This book covers the Me-262 Bomber and recon units of World War II. The Me-262 is well known as the world’s first operational combat jet. Equally well known is the story of how Hitler insisted that the 262 be used as a bomber rather than to defend against Allied bomber raids.
This book is the latest in the Walk Around series from Squadron. It is in the size and format that is oh so well known to modelers around the world. This book on the B-25 covers the D, H and J variants in color photographic essay format.
The book uses mainly restored warbirds as photographic subjects, and the author has been good about pointing out where the restorations have used non-standard parts. He has also provided B&W photos of wartime aircraft to show how they were originally equipped.
The first section covers the C/D model with many color photos of “Yankee Warrior,” owned by the Yankee Air Museum. The C and the D were identical, with the C being built in California and the D in Kansas City. Only exterior shots are featured on this model, and this is the shortest section in the book.
Prior to reading this book, I had no particular interest in the Valiant, and was only vaguely aware of this aircraft. But because of my previous positive experiences with Osprey publications, I began to read the book with the knowledge that I would soon know more about the Valiant and its role in the Cold War than I did at the outset.
This book is written by Andrew Brookes, author of over a dozen books related to aviation and recipient of the Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award in 2004 and 2006. Mr. Brookes also has some expertise in the subject of aviation, amassing some 3500 flying hours Victors, Canberras, and Vulcans. The man knows what he is talking about.
Valiant Units contains about 30 original color side-views of the Valiant, the work of Chris Davey, Mr. Davey is no stranger to readers of the Osprey series of Combat Aircraft. His work appears in a number of previously published Osprey books.
AIRfile Publication’s Operation Overlord, Volume 2 presents a wealth of illustrated aircraft profiles featuring various 8th and 9th Air Forces assets. The volume covers how they appeared in the lead-up, action, and aftermath of D-Day, along with a general overview of the distinctive markings (or more colloquially the "invasion stripes”) found on the various aircraft in-theater.
Master Model from Poland has earned the reputation as the source for exquisite metal pitot tubes, gun barrels, and numerous other machined metal detail parts for all scales. As the promotional message on their packaging suggests, their products provide “reality in miniature”…and they are miniature masterpieces.
Master Model also is proving to be very prolific. They now have added to their growing line of detail parts a 1/72 scale version of their beautiful multi-part pitot tube for the MiG-21. It is virtually a downsized version of those they offer in both 1/48 and 1/32 scales. And, like the larger scale versions, this one comes packaged in multiple plastic pouches, stapled to a display card, and includes two turned metal parts, a thin photo-etch fret, and a small instruction sheet.
As a member of the IPMS/USA Review Corps, I have had the wonderful opportunity to review a few items now from the Polish company Master Model. The topic for this review is a new set designed to upgrade your 1/48 scale Komet. Unlike most of the sets that I have reviewed, there is no recommended kit to use these new parts on, so I chose a Dragon release that was sitting in my stash. As with any of the other releases that I have come in contact with, these parts will greatly improve the look of your Komet.
This is the seventh item that I have reviewed from Master Model, a Polish company that specializes in brass detail parts, typically in the form of gun barrels, antennas, and pitot tubes. This new 72nd scale release is designed for the Heinkel He-162 Salamander, and replaces the kit supplied forward pitot tube and gun barrels, and also provides a nose gear position indicator. No kit is mentioned for installing these parts onto, but for comparison purposes, I have put a Dragon release to use. As with the other releases from Master Model, these parts will dramatically improve the appearance of your plane, plus provide the nose gear indicator that I have not seen on kits in this scale.
Chocks act as a safety device when placed under the wheels of a parked aircraft. This prevents the aircraft from rolling, especially when unattended or during an engine run-up.
The units were resin cast material – white in color. One-page plans, good format.
The assembly is very basic. The cord or rope supplied looked large to me, so I used a thinner cord. (Thread: standard brown).
Used Floquil reefer yellow. I used black striping on one set of chocks. On the remaining two sets of chocks, I used the decals supplied on the instruction sheet.
With a slight modification, the units went together well. These units can be assembled by any inexperienced modeler. I wish to thank Profimodeller and IPMS for allowing me to review this kit.
The Ju88 was the most versatile German World War II aircraft in service. Several applications were: dive and high altitude bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber against shipping, tank buster, as well as reconnaissance.
The model is made from injection molded plastic – grey in color. The plans were in book format, printed both sides. I had an issue with the landing gear assembly – the procedure could have been more definitive. Clear molded plastic windows were supplied. An extensively detailed decal sheet was also included.
If you are looking for a head-scratching challenge…this is the kit for you. Cyber Hobby’s new 1/72 scale kit of the Aichi D3A1 Type 99 Val is guaranteed to provide you with hours and hours of the same kind of entertainment you anticipate when buying a die-cut puzzle...but, this one carries a MSRP of $41.75.
The colorful box top painting shows a pair of wartime Vals about to deliver their payload, and the many state-of-the-art CAD illustrations and profiles on the other box panels suggest this is the best kit to reproduce the aircraft in miniature. I had hoped I would get to review this one and soon learned why my mother often said, “Be careful what you wish for.” A good-looking model is certainly possible, but only if you have reference material to consult, and begin the project with the knowledge that the guys at Cyber Hobby may have thought they were working for a puzzle company.
