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Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.
Box Art

Sepecat Jaguar Wheels and Paint Masks
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.00

A quick “thank you!” to Aires for providing us with this set; once again the excellence of your products is readily apparent!

This is a very simple swap out for the Hasegawa Jaguar wheels. As you see in the side by side pictures, the outside rim detail is much more refined than the almost 30 year old wheels in the kit. The brake assembly on the back side (which is not on the kit wheels) is just phenomenal for this scale.

The masks are olive green and semi-flexible. My past experience with these masks are that they work very well… when you use them correctly! (Mask the tire, not the wheel.) That may seem obvious, but I’m getting older, ya know.

Set Contents

MHU-191 M Munition Transporter with Aero 58 Adapter

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aerobonus
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$15.00

Thanks to Aires for catering to the AMS in all of us; we appreciate your support!

This will save a lot of scratchbuilding time for those who are into dioramas or weapons; the MHU-191 M munition transporter with aero 58 adapter is used for transporting weapons; unfortunately I could not find what type of weapon is used with this adaptor; I did find this excerpt from a Naval ordinance Manual: “The Aero 58A skid adaptor holds a single weapon of up to 30.5 inches in diameter; it can be used wihtthe MHU-125/# platform skid and MHU-126/M munitions trailer”.

Bottom line: it’s Navy, use it accordingly!

An excellent diorama accessory in the Aerobonus range; pretty soon we’ll have to build additions to our homes to handle the miniature flightlines and flight decks we are building!

Thanks again to Aires/Aerobonus and to IPMS USA for this review item.

Box Cover

F-35A Lightning II
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Italeri

Thanks very much to Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) for providing IPMS USA this kit. Up front, I determined to send this item as part of an effort to provide some of the “New kits” to our deployed personnel in harms way, through our POC at IPMS USA, and full credit definitely goes to our long-time supporters at MRC. That means this will be an “In-box” review of this kit.

I was at Edwards AFB, CA about two months ago and observed (mostly heard) firsthand the test birds flying. Extremely interesting to watch and noisy, as they are claimed to be louder than the F-22 if that is possible! Nonetheless, a great opportunity and I was pleased to actually see them fly.

Box Art

EA-18G VAQ-135 Black Ravens Limited Edition
Review Author
Matthew Cottrell
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$52.99

Aircraft History

The EA-18G Growler is an electronics warfare aircraft developed in the 2000s for the US Navy as a replacement for the ageing EA-6B Prowler. It shares 90% of its components with the F/A-18F Super Hornet, saving time and money in development, construction and maintenance for the fleet. The Growler has been in operational service since 2009, and saw combat for the first time over Libya during Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011. In addition to the US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force has also recently announced plans to acquire 12 EA-18Gs.

Package

Mosquito Oil Radiators

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.99

Product

The oil radiators come packaged in the typical clear cellophane and a cardboard insert that Quickboost has become known for. The parts are cast in a light gray resin and are very sharp features. The parts are designed to be used on any of the excellent Tamiya 1/72nd Mosquitos.

Application

When removing the parts from the pour block, use care as the resin is very thin. Don't worry about getting the part cleaned up real good at this point, you can do that once it is attached to the model to give it some extra support. Next you will need to trim the kit part. There is several raised straight lines that will have to be removed (see photo). Once they are removed and the area is smoothed out you attach the resin. I used Gator grip glue to attach the parts as it gives you time to set the part. Once the part was set I finished cleaning it up.

Cover

Windsock Worldwide Vol.29, No.5
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$15.00

The Sept/Oct 2013 issue of Windsock Worldwide is the fifth issue of Volume 29 and it continues the publisher’s ongoing commitment to provide model builders with accurate and diverse information about WWI aviation. The cover image of a highly detailed Wingnut Wings DH9a also continues the publication’s practice of focusing on that manufacturer’s line of impressive 1/32scale kits. But, this issue presents a rich blend of modeling articles and reference material that extends far beyond the new kits offered by Wingnut Wings.

Cover

Windsock Datafile No. 161 Caudron R.11
Book Author(s)
Colin A. Owers
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$21.95

When Windsock Datafile No. 161 arrived in the mail, I was reminded of that classic Monty Python lead-in line: “And, now for something completely different” because the subject of this Datafile is a somewhat little known WWI aviation escort fighter with a most unusual appearance. Although serving with some distinction, the fact that it was introduced into the conflict in limited numbers in the closing months of the war precluded a definitive assessment of the value of the Caudron R.11, and no doubt contributed to its place somewhere in the shadows of aviation history.

Package

A-1 Skyraider Boot Cockpit Sliding Enclosure System
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost provides a very large array of aftermarket detail parts, uniformly outstanding in quality and fidelity to detail and scale. This QB product is just one of several that can be used to detail the Tamiya A-1H kit.

Tamiya provides a rather simple part in their A-1H kit ( # 61058) that represents the Boot Enclosure in its stowed position. The Tamiya part in question is Part A6 which is added to the airframe in step 11 in the Tamiya instructions.

In a side-by-side comparison of part A6 and the QB Boot, the boot has the proper length and width and matches the length of part A6, or that bit of A6 in question. All that is necessary is to clip off the “hood” area of A6 and replace it with the QB part.

In under a minute one can improve the appearance of the cockpit significantly by using this QB product.

Box Art

Alpha Jet A/E
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Kinetic Model Kits
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$64.95

Kinetic has released an all new mold Alpha Jet in 48th scale, which is a welcome addition to the lineup of trainers/light attack airplane kits. Upon opening the box, you will find three sprues molded in light grey styrene, one clear part sprue, a small photo-etch fret, plus decals for three versions.

The overall surface detail is very nice, with fine and clearly defined recessed panel lines and rivets. Small parts suffer of a bit of flash, but nothing that 30 seconds with a sanding stick won’t fix. The clear parts are very transparent.

The overall kit breakdown indicates that several versions of the Alpha Jet are possible. The box lists A/E, but the instructions also list a B mark.

Package

F-89 Landing Gear
Review Author
John King
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.95

Background

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) produces white metal landing gear for various aircraft models in 1/144th, 1/72nd, and 1/48th scale. Most sets are direct replacements for the kit parts.

The Parts

The Revell F-89D/J has been around since the early 1990s (my boxing has a copyright date of 1992). Revell of Germany has recently re-issued this kit, and no matter which boxing you get, it is a nice model of the F-89D/J. The SAC landing gear for the F-89 are direct replacements for the kit parts. The white metal parts have some mold lines that will need to be cleaned up, but are otherwise is great condition. Due to the nature of the material used, I do feel that some of the finer details of the landing gear are not as crisp as their plastic counterparts. However, after some paint and weathering this should not be an issue.

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