed decal film. The instructions are on an 8.5x11 sheet of blue paper. They are a little vague with some parts, but present nothing that can’t be determined with good references.

The resin is molded in light grey on 11 resin pour stubs. I did have a bubble on the base of the stick. This was easily fixed with some Apoxy Sculpt. The rest of the detail is exquisitely rendered. My floorboard was slightly warped but a little hot water took care of it. The seat is beautiful and looks great, especially with the addition… more

Bf-109F Wheel Bay Set

Published: January 17, 2012
Company: Aires Hobby Models

One of the areas that the 1/32nd scale Hasegawa Bf-109 kits lacks is the wheel wells. There is no lining and the detail is a little heavy. Aires now offers an option.

The Aires set includes two resin wheel well inserts and a small fret of photoetch. The parts are molded in light grey resin without any imperfections that I could see. The instructions are adequate for the job at hand.

Start the addition by deciding whether or not you want the round or squared off wheel wells. If you elect to use the squared off one, you’ll have to do it now. Then start thinning out the upper wings and the area around the wheel well opening. You will have to remove a good amount of plastic and thin out the upper wing, but nothing that a Dremel tool with sanding bit can’t fix. The process… more

Bell P-39 Airacobra

Published: December 6, 2011
Book Author(s): Robert Peczkowski & Artur Juszczak
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

Spoiler alert – if you don’t want to know what I think, go to the next paragraph. This is THE only book you will need to own for reference on the P-39 Airacobra. Printed on high quality gloss paper, this paperback book is printed on A5 size with 160 pages chock full of information. Modelers will love the information included in this book.

The very first thing you will notice upon opening the book is four view drawings of the P-39F and Q in 1/48th scale and the P-39Q in 1/32nd scale. If you build 1/72nd scale, fear not – there are plenty of 72nd scale drawings throughout the book. OK, 1/144th scale guys, there are drawing in the book for you as well.

The development of the aircraft is followed from prototype to the P-39Q. The P-63 variant is not covered in this book. I… more

Bandits over Baghdad

Published: October 12, 2011
Book Author(s): Warren E. Thompson
Company: Specialty Press

Editor's note: This publication is also available in a downloadable version from the publisher.

As a Desert Storm veteran, it was quite a unique thing the first time I actually saw an F-117 in the air. The initial raids against Baghdad brought to light the existence of these stealth fighters and their capabilities. Firsthand accounts of air combat have always been a favorite read of mine. This book was right up my alley.

This soft bound book features 200 pages of accounts from the pilot, ground crew and commander’s perspective during the war. The book features many previously un-published black and white photos. These will be helpful and informative for the modeler. Every photo comes with an extensive caption that provides insight.

The planning,… more

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