This Special Edition dual kit is a re-release of Hasegawa’s DC-3/C-47 kit with decals included to build two variants of the L2D “Tabby,” the Japanese copy of the C-47, and one USAAF C-47. The parts are typical Hasegawa – molded in gray and with super detail. On my sample, something apparently happened to the C-47 during packaging because it had what looked like tank tracks across the left vertical fin, and the antenna and pitot masts were bent horizontal. It all turned out OK with some putty and re-scribing. The kit could use the addition of some details – there are no exhaust stacks, for instance.

The L2D kit has the World’s Smallest Resin Part included for the antenna cover atop the forward fuselage – and that pretty well typifies the main issue I had with these kits: size. The builds are straightforward, but some of the smaller parts are so tiny, it’s difficult to hold them and clean up sprue nubs, sand off mold seams, and so forth.

Vintage Flyer is a relatively new decal company producing airline decals from the late 1930s to the late 1960s, according to their website. This review is for their Santa Fe Skyway DC-3 decals in 1/144th, which is quite interesting as Santa Fe Skyway was not around for long at all! These decals will be used on a Minicraft DC-3.

The decals come in a standard Ziplock-type bag. They are Alps printed and come with at least one coat of sealer on them, but adding another coat couldn’t hurt. They are crisply printed on three separate sheets. One sheet contains solid white decals as the underlying base for most of the colorful decals. There is another sheet that contains all the black markings. Finally, the third sheet has the colorful artwork on them, such as the Santa Fe logo. This will lead to a lengthy decal process, as you should let each decal cure before adding another one on top of it.

I was extremely pleased to be given the chance to review Eduard’s new Zuikaku carrier deck section. I have a few IJN aircraft and this deck section really helps to display them at shows. You get a section of pre-painted deck, and all you have to do is remove it from the etch carrier tree and you ready to place your favorite IJN plane on it. The deck section is good to go as is or you can mount it on a base like I did (mine came from Michael’s craft store for a couple of bucks).

There is also deck sections for the Zuikaku with an elevator, and similar ones for the Akagi available as well from Eduard. I used a Hasegawa Zero to show off the deck – see pictures below. Purist will recognize that my Zero is from the Hiryu, not the Zuikaku. Oh, well, it’s the only A6M2 I have built at the moment, so it will have to do.

SAC continues its prolific output of gear to handle the loads on our models. Thanks to Russ at SAC for providing IPMS/USA this set, and IPMS for sending it to me for review!

This is yet another drop-fit set designed for the Hasegawa P-39/P-400, an aircraft that can use it – metal replacements on a long nose-gear-legged bird…particularly true if you choose to put weight in the nose (and the P-39 needs it) to keep the aircraft sitting on all three tires.

Everything was a perfect fit. Main gear legs fit tightly into the square attachment points. The nose gear slid into place as easily; the actuating ram was from the kit in plastic, but it all went where it needed to, and I have no complaints. One thing I really like about metal gear is the ability to expand parts and attachment points to fit around trunnion lugs and fittings, and then squeeze them together to help hold them in place.

Academy has re-boxed the rendering of the Il-2 originally released by Accurate Miniatures in 1997. The box shows a “Mold by Accurate Miniatures” on the cover, so no doubts about it and that is a good thing. The Accurate Miniatures Il-2 model is a nice one that is now available again in the market.

This boxing has decals printed by Cartograf, including seatbelts and instrument panel details. A bonus you get in this boxing is that all the standard parts for the landing gear with wheels are included, in addition to the landing gear with skis. So, you can build either version (wheels or skis) with the parts in the box.