Master Model has released a nice detail set for the beautiful F-16. This pitot tube can be used on the 1/32nd scale Tamiya, Hasegawa, or Academy kits. Included in the ziplock bag is a separate bag that holds three pieces: a turned metal pitot tube and two Angle of Attack probes for the sides of the nose cone. Each item is easily attached by drilling a small hole and inserting the metal part.

The reason for using these parts is the susceptibility of the kit’s pitot tube to be broken off during handling. A more reasonable reason to use them is the scale thickness, as well as their strength. There are also no mold lines to clean up so they look much more realistic than plastic pieces.

Master Model continues to produce some of the world’s finest turned metal items. This set is no different.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Master Model and IPMS/USA for the review copy and review opportunity.

Molded in light cream-colored, blemish free resin, this set contains two prop hubs with exquisite molded-on detail. There are also six propeller blades, which are straight. These are slightly wider in chord and appear to be a paddle blade. These blades are used on the B-17F/G, B-24, C-47, and DC-3. If you are building a B-17 or B-24, you will need two sets. Clean-up is easy. The blades only need a quick swipe with a sanding stick to be ready to use. The hubs only need a quick cut with a knife blade to be ready to use.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Ultracast for the review copy and IPMS/USA for the review opportunity.

The Book

Kagero Publishing of Poland has a series of photo books called Topshots. They feature lots of photos of a single subject and include a decal sheet.

This book contains photos of Su-22s in Polish Air Force service. It’s got one page of history in English, and 47 pages of photographs, many with details you’re not going to find in any other published source. The photos are all well printed in color.

The decal sheet has all the markings required for two Su-22M-4s of the 7th Air Support Squadron in 1/48 and 1/72. The back cover of the book gives the color and marking placement for 9101, which is on the decal sheet. Photos of 8206, the other aircraft, are also included.

History

The Pfalz D.XII was a German World War I fighter aircraft built by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke. Designed by Rudolph Gehringer as a successor to the Pfalz D.III, the D.XII entered service near the end of the First World War. It was the last aircraft by Pfalz Flugzeugwerke to see widespread service. Though the D.XII was an effective fighter aircraft during the war, it was overshadowed by the highly successful Fokker D.VII.

The D.XII began reaching the Jagdstaffeln in July, 1918. Most units operated the D.XII alongside other fighter types, but units in the quiet front area were completely equipped with the D.XII. While the D.XII was a marked improvement over the obsolescent Albatros D.Va and Pfalz D.IIIa, it nevertheless found little favor with German pilots, who strongly preferred the Fokker D.VII.

In 1917, the Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte issued an official requirement for a high performance, two-seat fighter needed primarily for low-level tactical support of ground troops, and that also would be capable of serving as a two-seat escort fighter for reconnaissance aircraft. Hannoversche Waggonfabrik AG responded with a novel design for a lightweight multi-purpose aircraft that eventually became known as the CL.II. The company was a respected manufacturer of railway wagons that had secured licenses after the war began to build aircraft for Aviatik, Halberstadt, and Rumpler. The CL.II was their first indigenous design and one that had a distinctive appearance when compared to its contemporaries. It proved to be a success in multiple rolls, not the least of which was outmaneuvering and besting some RFC fighters that it battled.