Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.50

Master Model is an aftermarket supplier that offers modelers the opportunity to add exceptional turned metal parts to their models. Generally, the sets are available for builders in 1:72, 1:48 and 1:32 scale. Most builders who prefer to add aftermarket gun barrels, refueling probes, antennas and pitot tubes to their aircraft models are quite familiar with Master Model’s line of excellent detail parts.

This set (AM-72-066) provides highly detailed 1:72 scale Hispano Mk. 1 cannon (with flat recoil springs) for the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC. The parts may be used to replace the injection molded ones in Revell, Airfix, Hasegawa, Academy, Smer, Matchbox and Heller kits. In some cases, they simply will drop into place, in others a little surgery may be required. Holes may need to be drilled in the leading edge to accept the fairing and barrel combination or a kits’ molded wing fairing may be drilled to accept only the cannon barrel.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$49.95

History

The Messerschmitt Bf-110 series was originally designed as a long range escort fighter, and so much has been written about the type that I need not be repetitious. Preceded into production by the Bf-110B, which first appeared in 1938, the Bf-110C was the first major production model, followed by the “D”, “E”, “F”, and “G” variants. It was not particularly successful at the beginning of the war, as it was used against more nimble single seat fighters. Later in the war, it was used as a night fighter, where it was very successful and even outlived the aircraft intended to replace it.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.50

Master Model is an aftermarket supplier that offers modelers the opportunity to add exceptional turned metal parts to their models. Generally, the sets are available for builders in 1:72, 1:48 and 1:32 scale. Most builders who prefer to add aftermarket gun barrels, refueling probes, antennas and pitot tubes to their aircraft models are quite familiar with Master Model’s line of excellent detail parts.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost has added a detailed pitot tube to their line of aftermarket parts that can be used to replace the one found in any 1/32 scale J2M Raiden kit. It has crisper and more refined detail than that found in any currently available kit. Anyone building a Raiden should be pleased with the delicate look of this detail part...so delicate that the review sample had a slightly warped curve in the thin tip (easily straightened after immersing it in hot water for a minute).

Book Author(s)
Jon Guttman
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.95

Number 59 in Osprey’s ‘Duel’ series provides a trip back in time to an era when flying machines began serving as platforms for continuing warfare above ground level. In this volume of ‘Duel’ author Jon Guttman presents the story of how exchanging rifle and revolver gunfire rapidly evolved into aerial duels between aircraft mounting machine guns. War in the air became serious business when, in the summer of 1915, the Fokker E1 appeared on the scene with a forward mounted machine gun and interrupter mechanism that permitted a pilot to aim and fire upon an enemy without concerns of shooting off his own propeller. The result of this game-changer was a period that became known as the ‘Fokker Scourge’. In an attempt to counter this technological advantage and level the playing field, the Brits introduced various pusher Scouts and the French mounted forward firing machine guns on the top wings of nimble Nieuport Scouts that fired above the propeller arc.

Book Author(s)
Kari Stenman and Christian-Jacques Ehrengardt
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

Osprey Publishing has released another new title in the ever-expanding Aces series, Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Aces.

As the title reveals, this time around the subject is the French Morane-Saulnier MS.406 and the aces who flew it. This book is slightly different than most others in the series, as it covers not only MS.406 aces of the French Air Force, but also those flying for the Finnish Air Force. Additionally, as several MS.406 pilots went on to become aces while flying different aircraft with the RAF or the Russian Air Force, this area is also touched upon.

Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
A.M.D.G. Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.99

This is one of four P-51 decal sheets produced by a new decal maker, A.M.D.G. Decals. A.M.D.G. seems to be one of those companies “by and for” modelers. If you have a look at the company website, you will find their philosophy on the “About Us” page. They seem to have a very enthusiastic and passionate approach to this, and this decal sheet does a great job of demonstrating it!

This sheet has complete markings (including four sets of national insignia and propeller data stencils) for all of the aircraft depicted. There are three UK-based subjects and one based in China. The amount of research done for these four schemes is readily apparent after reading the instructions.

Markings provided are for the following Mustangs:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

Eduard has previously issued “Remove Before Flight” tags made out of colored photoetch. This fresh set capitalizes on the new fabric material used in conjunction with their photoetch components. This set is for 1/48 scale planes, and it has one sheet of 16 fabric tags with two styles: one with a square end and one with a tapered end. The photoetch fret contains 20 of two types of attachment hangers.

To give these tags a test run, I pulled a Kinetic A-6E out that had FOD covers on it. Removing the fabric tab from the backing is easy. They are, however, very fragile and want to tear almost like vinyl. The backing sheet is adhesive, and the tags come off a little sticky. If you set the tags aside for a little while, they’ll lose most of their stickiness and will be easier to handle. They have an excellent fabric look as you can see from the pictures. I attached one to each FOD cover.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
A.M.D.G. Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.95

This is the fourth in a quartet of 1/48 scale P-51 decal sets recently released by A.M.D.G. Decals. As I noted in my review of their first set of P-51 decals, A.M.D.G. Decals is a new company from Poland that markets these sets under the title YANKEE MERLIN ROARS!!! (Parts I – IV), and they provide everything needed in each set to finish four different aircraft. The decal sheet included in each set is packed with about as many individual decals as anyone could hope for (as shown in the photo below).

This set (Part IV - #A48-004) of YANKEE MERLIN ROARS!!! provides markings for the following:

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$5.86

Hauler-Brengun, a Czechoslovakian newcomer, provides modelers with kits, photoetch parts, and accessories. The vacuum-formed canopy that I received for this review is a nice two-piece replacement for the single-piece canopy included with the Dragon F/A-18F kits. Before diving into the review, I should state that I would recommend vacuum formed parts for experienced modelers. Removing the part from the plastic sheet is a delicate process, but the results are worth the effort.

The F/A-18F is the two-seat variant of the Super Hornet that, along with the single-seat F/A-18E, replaced the capable F-14 Tomcats aboard the US Navy’s aircraft carriers. The more petite, slower, shorter-range and smaller-payload-carrying Super Hornet is at least a less expensive aircraft for the Navy to operate. Okay, so I really am a Tomcat fan at heart.