Platz has been a consistent supplier of new review kits to us, and I’m pleased to be able to review this recent release. Newly tooled and boxed, this kit is a joy to build with 4 great marking schemes available to share between the two complete models. Let’s dive in.
This is another great book in the Osprey Combat Aircraft Series. It covers the development of the 210 and the later 410 aircraft. These were designed to replace the classic Me 110 aircraft.
It was in 1937 that the idea and development started on a replacement for the Me 110 Zerstorer (Destroyer) which itself was just entering service. The new design would have to full fill the role of Destroyer and dive bomber.
The development stages and aircraft variations are very well done including all issues with the Me 210 which was not the success Messerschmitt was hoping for. This was due to a lack of sufficient flight-testing, the Me 210 suffered from bad reputation in respect to its flight characteristics and weak undercarriage. Every detail and stages are covered in great depth. What I found very interesting is the amount of information from the different issues and production locations etc.
Caracal Models provided these great decals for the Valom 1/48 Kit release of the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft.
Included is
The decals are of the best quality and printed by Microscale for Caracal Models.
The decal sheet provide decals for four different Markings options.
The instruction sheet is well detailed and includes color details.
The decals are awesome and will add a lot to the Valom Kit which I have now ordered to allow me to use these in the future. I will do the Red Devils aircraft as I have seen this one in action a few times in the past.
Eduard Models has released a PE set to spruce up your Revell Fw-190A-8.
Typical of the Zoom line, this set consists of one fret, focused on the instrument panel and a few other cockpit details.
The instrument panel fret is pre-painted and would look very good with an open canopy. It will certainly enhance the looks of your Fw-190. The fret also includes all kind of switches, levers, oxygen regulator and rudder pedals.
Please note that this set does not include seatbelts. You can get them on the sets 33227 and 33179 (steel version, which are very nice to work with).
Given the small size of some of the parts, I will recommend this kit to modelers of all levels except the most novice. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank Eduard Models and IPMS/USA for the review sample.
Based off of the 2018 tooling of the Fi-103, Special Hobby has recently released another kit with some welcome extras to allow the builder to display the V-1 on its handling dolly. This configuration would make for a really cool little vignette or diorama if the builder so desired. Rest assured, the kit can also be built in the flight configuration as well. J
Special Hobby has added 12 additional resin parts along with a few photoetch details. The resin parts are used to build the exposed Argus Pulsejet engine as well as one of three options for the nose of the airframe. The three nose options include a ground cover that was used to protect the nose of the aircraft, the normal nose, or what I believe to be some sort of guidance or detonation control or possibly other instrumentation mounted in the nose. As I planned to have the Fi-103 on the ground dolly I thought the cover made the most sense.
The Fuji Heavy Industries T-1 series of aircraft was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Japan following World War II. The T-1B has a Japanese-designed and built engine, which is the only change from its predecessor, the T-1A. Externally, there is no difference between the two models. The T-1A first flew on January 19th, 1958. A total of 66 aircraft (of both types) were produced, and the type was retired in March of 2006.
Platz’s T-1B kit faithfully reproduces Fuji’s T-1B and is molded in light grey plastic. There was no flash on my sample, and the panel lines are crisp and recessed into the plastic. One downfall of the kit is the instructions, which are in Japanese save for the aircraft information and step titles. However, you can easily follow them with the clear assembly drawings.
Brengun has released a few different kits of the OKB Chelomey 16KhA Priboy in several scales. This is the latest version which is in 1/72 scale. This was a Winged missile based on the V-1 German flying bomb. Russia build various designs based on the V-1 from 1945. In 1947 the Russian government ordered this version to be used as air launched missiles and as target drones.
In the box is:
The sprue is well molded with very little flash and great detail.
First is the construction of the pulse engines, these did not align very well.
The next stage is the fuselage joins need a little filing and you need to be careful lining it up correctly as there are no alignment pins.
Eduard continues to expand its Brassin line, this time with the release of the Shafrir 2 missile in 1/48 scale. These Israeli-built missiles have seen widespread service with the IDF, plus it has been exported to many countries in Latin America (I know of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and perhaps other countries as well).
I have to say that I like the new packaging of the Brassin detail sets. Now they are released in a clear plastic hard blister instead of a thin cardboard box. This new packaging protects delicate resin parts from being bent in transport.
This set provides you with two missile bodies, 8 fins, 2 pylon racks, clear resin for the IR sensor plus resin and photoetch parts for the sensor cover. Also a small decal sheet is provided.
The Northrop F-5 was designed by Edgar Schmued, who had previously been at North American, and was responsible for the P-51 and F-86. The idea for the F-5 was to produce a lighter, less expensive and more maneuverable fighter, going against the 1960s trend of bigger, heavier fighters. The F-5 has been successful, used by more than 20 foreign operators, as well as the US Navy, as an F-5N aggressor aircraft.
Platz produces model kits, but they also sell a large number of “foreign” kits, ie not from Japan in their store. The web site says this kit is produced by Platz. The box says F Toys/Platz.
You get two aircraft in the box, and decals for 3 planes.
Iliad Designs is a company based in Ottawa Canada. They offer decals, aircraft color charts, and publications. This time around we’ll take a look at their decal sheet for the B-25B, C, and D models. There are five different aircraft represented on this sheet. My modification comments are based on using the Airfix B-25 (kit # A06015). See my separate review of that kit on this site.
