Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Werners Wings
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.00

Werner’s Wings have been known for resin aftermarket and decals for helicopters. It is nice to see some fixed wing offerings coming out. The first such centers around Vietnam air ace Steve Ritchie and covers aircraft he flew during his MiG kills as well as planes flown by a few other noted pilots from this conflict. The sheet is also available in 1/48th scale and was previously reviewed and since this sheet covers the exact same aircraft with the same instructions there really isn’t anything more for me to add.

What, you want more? OK.

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Furball Aero-Design
MSRP
$19.99

About the Company

Founded in January 2012, Furball Aero-Design's goal is to provide the enthusiast/ modeler with most accurate, well researched, and interesting decal sets available on the market. Their decal sets will always be jammed packed with multiple markings options and provide the modeler with the best value bar none. Each decal set is printed to the highest quality standards by the Hobby Industry's leading decal printer, Cartograf of Italy.

What’s on the Sheet?

This Particular sheet covers 17 aircraft from 3(USA, Norway, Japan) of the current 12 countries involved or part of the FMS sales.

The aircraft covered are as followed:

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32

About the Company

AOA is a newer decal company and they are a purpose driven. AOA’s goal was to fill the gap of a lack of decals for Marine and Navy aircraft on the aftermarket scene and boy what a way to make an entrance by going to the 1/32 Trumpeter A-6/A-6E Tram models. For those of you looking for large scale Navy Markings keep AoA on your priority list.

What’s on the Sheet?

This Particular sheet covers four USN Tram intruders from the Cold war through Desert Storm.

The aircraft covered are as followed:

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$24.50

About the Company

AOA is a newer decal company and they are a purpose driven. AOA’s goal was to fill the gap of a lack of decals for Vietnam era – Desert Storm era aircraft on the aftermarket scene and boy what a way to make an entrance by going to the 1/32 Trumpeter A-6/A-6E Tram models. For those of you looking for new markings for USAF/USN/Marine aircraft in all 3 scales, they should be added to your list.

What’s on the Sheet?

This Particular sheet covers 6 including the ill-fated 1967 Forrestal flight deck explosion and fire disaster and their more well-known markings from the 1970s USN Tram intruders from the Vietnam war through the Cold War era.

The aircraft covered are as followed:

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.95

This set is part of Eduard’s growing line of Steel seat belts sets. The set consists of 2 complete shoulder harness sets and 4 sets of lap belts for Eduard’s outstanding Spitfire Mk. IX kit. The set will particularly useful for those modelers who did not spring for the ProfilePack or Royal Class kits of the Mk. IX. I also suspect that with a little work or ingenuity, the set can be made to work with other manufacturer’s Mk. IX kits such as Airfix or Hasegawa.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

The GBU-11 is a 3000-lb. laser guided bomb primarily used in the Vietnam era made by adding laser guidance and fins to a M118E1 bomb. Eduard has now given us an option of attaching this bomb to all the wonderful new 1/48th scale Phantoms among others.

Eduard’s set consists of enough parts and markings to make two of the large bombs. The set includes two tail units, two main bodies and a block of two different types seeker heads. The parts are cast in Eduard’s dark gray resin and are perfect. The bomb fins are super thin so be careful of them. Preparation is simple. Sand the main body and tail unit casting blocks off and join them. I used a little putty due to my sanding. I smoothed it with lacquer thinner. Pick which seeker head you need and cut it free from the casting block. Then sand the back smooth. Lastly, drill a hole into the center and attach to the rest of the bomb.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Avantgarde Model Kits
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.95

Avantgarde Model Kits (AMK) of Macau has been manufacturing some wonderfully detailed and unique aircraft models since 2003. The level of detail and finesse in their moldings is on par with those of Hasegawa and WingNut Wings kits. They have released several 1/48th scale aircraft models including the MiG-31, the Fouga CM 170 Magister, and a IAI Kfir C2/C7. One of their recent offerings, and subject of this missive, is a 1/72nd scale version of the IAI Kfir C2/C7.

The IAI Kfir is an is an Israeli-built all-weather, multirole combat aircraft based on a modified French Dassault Mirage 5 airframe, with Israeli avionics and an Israeli-built version of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine. The Kfir has been deployed by the IAI, Ecuadorian, and Columbian governments.

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

This is the latest installment in the Polish Wings series. I was not able to locate any information on author Steve Brooking other than references to this current tome. Wojtek Matusiak lives in Warsaw, Poland. He is a well-known Polish aviation history author. He is a specialist on the Spitfire and has published both in English and Polish. He has authored, or co-authored the following books: Classic Warbirds 11: Merlin PR Spitfires In Detail (2009); Polish Wings 6: Supermarine Spitfire I/II (2007); Polish Wings 13: Spitfire IX (2011); Polish Wings 15: Spitfire IX 1944-1946 (2012); Polish Wings 16: Spitfire XVI (2013); Polish Wings 21: MiG-29 ‘‘Kościuszko Squadron’ Commemorative Schemes (2016).

Book Author(s)
Mick Davis, Managing Editor
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$36.00

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International – Winter 2017 Vol 48/4 , features a postcard by G. Hautot showing the Michelin Man, waving a laurel victory wreath at an aerial armada, with the caption, “Our future is in the air.” The postcard was a promotion for the concept of strategic bombing, a “cause” advocated by the Michelin brothers, Andre and Edouard. The year was 1912 and the Michelins organized a series of aviation competitions which included the accurate dropping of bombs. An interesting point to note is that the in the Journal notes about the cover, the Michelin Man is named, that name being, “Bibendum”, a fact of which I nave been unaware since early childhood. Five other postcards in the same series as the that found on the cover of the Journal, appear on the back cover.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.95

Eduard has re-released its fantastic Spitfire Mk.IXc early version in the Profipack version. When I say fantastic I really mean it. You get 6 sprues (one clear), a set of masks for the clear parts, a fret of prepainted photoetch and decals to finish your airplane with 6 different options (2 in North Africa colors, 4 in European colors) and a small decal sheet with stencils.

Like most airplane models, construction starts with the cockpit. Please note that I used the included Eduard photoetch fret to enhance the cockpit looks. The original cockpit is nicely detailed, with a combination of raised and recessed details, plus decals for the instrument panel, if you choose to go that route. Note: there are no decal seatbelts in this boxing. Actually the in-box decals for the IP –and the IP itself- look so good that I am sure I will use them to improve others kits I have in my stash.