Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Book Author(s)
Kev Darling
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$18.75

This book covers the Vought OS2U Kingfisher. Number 111 in the very familiar Warpaint series by Guideline, this book follows their tried and true format. Beginning with the discussion of the prototype the book then moves into production models and service. All variants are covered including the XOS2U-4 and those made by the Naval Aircraft Factory.

Next, comes the extensive overseas service by the Kingfisher. Serving with Australia, throughout Latin America and Russia, brief coverage of the numbers involved and their use is given. This is followed by a detailed description of the aircraft, all its specifications, and fittings.

The largest section covers the use of the aircraft in war time service with the USN shipboard, USMC use and those based on seaplane bases and island use. The book concludes with a list of kits, decals, and aftermarket that are available and some cockpit detail photographs.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

The set is designed as drop in replacements for the kit landing gear parts for Hasegawa’s recent 1/72 scale Eurofighter/Typhoon. The set consists of 6 white metal parts, a nose gear strut, two main landing gear struts, the nose gear retraction strut and two retraction struts for the main landing gear legs.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

The Tamiya Heinkel He 219 1/48th scale kit has been around for a long time, and in my opinion remains a great kit. I built one several years and was quite pleased with the fit, detail and ease of assembly. I was fortunate enough to obtain a second kit in our local club raffle and began the search for all the "necessary" aftermarket accessories to meet my personal taste. Up to this time the only resin wheels available were the True Details wheel which I used on my first build. I found that CzechMaster offers a set of wheels, cockpit interior and canopy, which may be more than some modelers may need.
When the opportunity arose to review the Eduard version I quickly volunteered and was rewarded with an email indicating the set was mine.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$35.00

While many other kits of the F/A-18E have been released in 1/72, Academy’s recent release is a continuation of its recent focus on enticing new people to the hobby. It is not a snap-tight kit with all the negative connotations that often has, nor is it a “normal” model kit. Like several of its other releases last year and this year, this kit is for the most part a push-fit kit, however, it showcases some of the best model engineering I have seen as many joints where the parts fit together are exquisite and most of them vanish once assembled.

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

The triple ejector rack (TER) has been used for many years and is a weapons suspension unit that attached to an aircraft pylon and allows for three weapons to be carried on that pylon. The United States has used TERS since the Vietnam War and they still a common sight on US aircraft along with many NATO air forces. The bombs are attached to the TER by mounting lugs and are stabilized by adjustable sway braces on the TER.

Eduard has produced a resin set which includes part to make 5 TER’s in 1/32nd scale. The set is made of 50 parts of wonderfully cast resin and a small photoetch fret. Full color instructions and full markings are also included.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
Company
Kitty Hawk
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$69.99

Even though Kitty Hawk Model released its big and beautiful T-28B-D Trojan back in 2016, I was thrilled to see it come up on the review list recently. No doubt the company is preparing for the release of the new ‘C’ version (with a tail hook), due out any time now. Either way, the big 1/32nd scale T-28 is sure to please.

And pleasing it is – the smart, clean lines of the venerable trainer are beautifully captured in this multi-media kit. Among the options offered are two types of propeller blades, three types of wheels, and a huge variety of underwing stores should you decide to arm your Trojan. In addition, the engine bay can be exposed on one or both sides with cowl flaps that are detailed inside and out.

The thin, three-piece canopy is crystal clear and there are two large weights provided that are inserted just behind the engine firewall to (help) stand this big boy up on its tricycle landing gear.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$139.00

Hasegawa has re-released their -J Phantom II as a “Super Detail” edition with markings from VF-84 “Jolly Rogers”. That skull and bones sure look great on the rudder. And you are even provided with a skull and bones patch to add to your own jacket!

The box has 8 grey sprues, one clear sprue (for a total of 132 pieces) and a photoetch fret, white metal parts and plastic rubber tires, plus one short run of a plastic rubber “hose”, for detailing.

Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$60.00

Most modern model kits, although well detailed, could use some aftermarket parts to give the kit that extra “pop” of reality. Eduard has done such an accessory with their “Big Ed” kit for the 1/48 Great Wall Hobby T-33 kit. The “Big Ed” kit actually contains four items: a painted photoetched T-33 interior and exterior detail kit; painted photoetched steel seatbelts for the ejection seats; a photoetched set of landing flaps; and finally, a die-cut mask for the kit.

Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$30.00

Convair’s F-102A originated as a response to a requirement for a Mach 1+ interceptor fighter. Based upon the XF-92 research fighter, the F-102 became the U.S’. first delta-winged fighter. The triangular wing was named after the Greek letter D (delta), which it resembled in shape.

The kit comes molded in light grey plastic with a total of 97 parts with very little flash. The detail on the parts is quite good, with panel lines being represented by raised lines.

On the exhaust parts in Step 1, the afterburner and parts 86 and 87 should be sanded smooth before assembling the fuselage, as this area becomes almost impossible to work after assembly. There are ejector pin marks on the insides of both intake halves just inside of the air intake lips. As these will be seen from outside by looking down both intakes, I recommend sanding them smooth, along with painting the area silver or zinc chromate green.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$99.95

If you are not familiar with Eduard kits then you might be confused by the differences between the five different types of kits that Eduard produces. (Content paraphrases content on the Eduard Website)

Overtree kits are very basic in content, with no reduction in the quality of molding or fit. There are no instructions, no decals, and no photoetch or resin. For a rather low price one gets the parts trees and that’s it. We are talking a price in the range of $15.00 for some excellent parts sufficient to produce one model of high quality, but you will need to supply the instructions and decals from other sources. Overtree kits are not necessarily “easy” or “easier” to build than other Eduard editions of a particular subject, they simply contain the parts for one model and nothing else.