I have a Hasegawa TBF in the stash and it’s near the top of my build list and I thought this wonderful panel replacement from Yahu Models would fit the bill. The panel replacement set comes with photo etch replacement for the pilot’s instrument panel and side controls (Right).

Assembly is straightforward. Carefully remove the photo etch parts with a sharp hobby blade on a firm hard surface so as to avoid bending the metal parts. Only the front panel requires gluing, as the lower center and side photo etch parts need only to be folded.

Sadly, I don’t have the Sword Avenger but I do have access to photos of the kit contents. Sword doesn’t provide decals for the instrument panel, but the panel has raised detail. The Hasegawa kit provides decals for the instrument panel, but nothing like the detail of the Yahu instrument panel. For a very little investment you can add an amazing amount of detail to the drab cockpits of the Sword & Hasegawa kits.

I’m a big fan of the Bf 109, and have about 50 kits in my stash and a handful already built, and am always on the lookout for a useful resource, especially for color schemes and markings. This book consists of 16 pages and features detailed scale plans in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales. Those plans show panel line and rivet detail profiles for the F-4, F-2/B, F-4/B, F-4 /R/Trop, F-4/R-1, and the F-6/U-1 in 1/72 scale, and all but the F-6 in 1/48 scale. There is also a plan view of one each in1/72 and 1/48 scale. I’m a huge fan of good, clear rivet detail plans, as I build only 1/72 scale and add rivets to most of the models I build.

When the Italian Italeri company brought their injection molded 1/32 scale Macchi MC.202 to the market, several other manufactures of accessories rushed to produce alternate parts for it, such as resin wheels or metal instrument panels. Yahu Models produced their 1/32 scale instrument panel for the Italeri Macchi MC.202 in 1/32 scale at the end of 2023 as an alternative to the kit’s instrument panel.

This product comes in a small clear plastic bag and contains three elements: a photo etched fret for the two smaller control panel raised panels, the main brass instrument panel and a clear sheet for one of the instrument faces. There is a simple color drawing on the cardboard insert showing how to assemble the provided elements.

Eduard continues to expand its P-51 Mustang line, this time releasing the P-51B “Birdcage” in the Profipack box. In the box you get 7 plastic sprues (one clear), canopy masks, PE fret and a set of decal sheets with 6 possible camouflages, three of them in natural metal finish and 3 on camouflage finish of Olive Drab and Neutral Grey. All the options are in American markings.

Early in the construction phase you need to decide which version of the model you are going to build, as there are differences in the equipment located behind the pilot seat. To be honest, if you change your mind after you assembled the cockpit, it will be hard to tell you have the “wrong” equipment behind the pilot seat.

I wish to express extreme gratitude to Yahu models for providing IPMS/USA with this release. Yahu has a history (since 2013!) of providing exceptional aftermarket Instrument panels at a reasonable price, and we appreciate their support!

Designed for ICM’s 1/48 DO-217N-1 model, Yahu’s instrument panel and associated radio tuning faces make an excellent upgrade for a world-class model. I had not built any of ICM’s Dorniers until this set showed up, and the fact everything was a perfect fit into the existing kit parts made the experience even more pleasurable.

Yahu’s set adds the additional bits required for an excellent upgrade out of the package. Yahu, unlike other companies, assembles their instrument panels for the modeler. Not that I don’t mind modeling using PE, but Yahu’s products are ALL this way (I’ve used others) and have been singularly impressed with the final product.