Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Book Author(s)
Robert Jackson, Illustrator: Adam Tooby
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.95

Osprey Publishing continues to expand its fledging line of “Air Vanguard” titles, with the installment of Messerschmitt Bf 109E-F series.

Like most books of this series, it starts with a brief introduction to the aircraft in question and it quickly delves into the details of the first model, the –E series. It covers the topic in good detail, explaining different subvariants (E-1 to E-8, plus /B and /Z versions) and it also includes the production figures of each subtype.

The next section of the book covers the evolution of the –E into the –F (perhaps the nicest looking 109 of them all) explaining in good detail the wing, engine, cowling, propeller spinner and tail re-enforcements that made this series substantially better than its predecessor.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Sincere appreciation to Eduard for providing yet another review item, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me!

This set continues Eduard’s effort to provide modelers with previously unavailable, well detailed resin sets. Consisting of 36 parts, you are presented with six forward bomb casings, six sets of low-drag standard fins, six fuse extenders, six fuses, and two different sets of six forward end caps for transportation or other situations where other fusing is used.

Decals round out the presentation, including yellow stripes for the bomb noses and two types of stencil, yellow and white.

Assembly requires careful sanding of the pour gates after you remove the parts, particularly if you don’t want “wonky” fins. You will have to ensure the fins are also correctly oriented to the mounting lugs on the forward bomb body, as this matters when used on a MER/TER situation. No fin interference!

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

As usual, I am eternally grateful to Eduard for providing yet another cool review item, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me.

This small set continues Eduard’s effort to provide modelers with previously unavailable, well detailed resin sets. Consisting of 14 parts, you are presented with two resin pods, three sets of end caps (one for the front of the pod, and options for either a loaded or transport/storage pod cap)

Eight warheads are provided, and these appear to be the standard High-explosive variety. No double-ogive versions in this case. Decals round out the presentation, including yellow stripes for the warheads and stenciling for the pods.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$99.95

Eduard’s NATO Fighter is a limited edition boxing of the Hasegawa F-104G with the addition of resin parts for two different ejection seats and several sensors/antennas, a photoetch fret of details for the two seats, as well as a full cockpit, and 2 decal sheets – one of stencils and one with markings for five different NATO air forces that flew the F-104.

Hasegawa’s F-104 kit has been reviewed several times in the past, so other than a few gotcha’s that I learned the hard way, I will focus on the added parts and details.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.95

Shortly after it released its Royal Class 1/72 MiG-15 set, which included a MiG-15 UTI trainer as one of the 4 kits, Eduard released parts of the MiG-15 as overtrees.

One of the first items released was the photo-etch set for the MiG-15 UTI. As this is an overtree set, it did not come with instructions, however, as Eduard’s webpage for the MiG-15 Royal Class kit includes a link to the kit’s instructions, all you have to do is download the portion of the instructions that relate to the MiG-15 UTI and you are all set to go.

Review Author
Camden Koukol
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.95

Simple but brilliant, Eduard’s pre-cut canopy masks now include a set for Academy’s 1/72 F-4J Phantom II kit.

In this case, simplicity of application was demonstrated by 9 year-old Camden as he built his Academy F-4J Showtime 100 for a related IPMS/USA review. In a matter of minutes, the pre-cut masks were transferred to the model canopy and scraps for left-over mask material were used to fill in the holes. Fit of all pieces was spot-on.

The masks adhered well throughout the construction and finishing process, spanning about 3 weeks’ time. At the end of the build, they peeled off with only one slight trace of residual adhesive, which was quickly lifted by the adhesive side of a piece of low-tack masking tape.

Book Author(s)
Artur Juszczak
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$35.00

While this is the 4th volume in MMP’s “Spotlight On” series, it is the first one I have had the pleasure of seeing in person. This book (and I imagine the others in the series) consists primarily of large, full-page color profiles of the subject matter.

Upon opening the book, one is immediately presented with an introductory page briefly discussing the P-51D’s development (not the P-51 in general, just the “D” model, so the author assumes some general knowledge of the aircraft type). This is immediately followed by over 40 pages of color profiles. At the end of the book is a page showing the general finish of the P-51, and a 2-page section listing P-51 Aces.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.96

SAC has filled the niche of replacement landing cast in white metal. In most cases these are copies of the original parts cast in white metal. Some are upgrades that fix noted errors. These products are convenient for many multiple reasons:

Review Author
Camden Koukol
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$42.00

Background

Developed as a fleet interceptor for the United States Navy in the 1950’s the F-4 Phantom became one of the most successful and prolific combat aircraft designs of the jet age, remaining in US service into the 1990’s. Tasting its first combat during the Vietnam War, Navy and Air Force Phantoms produced leading aces for both service branches.

Book Author(s)
Nicholas Millman
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing

This is at least Nicholas Millman’s third title with Ronnie Olsthoorn illustrating for Osprey Publishing. Aircraft of the Aces 100 – Ki-44 ‘Tojo’ Aces of World War 2 was published in 2011 and Aircraft of the Aces 103 – Ki-27 ‘Nate Aces was published in 2013. Nicholas Millman is one of Britain’s leading researchers of Japanese military aviation. In addition to publishing articles in specialist journals, his own range of reference materials and supporting the research of other authors, he runs a website dedicated to the subject which attracts visitors from 194 countries.