Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
X Scale
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$49.99

X Scale's latest release in their Airliner range is the classic B707-124. Included in the kit:

  • Seven grey Sprues
  • One Clear Sprue
  • One Decal sheet
  • One Mask set
  • One Instruction guide

The sprue quality is great with this kit as it’s a new tool, with crisp and detailed molding.

The assembly is quick and easy.

I will not write about each stage. Instead, here are just a few points and comments for when you build this great kit

The cockpit is the first assembly. The only points I had here were. 1- a decal for the instrument panel would have been nice. 2. There are two holes in the cockpit floor for the control columns but done were included in the kit (I scratch built mine)

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.99

Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a 1/32nd scale instrument panel for the D3A1 Val (late) that will fit the Infinity Models kit (INF 3206).

In the Package

The instrument panel detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with two photoetched frets. Some of the instrument panels are already assembled. The parts come packaged in an individual Ziploc bag and cardboard backing, which has instructions printed on it.

Conclusions

Overall, this is a very nice detail set to upgrade your D3A1 Val instrument panel. The close-up picture shows off the minute detail printed on the PE parts, and the fidelity at such a small size is amazing.

To install this set will require an adhesive like Superglue (CA) or 2-part epoxy (or similar). Therefore, I would recommend this to folks who are comfortable with handling this type of bonding agent.

Review Author
Chris Martin
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$107.00

Summary

ICM continues their run of “dioramas in a box,” this time by kitting the kits as one; the He‑111H-3 WWII German Bomber (Kit 48261). Luftwaffe airfield equipment (Kit 48409), and German Luftwaffe ground personnel (1939-1945) (Kit 48229).

Background

The He-111 was initially designed as a fast airliner. But the secret Luftwaffe wanted an aircraft that could also be converted to a bomber with minimal adaptation. The first He-111 flew in February 1935. The first incarnations of the He-111 looked nothing like what became an infamous bomber of the Blitz. The He-111A through 111F all had a normal nose and cockpit configuration. Not until the introduction in 1938 of the He-111P did the full glass nose appear.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

Frenchman Sylvain Hautier founded Syhart Decals (SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier) , ART (design)) in 2006 with the aim of recreating in model form the special aircraft paint schemes that have been developed to celebrate anniversaries, participate in Tiger Meets, and for last flights.

No 1 Squadron of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was formed in 1916 at Point-Cook (Victoria) In 2010, the 1 Squadron was converted to F/A-18F Super Hornet. The squadron attained full Operational Capability with Super Hornet at the end of 2012.

For the Centenary of 1 Squadron in 2016, one of these Super-Hornets, A44-210, received a special paint scheme, the tails being painted black with yellow silhouettes of former aircraft types flown by the squadrons on the inner sides, while the outer sides are adorned with the kookaburra insignia of the squadron.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.00

Frenchman Sylvain Hautier founded Syhart Decals (SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier) , ART (design)) in 2006 with the aim of recreating in model form the special aircraft paint schemes that have been developed to celebrate anniversaries, participate in Tiger Meets, and for last flights. He also issues decals for regular schemes for lesser-known and unusual air forces for kits that offer limited decal options.

An example is the 1/72 Rafale C, with the kit issued by Revell offering limited choices. Sylvain’s answer has been to release a number of decal sheets for various air forces.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Frenchman Sylvain Hautier founded Syhart Decals (SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier) , ART (design)) in 2006 with the aim of recreating in model form the special aircraft paint schemes that have been developed to celebrate anniversaries, participate in Tiger Meets, and for last flights.

Sheet 48-069 is titled F/A-18C Hornet J-5011 "Tigermeet 2011" Staffel 11 - Swiss Air Force, which was painted in this scheme for the 50th Anniversary of NATO Tigermeet which took place in Cambrai, France. The pack contains two decal sheets, one with all the special Tiger markings and the other with the rest of the aircraft’s national markings and stenciling, and a full-colour instruction booklet.

Book Author(s)
Mike Guardia
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Magnum Books
MSRP
$21.95

Mike Guardia is an internationally recognized author and military historian. A veteran of the United States Army, he served six years on active duty as an Armor Officer. He is the author of the widely acclaimed HAL MOORE: A SOLDIER ONCE...AND ALWAYS, the first-ever biography chronicling the life of LTG Harold G. Moore, whose battlefield leadership was popularized by the film WE WERE SOLDIERS, starring Mel Gibson. He has twice been nominated for the Army Historical Foundation's Distinguished Book Award and was named Author of the Year in 2021 by the Military Writers Society of America. As a speaker, he hosts the lecture series HAL MOORE: LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP, which is available for presentation at schools, businesses, and civic organizations worldwide. In 2022, he appeared in Season 1 of the History Channel series, I WAS THERE, as a featured historian in the episodes on the Johnstown Flood of 1889; the Chernobyl Disaster; the Battle of Stalingrad; and the Oklahoma City Bombing.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$25.00

ICM continues to be prolific with their production of both model kits and paint sets. This Acrylic Paint Set for WWII US Naval Aviation continues their trend, and it consists of six 12ml, wide-mouthed, paint bottles. The packaging includes a picture of a Douglas SBD (Scout Bomber Douglas) Dauntless in an early war scheme of pale blue over light gray two-tone scheme on the front. The back shows both the SBD Dauntless and a Grumman TBF-1C Avenger in Measure 22 (light gray over white, primarily used in the Atlantic Theater during 1943-1944), with the color call-outs noted. These paints are designed to be used on early World War II US Naval aircraft. The paint colors include the following:

  • Camouflage Green (No. 1071)
  • Pale Blue (No. 1074)
  • Sky Grey (No. 1033)
  • Neutral Grey (No. 1036)
  • White Grey (No. 1029)
  • Olive Green (No. 1068)

Painting instructions are on the side of the packaging, stating as follows:

Review Author
Chris Vandegrift
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.16

It’s really unique to open these up and see the dark blue and white background to the decal sheet. It sets the individual decals off and honestly, I think it makes the numbers easier to read. When you look at the individual decals, what caught my eye right off the bat was how well the placards look. The lettering and lines have a bright silver metallic look to them that I don’t see in other decals. Printing on the smaller warning decals is crisp and readable at what looks like size 2 font. The registration on all the colors on my sheet looks perfect, no issues. The decals overall are very, very thin. You can hardly feel them on the sheet. When applying them be careful not to let them curl over on themselves. Apply right off the sheet to the aircraft, if possible. Another thing that stands out is how bold the red and the blue are. They really have good solid colors on the decal. The back page of the instructions has actual photographic references for locating the gear markings.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

Iliad Design has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the Korean War MiG-15s. This is an improved version of the decals versus their original set of MiG-15s with an additional new scheme and an expanded set of instructions.

This 1/48th scale decal sheet covers eight schemes: