Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

The Bf-109G was a versatile aircraft that could be fitted with numerous armament options. One of the most spectacular ones was the mounting of two wing mounted 21cm rockets.

Included in this vacuform package are 16 light grey resin parts that are perfectly formed and a fret of photo etch. Much of the photo etch pieces are allocated as alignment jigs. The resin pieces give you two complete rockets and two warheads. You only ‘need’ the warheads and the PE exhaust nozzles. The two complete rockets would be good additions to a diorama but aren’t absolutely necessary for this set.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

One feature of the Bf-109 is the easy access of the radio compartment in the rear fuselage. This feature is easily replicated on Eduard’s new Bf-109G-6 thanks to this Brassin set.

The Brassin set consists of six pieces of light grey resin perfectly molded. The bigger pieces are the two sidewalls. Removal from the resin pour stubs is easy enough, except for the radio mount which is very fragile. Care will be required on this piece.

As an Eduard set it would be incomplete without a fret of photo etch. This one on nickel plated metal has five pieces of pre-painted parts. Removal is easy enough from the fret. Interestingly, Eduard seems to have forgotten to add the latches on the outside of the access hatch. I used a beading tool to impart the latches. Not a big deal but just a little oversight on Eduard’s part. The panel can easily be placed with the outside down as the inside has some beautiful detail.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

The Eduard Bf-109G-6 and G-5 are beautiful kits. One of the complaints or discussions on the kit is that the exhausts have to be added early in the build and then have to be masked.

This Brassin set addresses this. Included in this clear vacuformed package are four pieces of light grey resin that are perfectly formed. There is additional detail included on the resin, namely the spark plug wires. The exhausts are hollowed out nicely. Also included in the packaging is a fret of nickel plated photo etch.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

The new, new 109 from Eduard is one of the finest renditions of the G-6 ever released. This is what they were going after the first time. Like the first release this model comes with a variety of Brassin pieces to ‘upgrade’ your 109. The kit cockpit is quite nice out of the box, but there is room to make it better. That is where the Brassin series comes in.

In a sturdy cardboard box, you are treated to 24 resin pieces molded in light to medium grey resin that are blemish and bubble free. Being an Eduard product it wouldn’t be right if they didn’t include photo etch. This offering features two frets of photo etch. The first one is a pre-painted fret which is quite beautiful. The other one is a brass fret that includes various detail parts. There are some simple decals and film for the gunsights.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.00

Once again our friend Piotr keeps cranking these things out… THANKS VERY MUCH for sending IPMS USA another of your growing line of turned metal Pitot tubes, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it on to me to review….

This is, again, a world-class improvement and upgrade to the kit plastic. Actually, it’s a step beyond, as included is what appears to be a 3-D printed part with all the vanes (which cause us old guys to have apoplectic fits) molded on one tube! FANTASTIC!.

The Master data probe consists of two metal parts and one resin part with all 8 vanes attached to it and protected in a foam cutout box. These three simple items directly replace the kit pitot probe and air data vane assembly. This is an easy addition to improve the longevity of your kits’ appearance.

Book Author(s)
Author- Matthew Willis; Drawings- Chris Sandham-Bailey; Plans- Dariusz Karnas
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$35.00

Matthew Willis was born in the historic naval town of Harwich, Essex in 1976. Matthew studied Literature and History of Science at the University of Kent, where he wrote an MA thesis on Joseph Conrad and sailed for the University in national competitions. He subsequently worked as a journalist for Autosport and F1 Racing magazines, before switching to a career with the National Health Service, where he wrote everything from press releases to consultation papers. His first non-fiction book, a history of the Blackburn Skua WW2 naval dive bomber, was published in 2007. He currently lives in Southampton with his University lecturer wife Rosalind, and writes both fiction and non-fiction for a living. This is Matthew Willis fourth book, and third with Mushroom Model Publications. He has also authored many feature articles in aviation and scale modeling magazines

Book Author(s)
Editor- Mick Davis
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$9.25

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International - Summer 2016, features a painting of ‘Halton Defenders’ by Michael Turner on the cover. Just taking off is a RFC Bleriot with a farman F.20 in the background. The rear cover shows a two side profiles of Contact Patrol RE.8s (A4267 and C2271) by Juanita Franzi. If you check out the web site link above, you can get additional sample pics of the current issue when they upload them.

Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. They also provide a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.99

The Messerschmitt Bf-109 has to be the most iconic aircraft of all time. It evokes primal feelings in the hearts of modelers everywhere. How else can you explain the outcry when Eduard first released their Bf-109G-6? There were scale issues, some shape issues, and accuracy issues. Coming on the heels of Eduard’s Spitfires and MiG-21s, there was high expectations. Those expectations were dashed and all hope was lost. Until Eduard decided to take the high road and retool the entire model. Is this latest incarnation from Eduard everything that we have come to hope for? Let’s find out.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.95

Eduard has produced a 1/32 scale version of the Mk.84 2000 lb. general purpose bomb and it’s the largest common bomb used in the military. Looking through my kits, there isn’t a good representation of this weapon in this configuration (there are plenty of laser guided versions) so this is a welcome option for modelers.

Inside the package you will find parts to make two bombs. There are two front bomb halves and two rear fin sections. Also included are three different fuse options, a set of small photoetch rings for detailing the rear fin section of the bomb and a set of decals. Also included is a nice set of instructions in color. The decals come in either white markings or yellow. More on them later.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$3.53

There are now (according to Hannants) three kits of the Vickers Valiant available in 1/144 scale. The oldest is the Welsh Models vac form kit, followed by the Anigrand. The newest is from Micro Mir.

This installation is on the Anigrand kit, because I don’t have a Micro Mir kit yet.

Installation

Installation instructions show 2 steps. I’ve expanded that to 4

  1. Cut off the plastic probe at the indicated spot. I then used a sanding stick to get a flat surface which I could drill.
  2. Drill a .25mm hole. Test fit a couple of times to be sure it’s deep enough. (NOTE the instructions call for .4mm. I think that’s a little too big.
  3. Use CA glue to hold the brass part.
  4. Paint the finished installation.

Then the other pitot tube, on the other wing. Follow the same 4 steps.