Book Author(s)
John Dibbs, Kent Ramsey, Robert "Cricket" Renner
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$35.00
Bios from Osprey:
Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.95
This is a photoetch exterior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F. This set consists of one photoetch sheet and adds detail to mainly the wings.
In the packet is
- 1 photoetch sheet
- 1 instruction sheet
Summary
This is a nice simple set for adding additional detail to the wings mainly and some to the fuselage. The parts are very easy to install and add details not included in the kit.
Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95
Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced white metal replacement landing gear for the recently issued Italeri H-21 “Flying Banana” kit. I have reviewed several of these sets, and purchased a few more on my own, because in all cases they have been superior to the kit items. The white metal gear typically provides a much greater weight tolerance than kit-supplied plastic parts.
These white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kits’ plastic parts. The set includes main gear and nose gear struts and supporting hardware. Detailing has been improved over the kit parts (mold lines removed, etc.). The supplied items also include all main and nose gear braces, the nose gear oleo scissor assembly, landing lights and a pitot replacement.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$29.95
If you prefer the added level of detail provided by aftermarket resin items, Eduard has recently released a set that you will love for arming your F-14A Tomcat. Consisting of the AIM-9G/H Sidewinder, AIM-7E Sparrow, and AIM-54A Phoenix, this Big Sin set provides four of each missile in glorious resin detail. I would highly recommend the set, and if you have some experience fitting resin parts, and working with fine decals, you should have no problem building and marking these missiles for your Tomcat.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$29.95
The weekend edition of Eduard’s Bf-109s are for those that don’t want to spend a bunch on their kits. Eduard has started to include markings for two aircraft per weekend edition. This particular release covers the Bf-109G-6 manufactured by Erla. The two aircraft are flown by Hptm. Heinrich Ehrler or Hptm. Gerhard Barkhorn. Erla G-6 are unique in a few ways. The first is that they typically had the extra bulge on the right engine cowling, typical of the G-5 or G-14 variants. Another difference is the ‘sawtooth’ camouflage pattern on the wings.
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$41.95
Italeri has put together a set of models to commemorate the anniversary of the Gulf War. The set includes tanks and helicopters from the United States and Iraq. Iraq is represented by the T-62 main battle tank and the Hind-D MI-25 helicopter, while the U.S. is represented by the M-1A1 main battle tank and the Cobra AH-1W helicopter.
Since this is a large box of models, Jim Pearsall asked me if I would like to build the Helos from the set. I was glad to accept because both of these models are on my “Models I want to build list”.
The MI-25 HIND-D Helicopter
The MI-25 is an export variation of the Soviet MI-24 and is denoted with a letter suffix of “HIND-D”. It is a large helicopter that is used as a gunship/attack helicopter. It is also utilized as a troop transport that can carry 8 passengers. It is armed with a turret mounted 12.7 mm gatling type machine gun, 57 mm rockets, and AT-2C/SWATTER ATGMS.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95
The Weekend Editions and the Overtree editions of Eduard’s kits are really good value for the money. One thing that I’d like to add to mine is the photo etch instrument panel and some other bits and bobs. Lucky for me Eduard answers those prayers, sort of.
If you’ve never heard of the LEPT sets they are smaller pre-painted photo etch frets and have what I think are the ‘essential’ photo etch items. They are only available through the Eduard website. The reason I said sort of earlier is that these sets are typically only available for a limited time to accompany the Overtree kits when they are released. After that you have to buy the complete PE set for the kit, which while having more items, may contain things that you may not want to use. Then of course you may want to, but this fret is the essential items and included in those full PE sets.
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$36.00
The Curtis SB2C Helldiver was produced to replace the “Slow But Deadly” Dauntless with a larger, faster aircraft. Unfortunately, the plane suffered from many handling issues and a shorter range leading to the nickname “The Beast” being applied by its crews. The Helldiver served aboard carriers for the last 2 years of the war including participating in Operation Iceberg, the Battle for Okinawa.
Academy’s latest Special Edition version includes markings for three aircraft that participated in this operation. A tri-colored plane from VB-3 off the USS Yorktown and two gloss blue aircraft, one from VB-16 off the USS Randolph and the other from VB-84 operating from the USS Bunker Hill.
The kit contains 84 grey parts molded on two sprues, 6 clear parts and 28 photo etched parts for the dive brakes. The molding is very nice with decent panel lines and good interior detail for the cockpits, gear wells, and bomb bay.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95
This is the Overtrees edition of the excellent new SE.5a kit from Edward, who continue to set the standard for the finest in model kits. An Overtrees edition is the ‘bare-bones’ of the SE.5a kit, including just the plastic sprues, nothing else. No instructions, no decals, no photoetch, masks, etc. The box doesn’t even include any artwork!
This kit includes two gray plastic sprues and a clear plastic sprue. Instructions are not included with the Overtrees edition but can be downloaded from the Eduard website at this link.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$29.95
This is a photoetch waist section set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F Kit number 01E04a. This set with two photoetch sheets one of which is colored. These sheets add a lot of detail to the waist gunner’s area of the fuselage in the B-17. These parts really add some great additional details to a great kit.
In the packet is:
- 1 colored photoetch sheet
- 1 photoetch sheet
- 1 instruction sheet
Summary
This is another wonderful set for a kit that is great to begin with; these parts are an great details.
I did find one minor issue with the set - the parts 40, 8a, 8b, 11 and 66 show them being a symmetrical assembly but in fact there is only one location.
Please note that the gun barrels shown are from another aftermarket set I had.