Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost provides one set of Dornier Do 217 exhaust stubs. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. These Quickboost parts are specific replacements for the kit parts found in the Monogram Pro Modeler’s Do 217E-5 (85-5954), Revell’s Do 217E-4 kit (85-5526), and Revell’s Do 217E-5 (04557)

Quickboost has molded the exhaust stubs perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhaust stubs have no mold seams to sand off along with the superior detail for the exhausts. Be very careful removing the parts from the resin block. I used a photo-etched saw along with a couple swipes of a sanding stick to have great looking parts. Test fitting revealed no discernable differences that should cause any problems compared to the kit parts

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Aerobonus
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.00

Aerobonus continues its run of diorama/aftermarket add on sets with a 5 gallon waste oil drain tank. The set consists of 5 resin parts and decals and is perfectly formed with no flash or air bubbles.

There is one choice to be made and that is with the high or low fill spout. I cut the main pail and dump pan free with a razor saw and the cur the handle and the low fill support free with nippers and cleaned all of it up very gently with sanding sticks. Some care is needed as the handle is very fragile. All that was required then was to super glue the support, the pan and handle on the main pail. I primed with Alclad gray and let it dry overnight.

The directions called for a red pail and support and I painted these Insignia Red. The pan was painted silver and the decal added. A wash of brown (to look like oil stains) and a few silver marks for scratches and we're done.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Aerobonus
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.00

Need a little something to spice up that 1/48 scale plane on its base? Aerobonus to the rescue with a set of four FOD (foreign object debris) buckets. The set is one casting of four buckets with a piece of wire to form the handles and decals.

Assembly is basic with the modeler cutting the bucket free and adding the handle. I did use a drill and pin vise to open the handle holes slightly. Cut the wire and bend like a handle and your done. the color call put is for blue grey. I used medium blue gray from Testors and then gloss coated for the decals. The decals come in white or black lettering and I chose the white and they went on well. A quick flat coat and then paint the handle silver and we're done. Just that quick and easy.

The set is simple, well made and would make a great addition to the base or a diorama. Recommended. My thanks to Aires for the chance to build and paint these great little buckets,.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$18.95

Ross, you and your company do it again…. Thanks to SAC for developing a metal gear set for this new kit; and thanks to the IPMS leadership for sending it on!

These stronger, metal versions of the kit’s gear, continue the “form/fit/function” replacement mantra. Short-run plastic is a bit soft, so metal gear becomes crucial with the larger kits. In the case of the buckeye, the nose gear is an offset single-arm strut, which makes the metal even more appropriate.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$50.00

Thank you to the wonderful folks at Hasegawa and Hobbico for an excellent kit of one of my favorite USN jets, the A-4 Skyhawk. The kit was a joy to build. Thank you also to the IPMS Reviewer Corps staff members who do the hard work in getting us kits to review.

This re-release from Hasegawa as a “Limited Edition” provides a very nice building experience of a very unique aircraft. I remember sitting in the cockpit of the full-size version feeling like I was in a sports car, marveling at where the panel would detach my lower legs in the event of an ejection. I am very pleased with the results produced and the kit is an excellent value. There are markings options for 2 different Skyhawk aircraft assigned to VA-23 aboard the USS Midway, with options for pylons and wing tanks.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.00

If you like to build your planes as they would be just before a flight, one problem has always been to get a decent pilot boarding ladder. Some have come out but have been all photoetch and delicate. Plusmodel to the rescue! They have recently released a series of 1/48th scale boarding ladders for several planes. This one if for a Mig-21 and could be used with either the Eduard or Academy kits and it is INJECTION MOLDED!!!!!

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$10.95

Model Art has published No.7 in the series labeled, “Air Model Special” and this issue focuses on the Ki-61 Hien.

Some 60 pages in this issue are dedicated to coverage a number of different kits of the Ki-61, by a variety of different kit manufacturers, and in multiple scales. The photography is stunning, but then that has long been a feature of Model Art publications. The workmanship displayed in the models is world class and the images provide an excellent resource for detailing, painting, and markings.

This issue, were it to offer nothing more than the excellent article on the Ki-61, would be worth the cost, but it also includes short articles on a number of other subjects.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$152.00

Zoukei-Mura is relatively new on the model making front as far as time goes but they have set a new standard for modeling with their philosophy of having the internal detail be included in their planes. They have also chosen extremely desired and interesting subjects and the latest 1/32nd scale offering is a Horten Ho-229 jet- their first jet. The Ho-229 (sometimes called the Go-229) was an all wing aircraft propelled by two jet engines deep in the fuselage. It has somewhat the look of a B-2 Spirit. It was purposely designed to allow for minimal radar detection with 1000kg load of bombs, a 1000 kph top speed and a range of 1000 km. It might have been close to those numbers if mass produced.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Modelling
MSRP
$7.04

Each issue of Scale Aircraft Modeling has the same basic design and format. That's not a bad thing as it is jam packed with superb aircraft builds and tips. There does seem to be a trend to add more feature articles and that is a very good thing as the builds are superb. In this issue, there are five feature articles, an Aviation in Profile piece, and six Compact Build Reviews.

The Feature articles for this issue start with Jay Laverty's build review of the Fisher Models 1/32nd F7U Cutlass. He details some upgrades to the wheel wells and how to handle such a large resin kit. A good description of his way to get a true white base coat sprayed is also a highlight of the article.

Next up is Mr. Laverty's continuing build of the new Airfix 1/24th Scale Typhoon. In this installment, the engine is built and wired and added to the already finished main spar/cockpit assembly. the conclusion is in Decembers issue and I can't wait to see it.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.99

Background

H.P. Martin and George Handasyde were an aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer from 1908 to 1922. The subject of this kit was one of their first efforts and appears to represent the third version of this aircraft. I base that on the 40hp J.A.P. engine that is fitted to this kit. This aircraft strongly resembled the French Antoinette including the odd twin wheel controls in the earlier versions. Those were abandoned after criticism from early test flights. Controls were modified to a control wheel with fore and aft motion for the elevators and wing wrapping controlled by turning the wheel. A bar controlled the rudder.