Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Omask
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.96

I had never heard of this company before but they were included in a recent Eduard P-51B kit. These are plugs of flexible EVA foam that you just slide into the opening of the wheel well prior to painting the outside color. The foam can be a number of colors. The color does not really matter, they work regardless of foam color.

To say I was skeptical would be an understatement. I tried a set recently on my two models and found them to be excellent. They are push fit into the opening and are reusable. So, if you build multiple kits of the same airplane you’ll find these little plugs to be an investment that will save you lots of masking time.

This particular set is designed for the Eduard FW-190A-5 and A-6 kits, kit # 82143, 82149, 82148 although I can’t see why they wouldn’t fit the A-7, A-8 and possibly the D-9. They are all the same shape of wheel well opening.

Book Author(s)
Author: Jakub Fojtik Ph. D
Illustraited by: By Jakub Fojtik
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$34.00

Guideline Publications Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modeling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas. This English language book, Mil Mi-4 Hound, is authored by Jakub Fojtik, Ph.D. and illustrated by Petr Kolmann. The latest in Guideline’s Warpaint series, 144, was published on September 1, 2024. A digital edition will soon be available. The latest on Guideline’s publications can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/guidelinepub/

Book Author(s)
David Baker
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

From author David Baker’s Preface,

This is the first in a series of 15 volumes covering the story of US land-based and naval air power during the Cold War between 1945 and 1990. The series is divided into five separate chronological periods, each with three dedicated volumes subjectively aligned with significant developments in the history of American combat aircraft and US air power.

The intention is to provide a broad, spectral analysis of the origin, design, development and evolution of US Air Force combat aircraft as well as the political, industrial, design and manufacturing base from which they, and their variants, were developed. The volumes provided for each period, covering fighters and bombers, together present a story of US military air power.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$11.99

Yahu has been producing photoetched instrument panels for models in Poland since 2013, for those who may not be familiar with the company. One of their latest releases is this 1/32 scale instrument set for the Fokker Dr.1 triplane from Meng. While the Dr.1 did not have a panel of instruments, there were individual instruments mounted within and outside the cockpit. Modelers with some experience with photoetched parts should have no issues using this set with their triplane.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Euro Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.61

Euro Decals has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the WWII Hawker Hurricane Mk.IIb. Though there is no specific mention of a preferred model company, it coincides with Arma Hobby’s Hurricane Mk.IIb kit production.

This 1/72 decal sheet covers eight (8) schemes:

Review Author
Rick Reinert
Published on
Company
Modelsvit
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$61.49

BLUF -Bottom Line Up Front

As Modelsvit states on their website, they specialize in short run (limited production) kits. The kit builds up into a reasonable scale model of the P-51H. Modeling experience with limited run kits and patience will result in a reasonable representation of one. This kit is not for beginners! It is really for experienced modelers.

The Modelsvit P-51H was first released in 2019. The version of the kit in this review was re-released in 2023 with a new set of markings. There have been a few P-51H’s released earlier by Hawk, Historic Plastic Models, and Classic Airframes in this scale. I have no idea how those build up, so there is no comparison to those kits.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Euro Decals
Scale
1:32
MSRP
$42.47

Euro Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the WWII Vought Corsair in 1/32nd scale. There is no specific mention of a preferred model kit, however, the decals are for the following variants: F4U-1, -1A, -A, Mk. II, and Brewster F3A.

This 1/32nd scale decal sheet covers seven (7) aircraft schemes:

Book Author(s)
Abraham Abrams
Review Author
Michael Furry
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

The J-20 is a fifth generation fighter aircraft that has elevated China to a world leader in combat aviation. J-20 Mighty Dragon, Asia’s First Stealth Fighter In The Era Of China’s Military Risetraces the development of the J-20 from its roots in the Korean War to the current deployment status as well as the responses other nations have taken to counterbalance this modern air superiority fighter. The text is organized into five chapters covering China’s need for an air superiority fighter, development, deployment, the aircraft’s future and assets needed for deployment, and international challenges and responses. Supporting the highly informative text are hundreds of color photos and captions that give further insight into this highly advanced fighter aircraft. In addition to the photographs, five pages of color profiles are also included, as well as a map displaying the locations of units operating the J-20.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.99

Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a 1/48th scale P-38L Lightning instrument panel. The base kit for this upgrade is designated for the Tamiya P-38J Lightning kit (61123). Referencing warbirdsresourcegroup.org, the “L” variant was an improved “J” variant with new engines and new rocket pylons. Thus, no differences in the airframe external shape. Of the P-38L-LO variant, 3,810 were built.

In the Package

The instrument panel (IP) detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with one (1) photoetched (PE) IP already assembled, one (1) clear acetate sheet with printed detail, two (2) PE etched sheets for other cockpit panels. My sample review was missing the PE sheet that would have added detail to part M24. I did note in the pictures which part was missing.