Airfix has re-released their Mosquito PR XVI, this time on a D-Day Anniversary edition. Make no mistake this kit is no “new molds” from 2015. In the box you have a full Mosquito FB VI (dated in 1980) with extra sprues molded in the mid-2000s to be able to finish it as a PR.XVI. As such you have a mix of vintage molds (1980, mid-2000) with some parts having raised panel lines; other parts having recessed panel lines.

Construction starts, like most airplanes do, with the cockpit. Note there were a few ejection pin marks that I choose to fill and sand in the inside of the fuselages. They might not be visible once the canopy is in place but I wasn’t sure so I choose to be worry rather than sorry. You are provided a mix of new (IP) and old parts for the cockpit (seats and some radio boxes). The truth is that with a bit of paint I cannot tell the difference between the new and the old parts inside the cockpit.

Thanks to Piotr at Master models for providing these incredible static dischargers to improve our models, and thanks to IPMS Reviewer Corps leaders for sending it to me…

What is in the packet: an instruction sheet, and 14 very-tiny, jewelry-quality Static dischargers used on most F-16’s.

Static dischargers are frequently molded on our models. And we modelers, being who we are, frequently break them off during construction. I personally remove them and install replacements or the kit items at the end of the build. Sometimes I won’t even bother; they are just fragile or are just way out of scale. Here is where Master’s turned metal items shine…

As on my recently-reviewed Sukhoi 1/48 dischargers, these little 1/32 jewels for the F-16 are great. They have the proper 3-diameter steps machined for you. Again, Piotr, this is excellent machine work!

Aires has come out with a nice upgrade for the Eduard Bf 108 series of kits with their horizontal control surfaces set. There are four parts in all, cast in a durable resin material. The Aires parts allow you to alter the position of the elevators and provide improved stabilizer to elevator detail. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Aires replacements. I’ve included photos of both the Eduard and the Aires horizontal surfaces inserted in the Eduard fuselage.

Aires has molded the stabilizer and elevator perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Aires stabilizer and elevator are supplied on a single resin sprue with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup.

“Luftwaffe Eagle” is a first-hand account of one pilot’s experiences during World War II. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I offered to review this book for IPMS, but I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised!

This book was first published in 2007, in the author’s native language of German. It was translated into English by John Weal in 2008, and first published in English in 2009 (in hardcover). This release is the first time it has been available in softcover format.

This combination of the author’s style of writing and the superb (and fluid) translation make this book a pleasure to read. The author begins with a brief summary of his childhood years, then dives directly into his Luftwaffe training and subsequent postings. Each section is filled with personal anecdotes, while steadily following the timeline.

With development beginning in 1958, the Hughes AIM-G Super Falcon was created as a follow-up to the early Falcon missiles, but with a larger rocket motor, bigger warhead, and improved guidance. The AIM-4G, or GAR-4A, was the final version of the improved missile, and around 2700 of these missiles were built with the first of them entering service in 1960, and remaining in use until 1988. The missile was 81.1 inches long, had a 24-inch wingspan, and weighed 145 pounds. Travelling at Mach 4 on its solid fuel Thiokol M46 dual-thrust rocket, the missile had a range of seven miles to deliver the 29-pound warhead.