Lifelike Decals from Japan has released its 7th installment in a series of P-47s. The A/C you get are
The German war machine produced some of the world’s most advanced aircraft designs from World War 2. The Luftwaffe's wonder weapons, when compared to their contemporaries, were clearly years ahead of their time. The Horten Ho 229 is the poster child of these machines and has always fascinated me. I’m always looking for modeling reference material on cutting edge German weaponry of the era and this publication fills in a lot of empty blanks. The book covers the story of the young Horton Brothers and the people who influenced them in their early years and during the war. The authors have compiled in great detail the most thorough technical study, complete development summary and operational record of the Horten Ho 229. Even though it was a promising design, throughout it’s operational life it continued to be a work in progress for the Horton Brothers.
Warpaint’s latest is their standard A4 format, softbound publication that is 88 pages (excluding covers) on the General Dynamics F-111 series. Featuring more than 180 photographs (most in color) along with 34 of Richard J. Caruana’s color profiles, and including the B-Centennial scheme on 68-0028/UH, an F-111E based at Upper Heyford, in June 1976. The color profiles are further enhanced with color scrap illustration of opposite sides of the fuselage as necessary to depict special markings. Nose art and other special markings are also presented enlarged to show off details. For the small scale fans, Richard J. Caruana also includes fold-out 1/72 scale plans.
Scale Aircraft Modelling's November 2015 issue comes to us with a cover featuring a nicely framed picture of a Beaufighter and promises scale plans and profiles as well as other articles. Inside, it delivers as promised or even more.
Tony Grand leads off the builds with Magna Models 1/72 Seamew kit. A resin model of an unusual plane and Mr. Grand shows how to polish it up by reinforcing parts, fixing flaws and showing how nice the kit can look with some attention and effort.
A real highlight for me was Francesco Pigoli’s build of Revell’s 1/72 F-22 Raptor. Mr. Pigoli used Eduard’s Raptor interior and a lot of scratchbuilding skills to detail wheel and armament wells, intake FOD guards and more. There are many more fixes and the end result with a great paint scheme is phenomenal.
This is the first WWI title in the Warpaint series and includes all the usual Warpaint features – historical text, a glossary for the modeler, color artwork by Richard Caruana and a three page color walk-around by author Matthew Willis.
This softcover publication is 38 pages, including the inner front and rear covers, of data, information, illustrations, period B&W images, and a 3 page walk-around of the fully restored aircraft owned by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden in Bedfordshire, UK.
Not as well-known as the Sopwith Camel, the Pup distinguished itself during its operational lifespan, and was a stalwart aircraft during the RFC’s most difficult time, Bloody April, 1917. Although a bit slower than some of its contemporaries, it proved to be a nimble and powerful Air-to-Air warrior which contributed much to the control of the air over the Western Front.
Given the codename "Grace" by the Allies, the Aichi B7A Ryusei was a large and powerful single engine, two-seat carrier-borne torpedo-dive bomber. It was produced by Aichi Kokuki KK for the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second World War. The B7A first flew as a prototype in May 1942, but problems with the experimental NK9C Homare engine and airframe issues delayed the type and it didn’t enter into production until two years later in May 1944. Despite the plane's weight and size, it displayed fighter-like handling and performance, it even outperformed the A6M Zero which was in service at the time. Not only was it was a fast, agile and highly maneuverable machine it could also carry a single 800 kg bomb, two 250 kg bombs or six 60 kg bombs at once.
British aircraft have a hard edged camouflage. Getting those hard edges in the proper position is difficult. How do you make that hard edge? If you are like me you’ll be using the Eduard masks. They are made of highly flexible Kabuki tape. This set includes two large masking sheets. One for the fuselage and tail surfaces and the other for the wings.
How do you know if you need Scheme A or B? The only real way to know is to look at photos of the real aircraft. It has been postulated that even serial numbered aircraft had scheme A and odd serial numbered aircraft had scheme B. This is not always correct. It seems to me more of a guideline than a rule.
The Super Fabric are quite a unique product. They are paper thin. The belts and shoulder harness have beautiful detail and the silver looks metallic. I found that when compared to the pre-painted photo etch seatbelts that the Super Fabric ones were a little orange and not as tan.
The belts can be added with white glue. DO NOT USE CA GLUE! They are easily removed from the backing paper and added to the kit parts. There is no special preparation required. The fabric allows you to fold, spindle and mutilate the belts exactly like real fabric.
Thank you to Aires-Quickboost and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the privilege of reviewing this excellent aftermarket resin details set. The ICM C-45 kit is very nice in its own right, but the replacement engine cooling gills add an eye-catching detail in a highly visible part of the kit.
A single casting plug with 4 replacement engine gills is in the package, molded in medium brownish-gray color polyurethane resin. The application is very simple; use the appropriate Quick Boost engine gills to replace kit parts D35/36 and D24/43. This is nearly a direct drop-in replacement; all you need to do is carefully remove the gills from the casting plug. The gill have very thin edges, warranting special care when removing them from the casting plug. No directions are provided and none are needed. However, be careful to use the correct part. The number 2 part of the plug that replaces parts D24/43 is slightly wider.
Thank you to Aires-Quickboost and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the privilege of reviewing this excellent aftermarket resin details set. The ICM C-45 kit is very nice in its own right, but the Quick Boost exhaust pipes add an eye-catching detail in a highly visible part of the kit.
