Thanks to Plus Model for sending this elegant aftermarket pilot figure for review, and thank you IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review it! I am very appreciative of the chance to contribute back to the scale-modeling community.
Embraer is an aircraft manufacturer located in Brazil. They started building some private and military aircraft but have found their niche by developing a line of smaller regional airliners. They started with a twin turboprop airliner named the Bandeirante and then the Brasilia. This was followed by a couple of twin jet airliners using some of the same airframe components, the ERJ-135 and ERJ-145. The engines on these aircraft were mounted at the rear of the fuselage. Following success with these products, Embraer started their E-jet series which featured larger fuselages and wing mounted twin jet engines. The initial production version is the Embraer 170. Over 1000 E-jets have been delivered as of September of 2013 and the airplane is well received by airlines around the world.
A historical account of VF-9 and its pilots that became aces flying the Grumman F6F Hellcat. In the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the US Navy quickly formed Carrier Air Group 9. CAG-9 had four squadrons, VF-9, VB-9, VS-9 and VT-9 they were activated in March 1942. Initially equipped with five Brewster F2A-3 Buffalos that were quickly replaced by Grumman F4F Wildcats. VF-9 first saw action during the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942. It was here the squadron successfully engaged Vichy French fighters in combat over Morocco. Upon returning to the United States, VF-9 became one of the first squadrons to receive the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Soon after they deployed on the USS Essex, namesake of its class of fleet carriers that formed the backbone of the US Navy’s Fast Carrier Task Force. VF-9, the Hellcat, and the Essex all entered combat in the fall of 1943, want more? Get this book.
Caracal Models has released a sheet for the 1/48 Revell (Matchbox) A-1E molds. This sheet includes decals for seven USAF and two VNAF aircraft (for an amazing total of 9 airplanes!).
The options on this decal sheet are:
The first three aircraft are overall ADC Gray, while the last six are in SEA camouflage. Stenciling is provided to build one USAF aircraft. The decal sheet was printed by Cartograf in Italy.
Being a Cartograf decal sheet you know you’ll get good quality, thin and opaque decals. They are very glossy on the sheet and they have very little transparent carrier film around them minimizing the chances for silvering.
This is part two “The Build”, of my review; the kit review can be seen in an earlier posting.
I followed the instruction sheet using Fishers guide for colors and building sequence. The first thing I did was take inventory of all parts. I found I was missing a couple of struts. I emailed Paul Fisher of Fisher Models and within a few days had the replacement parts in hand. Excellent customer service. As suggested, I thoroughly washed all parts using Dawn soap and warm water and let them dry overnight. It took about an hour to “clean up” the parts; this involved some molding lines and a little flash to be removed. One thing about Fisher kits, his molding is excellent and you should have very little clean up to do.
Caracal Models has released a second sheet for the 1/48 Revell (Matchbox) AD-5 molds. This sheet includes decals for seven aircraft
This is a very colorful sheet, as the airplanes were CONUS based and likely used in training missions, so be prepared to use your international orange paint. Stenciling is provided to build one aircraft.
Being a Cartograf decal sheet you know you’ll get good quality, thin and opaque decals. They are very glossy on the sheet and they have very little transparent carrier film around them minimizing the chances for silvering.
Academy's first release in a new series of 1/48 scale Phantoms is an F-4B in VF-111 "Sundowners" markings. There are 15 spectacular sprue with one being clear. The rest are colored to the specific areas of the plane. the bottom parts are white, the top gray and metallic parts black. Panels lines are fine and there are some real innovations. For example, the engine exhausts are molded as a complete tube so there are no seams to fill and they look great. There is also a complete set of weapons with the needed bombs and missiles and a full set of drop tanks.
When I purchased the new Airfix Harrier GR.1 kit in 1/72 scale, I did so with the intention of building it as the USMC AV-8A Harrier. I planned to cobble together suitable decals from my collection of spares, but didn’t have to when Caracal Models released a sheet just for this very purpose.
Produced by Aries Quickboost, whose products can be obtained directly through their website https://www.modelchoice.net/catalogue the two exhausts are a direct resin replacement for the kit supplied exhaust parts for the Testors 1/48 scale OV-10A kit. Cast in a light gray resin the two exhausts are well cast and offer details not found on the kit parts.
The two kit parts are molded as a solid unit, devoid of any open area. I modeled this kit a number of years ago; the kit is after all well over 30 years old (!!) and had to carve out the solid end on both parts to replicate the open look of the actual aircraft parts. It wasn’t a difficult job and really enhanced the look if the model. The Aries Quickboost parts not only have the open ends on the exhausts as found on the full sized versions, but also have the interior baffles found on the real ones.
The AN-2 “"Annushka" (NATO designation “Colt”) bi-plane is a throwback from a very earlier age as a rugged biplane used in a STOVL role. The Hobby Boss kit is a nice replica of this plane, yet there are some details that require improvement. One shortcoming is the landing floodlights on the leading edge of the lower wing. The kit provides the lens for the lights, but they are blanked off and no light is represented.
