Versuchsflakwagen Fuer 8.8cm Flak.37 Auf Sonderfahrgestell (Sd.Sfl.IVc)

Published: October 27, 2015
Company: Dragon Models

This is indeed a one of a kind armored vehicle. I think that only a single prototype was ever built. After some successful tests of Grille artillery in the Italian Front a decision was made to test a Flak 37 on a heavily modified Panther chassis. I think it even reached the prototype stage.

When you open the box you will find more plastic than for the average model, as all the parts for the Flak 37 are provided by Dragon Models and the chassis, armored sides and running gear is provided by Bronco. There are over 60 sprues and two small photo-etch frets.

Instructions are very clear, probably CAD line drawings generated from the actual CAD design for the molds. The overall surface detail is outstanding, as the accompanying pictures show. Detail is not limited to the… more

Luftwaffe Mistel Composite Bomber Units

Published: October 20, 2015
Book Author(s): Robert Forsyth
Company: Osprey Publishing

Osprey Publishing continues to expand its Combat Aircraft line of books. This time with the title Luftwaffe Mistel Composite Bomber Units.

This book, like all the other in the series, is very well researched and profusely illustrated with period pictures. Where relevant, it includes pictures of different pilots (including a few allied pilots) whose diaries and exploits are covered in the book.

The different chapters of the book covers the history of the Mistel units in a chronological way, from its beginning as a way to deliver gliders (rather than towing them it was considered to have a composite Bf-109/DFS 230) and its transition to an offensive weapon via the delivery of a modified war-weary bomber airframe.

The book covers with good detail the technical… more

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-F Series

Published: October 18, 2015
Book Author(s): Robert Jackson, Illustrator: Adam Tooby
Company: Osprey Publishing

Osprey Publishing continues to expand its fledging line of “Air Vanguard” titles, with the installment of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-F series.

Like most books of this series, it starts with a brief introduction to the aircraft in question and it quickly delves into the details of the first model, the –E series. It covers the topic in good detail, explaining different subvariants (E-1 to E-8, plus /B and /Z versions) and it also includes the production figures of each subtype.

The next section of the book covers the evolution of the –E into the –F (perhaps the nicest looking 109 of them all) explaining in good detail the wing, engine, cowling, propeller spinner and tail re-enforcements that made this series substantially better than its predecessor.

Finally, the… more

AM-39 Exocet

Published: October 4, 2015
Company: Eduard

Eduard Brassin line continues to expand by adding a very nice all-resin model of the AM-39 Exocet missile. While the Exocet is forever associated with the Super Etendard, it is also used in different aircraft, like Mirage V, Alpha Jet, Super Puma helicopters, and patrol aircraft like Breget Atlantic and P-3 Orion, just to name a few. As such this aftermarket set can be used in many different models.

In the box you get several cast resin pieces, all free of bubbles and imperfections. The casting blocks are small in size and easy to remove.

The missile body and body fins are cast in a dark-colored resin, while the missile exhaust tubes are cast in a clear-colored resin. The parts cast in clear-colored resin (exhaust tubes) are the only option you have; to build a Block 1… more

Mk 103 Gun Muzzle

Published: September 29, 2015
Company: Quickboost

Czech manufacturer Quickboost continues to expand its aftermarket line of simple details that enhance the look of your models.

This time the aftermarket piece is the very distinctive muzzle of the Mk 103 cannon, with its “organ pipe” look, a difficult piece to reproduce in injection molded parts.

The parts are finely molded, with all the pipes –and gun opening- being hollow. There are no bubbles nor are defects of kind and the attachment point to the pouring stub small and easy to remove.

The parts are a simple “drop in” replacement to the plastic parts. I only added a small piece of metal rod (copper) to strengthen the connection point to the nose of the Me-262.

This is a very easy and simple way to enhance your next model. Recommended.

I would… more

BV P178 Jet Bomber with BT700 Guided Missile Torpedo

Published: September 27, 2015
Company: Bronco Models

Bronco Models has a full line of Luft ’46 aircraft and the Blohm and Voss P178 has been boxed in several different versions, mainly changing on the weapon being delivered. The BV P178 was an asymmetrical aircraft, with a single engine offset relative to the fuselage (something that Blohm and Voss was an expert at) and this particular machine had a Jumo 004 jet engine. I was not able to find any images of this particular aircraft, but I did find a few black and white images of the weapon BT700.

The model comes in a very sturdy box, with 5 sprues (1 clear) for the aircraft and 1 sprue for the weapon. The total part count is low, about 50 parts total. Parts are finely molded, with panel lines being crisp and well defined. There was no flash in my sample. You also get two decal… more

Me 262A-1a/U1

Published: September 25, 2015
Company: Hobby Boss

HobbyBoss has released a hypothetical production variant of the Me-262: the A-1/U1 version. Is this a Luft’ 46 model? Some might say yes, but the truth is that both the enhanced nose weaponry (MG 151 and Mk 103) and the X-4 missiles were all manufactured before the end of WWII. I would say this is a Luftwaffe ’45 “2nd-Half”.

The kit comes in 12 grey sprues, 2 clear sprues for the canopy and a metal nose wheel well to prevent having a ‘tail sitter’. The sprues are cleanly molded, free of flash and with well-defined recessed panel lines.

The model has a full interior consisting of a nose gun bay, fully detailed cockpit and main landing gear bay plus a nicely detailed back fuselage (with a radio set and a compass set). However the detail in the back fuselage is pretty much… more

Cutting Mat A3 Size

Published: September 21, 2015
Company: Squadron Products

We all need a cutting mat for our hobby area. Not just as a cutting surface, but as a work area and to prevent damaging the table/surface we are working on.

Squadron has released the latest on their tool line with a cutting mat on A3 size, with a 10x15 inch working area. One side is just plain green for general work and cutting, while the other side has a square inch pattern plus angle lines at 30, 45 and 60 degrees.

The surface is made of a self-healing material, meaning that your cuts would “heal-up” (i.e. disappear) and you will have a smooth surface to continue your work. I did a few test cuts -gentle ones, just drawing the blade on the surface- and next morning I couldn’t see any cut or “scar” for what matters.

This cutting mat is likely to last you a long… more

USN Beige Seatbelts

Published: September 18, 2015
Company: Eduard

Eduard continues to expand its line of WWII 1/48 Superfabric seatbelts. This time with a set of USN Beige WWII-era seatbelts.

The Superfabric seatbelts are made of some sort of “rubber-like” material. They have volume - i.e, they are not flat like decals - and they have a little bit of texture like if it they were made of ‘fabric’ (pun intended).

From what I read in the Eduard website you can either apply the seatbelts “dry” directly on the painted seatbelt or “wet” if the seatbelt has been coated in Future.

I choose to apply the seatbealts over a “flat surface” (i.e, just over enamel paint).

I still "wetted" the seatbelt to release from the carrier paper. In order to do so I wet the backing paper (from behind) with just a few drops water and I waited a… more

Lagg-3 "Finnish Air Force"

Published: September 7, 2015
Company: Hasegawa

Hasegawa has been re-boxing some kits from different manufactures lately and that is not a bad thing at all. That way you get a chance to acquire a kit that otherwise would be out of production or be difficult to find.

This boxing of Hasegawa is actually a re-box of the ICM Lagg-3. Down to the point that the packing bags are of the resalable kind (ICM standard) and there is even a sticker in the bag that says “Made in Ukraine”.

The Finnish Air Force during War World Two was perhaps the most eclectic Air Force of them all. They not only pressed into service any airframe they could get their hands on, they also had airplanes from almost any country in their inventory: American, British, Italian, German, French, and even Russian!

This kit is typical of ICM, with a… more