Thank you to Bruce Herke of Osprey Publishing and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to review this delightful description of the Sopwith Camel. This was a very enjoyable and informative read. I reviewed the book through the eyes of a rank novice (something I seem to be good at) when it comes to World War I aviation. I suspect many of us may have first heard of the Camel as the form-changing doghouse of Snoopy’s fantasies.

Model features (taken directly from Wingnut Wings’ website):

Released in October 2012

• High quality decals for 5 aircraft
• 166 high quality injection moulded plastic parts
• 6 photo-etched metal detail parts
• Highly detailed 17 part 100hp Gnome Monosoupape engine
• Optional 2 & 4 blade propellers, instrument boards, undercarriage, aileron controls and ammunition stowage
• Fine in scale rib tape detail
• full rigging diagrams.

You know what? – it’s all true and you get a lot more.

The Aircraft Manufacturing Company de Havilland 2 (AMC DH.2) first flew in June, 1915, was sent to the front in July for evaluation, and was promptly captured in August. This didn't deter the development, and by February, 1916, they were there to stay. By July, 1917, they were slowly replaced by more modern aircraft but continued to serve well into 1918.

Airfix has been busy lately coming out with newly tooled model kits, and the A-4B/4P Skyhawk continues that trend. The A-4 Skyhawk was a very successful light attack design by Douglas for the US Navy (and foreign buyers) and had a very long and effective career. There are many books that will go into great length on the development and history of this aircraft, so I will only deal with the build of this model kit. 73 parts are molded in a soft gray plastic (two more are clear parts), so be careful and don't sand to aggressively. Some have mentioned that the recessed panel lines are too deep, but what I found on my model was the fuselage lines got less deep towards the top and bottom of the fuselage and I had to rescribe these to match the rest of the fuselage, but it only took about 15 minutes to do so.

• QB 32130 Late exhausts $8.50
• QB 32131 Early exhausts $8.50

Quickboost has a pair of great detail sets for the Trumpeter 1/32 F/A-18E/F kits. The parts reviewed here are the ECS (Environmental Control System) exhausts which are located on the back of the new Hornets. There are two sets. First is a late version which is a direct replacement of the kit parts. Simply sand the kit parts smooth and sand off the casting block and attach. The Quickboost parts have more of a correct angle to them and deeper intakes and are very well cast.

The second set allows you to backdate the kit to one with the early set of ECS exhausts. In this case, a little surgery will be needed to allow the part to sit into the kit. There is a picture included to show the needed cuts. The casting is again flawless.

The J2M5/6 Raiden interceptors were introduced into combat in small numbers by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the last year and a half of the war and proved to be good defense against American B-29 missions over the Japanese homeland. There were less than 50 operational J2M5s and only two J2M6s, and they served in units along with J2M3s (since there were only two J2M4 prototypes). Sword’s new kit offers a better way of reproducing these aircraft in 1/72 scale than modifying one of the older Hasegawa J2M3 kits. The J2M5 and J2M6 were similar in appearance, with the same style of bulged top canopy, but they differed in a significant way…the J2M5 had a mechanical driven supercharger that decreased power by approximately 30%. The J2M5 did have a smaller under-cowl air intake scoop than the J2M6 and Sword provides both air intake options, so either version can be built.