Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$6.95

The Ju-87G Stuka was the last of the line. There were some purpose-built G’s, but most of them were D models with the cannon pods added. The first use of the Ju-87G was at Kursk, but there were only a few, and they made no difference.

Master has turned out a pair of new barrels for the 37mm cannon. They are turned brass, and so are much more durable than the original barrels.

I was able to find only one 1/144 Ju-87G kit, Eduard’s. The Eduard kit is very good, I built one for a review back in 2014. So I used the new barrels on the “old” kit.

Prep

I removed the barrels from the underwing pods with a sprue nipper. I then used a #11 blade to form a depression in the front of the pod to use as a pilot hole. The spot is quite small, and small drills have a bad habit of slipping off.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

This is a great photoetch set for the Kinetic Sea Harrier FRS.1Kit. This set adds a lot of extra detail to the interior of the kit and makes a great kit even better.

The photo etch parts are for the:

  • Cockpit side panels
  • Instrument panel and various control details
  • Seat belts
  • Canopy guides
  • Main cabin floor details
  • HUD parts.

In the Packet is:

  • 1 photoetch sheet
  • 1 colored photoetch sheet
  • 1 clear plastic printer sheet
  • 1 Instruction sheet

Summary

The added detail to the seat is impressive and really fills out a very plain vanilla seat. This is yet another great Photoetch set. The side panels really make the color pop as well as the multipart instrument panel.

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.95

Right on the heels of Eduard’s release of the 1/72nd scale Fw 190A-8 was their Fw 190A-5. When you open the box, you wonder just what kit the parts are for. You see three trees of light gray parts, one clear tree with four canopies on it a great decal sheet, a photo etch sheet and a mask. Of course, many of the parts are for the A-8 and for future variants of the A-8. And, with all of these extra parts, you have to read the instruction sheet for the correct parts number to ensure you don’t go wrong and start building something other than an A-5. Of course you have to decide which of the markings you are going to build, because there are some differences between them.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$3.10

Master Model of Poland produces small brass parts for detailing models, be they aircraft or ships. They have parts for aircraft in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72, and 1/144, mostly pitot tubes, refueling probes and gun barrels. For ships the Sea Master series has 1/35, 1/200, 1/350, 1/400 and 1/700 scale details, mostly gun barrels.

This product is a single pitot tube for a 1/144 F-16. I was particularly happy to get this part for review, as I was building the LS kit, and their F-16 doesn’t have a pitot. I looked in my stash, and Revell’s kit has a pitot, although it’s pretty thick. Dragon’s is better, closer to size. Academy’s 1/144 F-16 also has an OK pitot, only slightly thicker than the Master pitot.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.50

Master Models once again provides IPMS USA with examples of machine-shop excellence… We are extremely thankful to Piotr for providing examples of his work to review, and I appreciate the opportunity to use and report on Master Model products via the Leaders of IPMS USA

The Airfix TSR.2 was one of the last models to come out of the Airfix stable back in the late 2000-2005 year group, before Hornby took over and totally restarted their lineup. I bought the kit as it was (1) the only 1/48 non-Vacform version of this aircraft, and (2) thought I could have a great time building it. I also invested in CMK resin to bring it up to a higher level of detail.

What a masochist I am.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$99.95

The MiG-15 turned out to be a nasty surprise for United Nations pilots when it first appeared in the skies over North Korea. While it and the F-86 Sabre shared many design features, they each had their strong points and weak points, that when used properly made them difficult adversaries. The MiG-15 became a symbol of Soviet prowess in the early 1950’s and was used by air forces all over the world, many of them serving into the 1980s or beyond. MiG-15s were not only built in the USSR, but also in Poland, Czechoslovakia and China.

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$20.99

With the text printed in Japanese, we are basically presented with a large picture book. Featuring extractions serialized in the Monthly Model Art magazine. Looking at the beautiful illustrations of the Japanese land, naval aircraft and the equipment one can easily tell it has been diligently researched with documented detail and precisely reproduced. I’ve listed a small sample of the topics:

  • Type 98 gun sight in several variations
  • Type 100 gun sight in several variations
  • Torpedo sights and sighting equipment
  • Specific drop tanks for fighters
  • Wooden rose tank construction
  • Type 89 gun camera
  • Type 1 gun camera
  • Mitsubishi F1M auxiliary floats and construction
  • Hasegawa 1/32 Shoki

The Bottom Line: It’s a great reference book, I highly recommend it. I would like to thank Model Art and IPMS for the opportunity to present this fine publication.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$34.99

History

Introduced in November 2013, the P-8A Poseidon is the latest multi-mission maritime aircraft traditionally flown by the US Navy. In contrast to the piston engine-powered P2V Neptune and the turboprop-powered P-3 Orion, the P-8A is propelled by twin high-bypass turbofan engines. Each engine is equipped with an electric generator to power the P-8A's extensive array of onboard electronics.

The Kit

Inside the box you will find 4 light grey and 1 tinted sprue of plastic, a decal sheet and an instruction fold out. The plastic is cleanly molded and has some very nice raised and recessed detail. The decal sheet is printed very nice with a semi-matte finish.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Fly Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$89.83

When I was offered the opportunity to review this kit, I jumped at the chance. Growing up in the UK, the Wessex was a familiar sight at airshows and at Airports. The kit looks great and when you open the box the size and amount of detail is fantastic!

In the box is:

  • 7 x light grey sprues
  • 2 x clear sprues
  • 2 x Photoetched details parts
  • 1 printed paper set of seats and seat belts
  • 1 decal sheet
  • 1 instruction booklet
  • A lot of resin parts!

All the sprues are extremely well molded with super fine details. The plastic is a little softer than I like. A big drawback is the sprues have no part numbers on them so you have to keep turn back to the front of the instruction manual to ensure you are getting the right part from the right sprue!

Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$99.95

This is the third and final installment, “Full Build,” of Trumpeter’s Douglas ERA-3B 1/48th scale variant to be released by Trumpeter in 2016. The plane depicts the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’, ERA-3B, 104/GD BuNo. 146447. The ERA-3B variant was converted from the RA-3B variant as an electronic aggressor aircraft serving with the VAQ-33 and VAQ-34.

This was a full model build straight out of the box with no aftermarket accessories added. The model was based upon the US Navy, VAQ-33 ‘Firebirds’ plane as seen on page 49 in the A-3 Skywarrior in Action Book, Jim Sullivan, Aircraft Number 148, Squadron/Signal Publications. Sullivan’s depiction of the picture states that this plane is sitting on the flight line at NAS Oceana Virginia on 12 May 1977.