Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
New Ware
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$25.95

NWAM0360: Windows, Wheels, and Landing Lights: $6.03 (140 Czech Koruna as of 16 Aug 2019)

NWAM0361: RAM panels: $17.21 (400 Czech Koruna as of 16 Aug 2019)

Every once in a while this reviewer makes a serious mistake…due to whatever reason. In this case I fell into the trap of writing a review for a company product (New Ware, in this case) and crediting a different company ( DN Models, who I have been using frequently on other projects).

No excuse for this and my sincere apologies for both companies.

Review Author
Dan Brown
Published on
Company
Kinetic Model Kits
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$75.00

The CF-188A Hornet, more commonly known as the CF-18, is a multi-role fighter that first flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1977. It was chosen as a replacement for the CF-101 Voodoo and CF-104 Starfighter. The CF-188s were upgraded through two incremental Modernization Programs, with a new radar and avionics from the F/A-18C/D as well as a new targeting pod. This new kit from Kinetic is the latest special edition of the CF-188 Hornet and it covers the commemorative scheme for 20 years of service with the RCAF.

Review Author
James Binder
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$47.99

Special Hobby has issued a new release in their line of B-18 Bolos. This one is the ASW edition with radar nose and “mad” boom on the tail. It is a great addition to the B-18 series and a unique addition to any ones collection of large twin engine aircraft in 1/72 scale

Overview

This kit is the fourth in the B-18 Bolo series and is one of the more unique variants of this obscure aircraft. The kit is typical of Special Hobby in that it is a mix of styrene, photo etch, and resin parts and should still be considered “short run” so dry fitting and some slightly more advanced modeling techniques will be needed.

Construction

Before starting I dipped all the clear parts for this build in “future” floor polish. As there are a lot of windows and clear parts now is the best time as they are used throughout the build.

Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$29.10

History

The Breguet 690 series resulted from a French Air Ministry competition for a heavy twin-engine fighter. Similar aircraft were being developed in Germany – the Messerschmidt Bf-110 and in Holland – the Fokker G.1. The Br.693 was the most successful of the 690 series designs. Powered by the Gnome-Rhone 14M engine, over 200 were produced and in service against German forces. These ground-attack fighters were loved by their crews but many were lost to anti-aircraft fire and Luftwaffe fighters during the furious battles in May and June 1940.

Armament of the Br.693 consisted of six internally stored 50 kg bombs, a 20-mm fixed forward firing cannon and four 7.5-mm machine guns. Three of the machine guns were fixed and one was on a flexible rear firing mount. The Br.693 was a good looking, reasonable performing twin engine ground attack fighter but it was outnumbered and overwhelmed by the Luftwaffe.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$16.95

The AIM-4D was the first operational guided missile in the USAF and entered service in 1956. Its limited maneuverability and non-proximity fuse made it ineffective against fast turning fighters and it saw limited duty due to those shortcomings. Eduard has released an excellent multimedia kit of these missiles in their Brassin line in 1/32nd scale. Inside the package, there are parts for four complete missiles. There are four well cast missiles bodies, four seeker head covers, four clear lenses and a small fret of PE for detailing the engine section. There is also a nice set of markings for the one-color scheme.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.95

Eduard’s latest addition to the Brassin line of resin aftermarket pieces for 1/32 scale jet aircraft is a set of two AIM-120C AMRAAM medium-range missile. The C version of this missile started making operational use in 1996. That means this missile is appropriate for jets past 1996. It featured extended range and homing improvements over the A/B version. Each box contains parts for two missiles with the option of making a training or tactical version. Inside the package, you’ll find 26 pieces of perfectly cast resin with options of two different heads and two different motor sections. There are also decals included for both versions.

So, first decision- tactical or training. Use the following parts for the one you choose:

Book Author(s)
Yefim Gordon & Dmitry Komissarov
Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Crecy Publishing, Ltd.
MSRP
$64.95

I would like to thank Specialty Press for this review sample

This is a revised and expanded edition of Yefim Gordon’s original book on the Su-27 published in 2007. I thought the original publication was a large 544 pages. This book in comparison is 720 pages, which gives you an idea of how much additional material has been added. It is an impressively comprehensive tome on the Su-27 family and renders the other previous book obsolete.

The layout was in Moscow by Polygon Press; it was printed in Bulgaria by Multi-print; Published in England by Crecy; and Published in the U.S. by Specialty Press. In addition to being an international effort, this book is heavy! Imagine my surprise when I went to lift the box at my doorstep. A hard cover edition, printed on clay paper, and in all color, his book falls into the category of an unabridged Webster’s or Oxford English Dictionary. It really needs its own maple book stand on a carousel in your library.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.95

EVEN more THANKS VERY MUCH to our friends at Eduard in Czechoslovakia!, and Phil and John in the specialized shipping to reviewer’s business.

This review is uber simple without a tip requirement for the driver. It’s the basic stencils from the Tempest Profipak kit decal sheet, to which you can apply to the marking you want from the kit OR some other source. It’s all there… and the only decals I didn’t use were those specific to certain kit markings; like the door outline in red with a lot of instructions on how to open it, the yellow “cut here on the canopy, and myriad two-dot decals to indicate airframe bolts with specialty metal composition.

I did not have time or vision to put the dots on. Sorry.

Book Author(s)
Kev Darling
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$25.00

Kev Darling is an aviation historian, writer, and publisher based in South Wales. He served in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer for nearly 30 years, from June 1973 to March 2003. He has written at least 30 books since 1987, working in the RAF Illustrated series, Crowood Aviation series, Crowood Combat Legend series, Specialty Press' WarbirdTech series, as well as Guideline's Warpaint series.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.00

Eduard’s latest addition to the Brassin line of resin aftermarket pieces for 1/32 scale jet aircraft is a set of two AIM-120A/B AMRAAM medium range missile. Each box contains parts for two missiles with the option of making a training or tactical version. Inside the package, you’ll find 26 pieces of perfectly cast resin with options of two different heads and two different motor sections. There are also decals included for both versions.

So, first decision: tactical or trainings. Use the following parts for the one you choose: