Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Book Author(s)
Rock Roszak
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$25.99

Detail & Scale’s Color & Markings first series was launched in 1984 with Volume 1 focusing on the Convair’s F-106 Delta Dart. Authored by Bert Kinzey and published by Tab Books [ISBN-13 978-0816845255], the first volume was largely in black and white with 16 pages of color. Forty years later, this new publication, Colors & Markings of the F-106 Delta Dart, significantly revises and expands the original coverage of the “Ultimate Interceptor” and the “World’s Fastest Single-Engine Jet Aircraft”. Authored and illustrated byColonel Richard S. “Rock” Roszak, Volume of 8 of the new series of Colors & Markings is all in color and double the size:64 pages vs. 128 pages. This English edition was released on November 14, 2024, and is available in soft square bound format [8.5” x 11.0”] or in digital format. The ISBN-13 is 979- 8-344014579.

Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
AZ Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.75

Background: Before the outbreak of the Second World War, the German navy (Kriegsmarine)became fascinated with the notion of aircraft carrier use. The Germans started the construction of Graf Zeppelin carrier for the navy. They decided to use Messerschmitt Bf 109T fighters and Ju 87dive bombers with the carriers. The suffix 'T' standsfor ‘Träger’(a carrier) in German. An order for building 70 T-1 fighters (with added tail-hook, catapult fittings, and increased wingspan) was placed with the manufacturers, but after 7 T-1s were built, the carrier project was canceled and the remaining 63 of the 70 T-1s were built asT-2s without the carrier equipment. The performance of the T-2 was closely comparable to the E-4/N which had shorter takeoff and landing capabilities. The T-2 fighters were deployed in Norway. Bf 109T-2s remained in operation until 1944 with some fighter planes used in training units in Germany.

Book Author(s)
Adrian M. Balch
Review Author
Michael Furry
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$21.00

“The Spy Who Loved Me”. What does a classic James Bond film have to do with the Hunting-Percival Pembroke, Prince, and Sea Prince? The Pembroke was used as a spy plane.

The latest title in the Warpaint Series focuses on the Pembroke, Prince, and Sea Prince and provides a thorough look at this British, high-wing utility aircraft. The text is organized by headings, starting with a brief history of Hunting-Percival and then moving into the development of each type, foreign users, demobilized aircraft and aircraft for sale, and finally a survivors listing. Each section provides an in-depth look at each variant as well as the units that operated each type.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$9.16

For those of us who model aircraft in the one true scale of 1/144, it is no secret that some details, particularly when it comes to cockpits, can be nonexistent at this scale. Most are often just a space with the occasional seat and maybe a control column included with the kit. Often that cockpit area isn't even there and is 'blank over' by the manufacturer. Just part and parcel for this scale.

Brengun has and continues to produce some lovely small-scale(144th) aircraft kits. They have also been in the habit of producing some after-market photo-etched/resin detail kits to address the lack of detail in those kits. Such is the case with the model accessories set (#144167) for their Me-309 aircraft kit(s).

The model kits are the Me-309V1/V4 (#144015) and the Me-309V4 (#144014), both in resin. These are neat, well-molded kits for an aircraft that has been largely overlooked by other mainstream manufacturers.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.99

I have a Flyhawk SBD in the stash and it’s near the top of my build list but for the moment is on hold. I thought this wonderful panel replacement from Yahu Models would fit the bill. The panel replacement set comes with photoetch replacement for the pilot’s instrument panel and what I believe is an accessory for the cockpit. Yahu doesn’t indicate where it is used.

Assembly is straightforward. Carefully remove the photoetch parts with a sharp hobby blade on a firm hard surface to avoid bending the metal parts. Once removed, the parts are ready to rock in the cockpit.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.99

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.

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Karnas, Karolina Holda
Review Author
Greg Kittinger
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.99

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.

Review Author
Doug Hamilton
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$50.20

Manufactured in the Czech Republic Special Hobby produces a number of high-quality scale model kits. This one is in 1/48 scale of the Israeli SMB-2 Sa’ar (Storm in Hebrew) Super Mystere used by the IDF seeing action in the 1973 Yom Kippur conflict. Originally produced by Dussault, and upgraded to carry the Pratt and Whitney J 52 engine that also powered the A-4 Skyhawk. This extended the already worn-out airframes, increasing their performance and survivability in the process. They were retired from front line service in 1973.