History

The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the earlier two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G replaces the EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. Production for the EA-18G began in 2007 and the aircraft entered operational service in late 2009.

The first Growler for fleet use was accepted by VAQ-129 "Vikings" at NAS Whidbey Island, in June 2008. At the time, the Navy planned to buy approximately 85 aircraft to equip 11 squadrons. The EA-18G completed operational evaluation in late July 2009. In August 2009, EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 129 (VAQ-129) and Electronic Attack Squadron 132 (VAQ-132) completed their first at-sea carrier-arrested landing aboard the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The first deployable EA-18G squadron was VAQ-132 "Scorpions," which reached operational status in October 2009.

Eduard has turned out an excellent 1/48th scale Bf-109E-4 kit for us that has sparked a new interest in one of the most modeled aircraft ever. But, who can ever have enough 109’s? Even though you get markings for five separate aircraft in the Profipack kit, Eduard has produced a decal sheet with another five aircraft for us to choose from. The decals are printed by Eduard in the Czech Republic on a 3.3” by 7.5” sheet and is accompanied by an 8.3” x 11.6”full color foldout depicting the decal placement for each of the aircraft, as well as a general scheme depiction that includes color callouts for Gunze Sanyo paints.

Aircraft included are:

From Ross McMillan and Scale Aircraft Conversions comes this nice little set of replacement landing gear from Tamiya’s 1/48 He-162 Salamander. The set consists of two main gear struts, two torque links, one nose gear strut, one lower half of the nose gear strut, and one retraction strut for the main landing gear. Each of the parts is well cast in white metal.

The parts are a direct replacement for the kit parts. They fit well and provide more strength. I have included shots of the kit parts and SAC gears they duplicate.

If you want to add more strength, these are perfect. Recommended. My thanks to Ross McMillan at Scale Aircraft Conversions and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great gear.

Master Model continues their new releases with a replacement pitot tube for the Trumpeter range of F-8 Crusader kits. This particular piece fits either the E or J models.

The part is a finely milled, one-piece pitot tube that directly replaces the kit part. As you can see from the pictures, it is light years beyond the kits plastic part, having the correct shape and size. Adding it to the kit is simple – drop it in with no cutting and you’re done. For a mere $4.00, this is needed. It corrects the kit part and adds strength to the piece.

If you are building one of the Trumpeter F-8's, you need to add this piece. Recommended! My thanks to Master Models and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this item.

A while back (a couple of years?), I built ICM’s 1/72 Su-27 for a review. I can’t remember the reason, but I wound up using a cut-off straight pin for the pitot on the kit. Well, here’s the fix for that.

I had to pull the pin out of the nose of the ICM kit, then clean up the end of the nose where some CA had built up. Then, all that was necessary was to insert the new pitot, check its fit, remove it, put some gel-type CA on the pitot, and insert it. I kinda lucked out here, as the hole for the straight pin was as large as I needed for the new pitot. Master Model also gives the correct angle for the pitot, which is lacking in the kits.

After the CA had set, a matter of minutes, I painted the new pitot. DONE!!

Overall Evaluation

Highly recommended. It’s an easy fix, it fits nicely, and I had zero problems with this add-on. I’ll have to pick up another one of these to fix the Hasegawa Su-27 on the shelf next to the ICM kit.