Messerschmitt Bf 110 Flaps

Published: February 11, 2015
Company: Aires Hobby Models

Eduard’s series of Bf 110s have some great detail but if you want to drop the flaps this new set by Aires will make the task much easier. The Aires set supplies new flaps and radiator flaps which are a direct replacement for the kit parts.

You get six pieces of perfectly cast resin. The side bits of the radiator flaps are very thin and fragile so be careful removing them from the casting block. The instructions indicate which parts of the kit need to be removed for the replacement parts. The detail is very good with an extra part that adds to the inside of the wheel well.

This set works just as well for flaps that are deployed or in the up position.

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review kit.

F-101B Voodoo Cockpit

Published: November 25, 2021
Company: Pavla Models

If you are like me you were excited when Revell decided to re-release their 1/72^nd scale F-101B Voodoo.

Pavla has released this full replacement cockpit in resin. The set has a new cockpit tub, two ejection seats with molded belt details, new instrument panels, a control stick, rudder pedals and a new cover for over the front instrument panel. Also included is a three piece replacement strut to display the canopy opened. Thirteen parts in all.

The instructions indicate which parts of the kit cockpit need to be removed from the fuselage for the new cockpit to fit. There is also some painting information but it isn’t very detailed and you will want some additional references.

The Revell kit comes with decals for the instruments and I may try to use them… more

Space: 1999 Alpha Moonbase

Published: February 8, 2015
Company: Round 2 Models

British sci-fi has always intrigued me and in 1975 Gerry Anderson released a TV series which we youngsters just had to watch, Space: 1999. We didn’t care about the improbability that the Moon could be blown out of Earth’s orbit and hurtled across the Galaxy finding a new planet each week and somehow not collide with anything. All we cared about were the cools ships, neat, futuristic sets and the characters and if you were in your mid teens like I was, especially the female characters.

MPC acquired the rights to the show and released several kits including the Alpha Moonbase. This was really 2 kits in one. Mounted on a 12 x 18 inch vacuformed base you had a smaller version of the moonbase (missing 2 of the Eagle pads) with the travel tubes molded into the base itself. You also… more

Fw-190 A8/F8 Cockpit Set

Published: September 21, 2014
Company: Brengun

Photoetch is not really my thing but I have seen some stunning details created by it so guess it is time I broke down and joined the 21st Century.

This set is designed specifically for the new Airfix kit which has pretty good detail to begin with so what is on the fret.

For the cockpit we get new seat belts, rudder pedals, an instrument panel with printed instruments to put behind it and sidewall consoles. All of this will add greatly to the details Airfix provided. There is also some additional and replacement details for inside the canopy. New undercarriage doors look good and there is some wheel-well detail. I have heard that the landing gear on the kit are depicted in the extended length and need to be shortened slightly. If you do that, you would also have to… more

Spitfire LF Mk.IX C Cockpit Kit

Published: September 21, 2014
Company: Brengun

When Airfix released its new kit of the Spitfire Mk I the amount of detail in the cockpit was fantastic. When they brought out a new Mk IX everybody wondered, what happened to the interior?

This new set by Brengun will finally give you what you need to update the Airfix kit.

Most of the bits in this set are for the cockpit. This includes new sidewalls (both with and without entry hatch) with details, instrument panel with printed instruments, new control stick, new seat with supports, seatbelts, floor and bulkheads. There is a fuselage hatch for the radio and the radio and support are included. The rest of the set updates the wheel wells, gear doors (which are attached to the landing gear in the kit), radiator and intake screens and a few other bits for the wings and… more

Hawker Typhoon Mk IB Late Type Cannons with Covered Barrels

Published: September 19, 2014
Company: Master Model

Master Model has been releasing some very neat turned metal items and this set is another hit. You get 4 turned barrels, 2 x outer ones and 2 x inner ones (they are different lengths). You also get 4 PE rings that go over the barrels and attach to the wing leading edge.

The detail is perfect and leaves no seam lines to try and clean up.

Construction is simple, cut off the original kit barrels on the Airfix kit and replace with the new barrels on to the completed wing. Then slip the PE rings over the barrels, bend them to conform to the wing and use super glue to attach them.

Master includes a nice little instruction sheet showing which barrels go where and a final length from the leading edge for each.

This item will make a nice update for the Airfix,… more

F-16C/D Vipers – The Next Generation

Published: September 14, 2014
Company: Caracal Models

I love small air forces and I love the F-16 (and not just because they are based at Hill AFB just up the street) so a decal sheet that combines both is always high on my list.

This new sheet by Caracal delivers. 5 of the 6 schemes are small air forces with the other scheme a Minnesota Air National Guard version in a new camo. The decals are printed by Cartograf who have a solid reputation and feature the following markings:

• USAF F-16C 91-0391, 148th FW Block 50, 2014 (new 5th generation Have Glass camo scheme)
• Polish Air Force F-16C/D 03-0060 Block 52 in NATO Tiger Meet colors from 2011
• Royal Morocco Air Force F-16C/D 08-8016 Block 52 “4500^th F-16 delivery” scheme, 2012
• Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16C 98-2012 Block 40, 2012… more

F-15C Eagle Electronic Boxes

Published: September 13, 2014
Company: Quickboost

Hasagawa’s 1/72^nd scale F-15C kit is regarded as one of the better kits of the Eagle. This new item from Quickboost is a direct replacement for the sidewall in the cockpit. Eyeballing this looks like you may need to do some modifications to the floor part as well but should all look good once that is complete

Clean up is simple so no instructions are provided.

This item makes a nice update to the interior of the Hasagawa kit.

Thanks to Quickboost, Aires Hobby Models and to the IPMS/USA for the review kit.

Ilyushin IL-2 Exhaust

Published: September 13, 2014
Company: Quickboost

Tamiya’s 1/72^nd scale IL-2 Stormovik kit is a great looking kit with fine details. But, as usual, there are always ways to improve. This new item from Quickboost is a direct replacement for the exhausts in the kit. The advantage is they are hollowed out so you don’t have to try and attempt that yourself.

Clean up is simple to remove them from the resin backing so no instructions are provided.

All in all a quick and simple replacement that will add that extra bit of detail to your IL-2.

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review kit.

W.W.II US Truck Crew Set

Published: August 19, 2014
Company: Bronco Models

Let me first start off by saying this is not my normal scale for figures. I have been building 1/72nd and wargame scale figures for a short time and even some larger Super Hero kits but these are the first guys in 1/35th scale I have completed since a poorly painted 25 lber crew I did some 30 years ago, so please be gentle on any comments about the paint jobs. Thank-you.

OK, what comes in the box? Well, when I read WWII US Truck Crew I am thinking some guys for a Duece and a half but the artwork on the cover shows them sitting in a Jeep (oops, can I say that) and that would be the ideal vehicle for this set.

The first thing that struck me was the really relaxed poses. These guys look like they could be in a vehicle at rest or moving sedately down a nice dirt road,… more