Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.50

This set is designed for use with kits of the T-38 Talon, the F-5B Tiger I and the RF-5A/E/S. The set consists of 3 brass parts – the nose pitot and two 20 mm gun barrels, however, as later versions of the RF-5 only have one gun installed, so you will need to check your references. If you are modeling a T-38 or a F-5B, you will only be using the pitot tube as neither had guns installed.

The instructions are clear about what size drill bit you will need for each installation and clearly indicate how just how much of the pitot tube extends past the kit nose. Take care when drilling your holes and check them as you go to ensure that the pitot tube in on the aircraft centerline and parallel to the ground and that the gun barrels are parallel to the aircraft centerline.

This is another nice detail set from Master Model and it will dress up your Talon or Tiger I jet.

Recommended. Thank you to Master Model for the review sample.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.50

This set is designed for use with kits of the later models of the F-5E/F Tiger II with the so-called “shark” or flattened nose. I used on old Italeri F-5F kit that had been a shelf queen for a few years. The set consists of 5 brass parts – the nose pitot and a tube in which to mount it, two 20 mm gun barrels and a dummy fairing for those aircraft which only have one gun installed.

Book Author(s)
Marek Ryś
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

Kagero/Casemate Publishers has a Top Drawings series that showcases a single subject with high quality, blue print style line drawings and several colorful schemes of the specific subject.

The current catalog lists 110 titles, so there is a subject of interest for just about anyone. All of the titles from Top Drawings are geared for the fastidious amongst us who crave accurate representations on the subject of choice, be it aircraft, armor, or ship.

Book Author(s)
Dr. David Nicolle and Air Vice Marshal Gabr Ali Gabr
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Dr. David C Nicolle is a British historian specializing in the military history of the Middle-Ages, with special interest in the Middle East and Arab countries. After working for BBC Arabic Service, he obtained his MA at SOAS, University of London, followed by a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. He then lectured in art history at Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan. Dr. Nicolle has published over 100 books about warfare ranging from Roman times to the 20th century, mostly as sole author. He also co-authored the ‘Arab MiGs’ series of books which covered the history of the Arab air forces at war with Israel from 1955 to 1973. Furthermore, he has appeared in several TV-documentaries, and has published numerous articles in specialized press. This is his fourth instalment for Helion’s @War series with more planned in 2021.

Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Avonmore Books
MSRP
$36.95

The author spent his early years in the 1960s in New Guinea becoming fascinated with the many WWII aircraft wreck in the area. The book documents as accurately as possible the colors and markings of the various units in and around the Solomons and New Guinea in 1942-44. The book is broken down into 16 chapters along with an introduction, postscript, sources and acknowledgements, and index of names.

Each Sentai covered has its own chapter. Those discussed are the 1st Hiko Sentai, 11th Hiko Sentai, 13th Sentai, 24th Hiko Sentai, 33rd Hiko Sentai, 59th Hiko Sentai, 63rd Hiko Sentai, 68th Hiko Sentai, 77th Hiko Sentai, 78th Hiko Sentai and the 248th Hiko Sentai followed by a chapter on captured and restored aircraft during the war.

Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
Platz
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$30.00

The Fuji T-1A was the first Japanese-designed aircraft produced after World War II. Designed by Fuji Heavy Industries and powered by a Bristol Siddeley Orpheus turbojet engine, the prototype took to the air for the first time on January 1, 1958. 46 T-1As were built before the T-1B superseded it on the assembly line. They served as training aircraft until they were retired, with the final flight occurring on March 3, 2006.

This finely molded kit comes with 62 parts on three sprues, and two clear parts on a separate sprue. All the panel lines are engraved, and the fit is excellent. The kit comes with a photoetched (PE) painted fret for detailing the cockpit and the landing gear. While the instructions are in Japanese with only a descriptive paragraph in English, they are easy to follow.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$62.99

Gloster’s elegant Gladiator biplane was a staple of the British Air Force through the 1930’s and soldiered on through some of the tougher early campaigns of the Second World War in such places as Egypt, Libya and the Maltese Islands. Battling against often superior and newer opponents, it nonetheless distinguished itself before itself being replaced by newer, faster, and more heavily armed aircraft. It also made its presence known in a number of foreign services including Finland, Greece and the Netherlands.

ICM has released a number of variants of the Gladiator, including both Mk. I and Mk. II versions as well as the Sea Gladiator with arresting hook. All of these have proven to be thoroughly enjoyable builds and really do a fine job of representing this noble little aircraft in 1/32nd scale. This combo set features the Mk. I only and does not include parts for either the Mk. II or Sea Gladiator.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/18
MSRP
$130.00

Hobby Boss has released another large, 1/18th scale aircraft for your modeling enjoyment. Along with their 1/18th Me262, FW 190, Harrier and Huey we now have the F-86 F-30 'Sabre' to grace our ceilings. (About the only place to display this behemoth.)

Some of you may be having flashbacks but these kits seem to resemble those that were once available from Merit International and before that 21st Century Toys. The markings in this kit are similar to those offered by Merit International, so I'm going with the inference that this Sabre kit may once have been marketed by someone else.

Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$32.37

Used for air-to-air refueling, Lockheed’s KC-130 and HC-130N, HC-130P series of aircraft came with two air-to-air inflight refuel (IFR for short) pods, one on each outer wing just outboard of the flaps. Later, the HC-130H, MC-130E and MC-130H aircraft were modified with these refuel pods. This conversion set replicates those later modified aircraft and the current KC-130J and HC-130J IFR pods.

This resin modification kit comes with 6 parts, three for each IFR pod, including a small phot-etched fret for the tail end of each pod. My sample came with the sprue runner broken off the nose of one pod, the break being at the sprue-to-pod joint, requiring some sanding and putty to smooth it out.

The hardest part on this resin kit is the IFR pod tail to main body attachment. Careful sanding and squaring off will help immensely. I noticed that the tail section’s diameter was slightly larger than the main body’s diameter. Some putty and sanding took care of that.

Book Author(s)
Wojtek Matusiak
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$29.00

MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modelling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly”, a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor. From 1997 the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999, and since then we have built up a list of books on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history.