Initial Impressions

This upgrade and conversion set addresses inaccuracies in the venerable Lindberg kit No. 72544, the Curtiss Goshawk, and allows a conversion to a BFC-2 or a correction to the F11-C. The Lindberg kit is still widely available, although it is out of production.

The parts are cast in light gray resin and include a replacement engine, one-piece cowling, cockpit parts, wheels and wheel pants/spats, propeller, gun sight, fuel tank, and vacuformed clear plastic windscreens and canopy. An excellent set of instructions accompanies this set and includes references, decals sources, and online extras, such as decal artwork and a rigging diagram. Everything is contained in a plastic bag.

This set immediately got me fired up, unlike many conversion or update sets. The instructions and materials are well-presented. There was no sense of trepidation, dread, or self-coaching with this one!

Quickboost continues to release replacement parts for new kits as they come out, this time it is updated exhausts for the new Airfix Swordfish.

A quick comparison between the kit part and the resin parts show the new items have more of an oval exhaust point where the kit piece looks more round.

You get 2 exhausts in the set which can be helpful if you have one of the older Matchbox/Revell versions as those kits only come with the later exhaust. Or you can save the other one for the new floatplane version Airfix is releasing shortly.

Overall a nice, quick update to help make a good looking kit that much better. Many thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review item

The Sunderland is one of my favorite flying boats. There is something about the Flying Porcupine that just makes me go cool. I even got a chance to see one at Fantasy of Flight during the Nationals even though it had been converted to a passenger version.

This new sheet by Aviaeology covers markings for 3 of the Mk.III versions as operated by the RCAF in Coastal Command. All 3 aircraft scored U-boat kills. They all wear similar schemes of white fuselage sides and undersides and either Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey upper camos or the later version with just Extra Dark Sea Grey. The instruction sheet is in black and white and gives profiles and upper views of all 3 aircraft.

History

The Royal Aircraft Factory RE-8 was one of those airplanes that never attracted the attention it deserved, mainly because it wasn’t a fighter that attracted a lot of press. It was, however, a very basic, fundamental design, one intended for observation and reconnaissance duties over the front. I had always been under the impression that the RE-8 was a rather unimpressive plane, but after reading Paul Hare’s account of its development, I have come to the conclusion that it was really a fundamentally sound airplane for the tasks assigned to it. During the time period it was in operation, it acquitted itself honorably, with its pilots and crews often getting the best of higher performing German fighters. Certainly, taking photos of the trenches wasn’t as glamorous as shooting down enemy planes, but it was a very necessary job, and it doubtless saved thousands of British infantrymen’s lives due to its activities.

The Messerschmitt Bf-110, often called the Me-110, was a twin engine heavy fighter (zerstorer – German for destroyer) in service of the Luftwaffe during WW II, armed with four 7.92mm machine guns in the upper nose and two 20mm cannons in the lower nose. It was also equipped with a 7.92 mg15 defensive rear-mounted gun and could carry up to 4410 lb in bombs. The D-3 version was a long-range zerstorer with a lengthened tail for a rescue dingy, and either two 80 gal or two 240 gal drop tanks.

Upon initial inspection, the kit is very impressive in size and scale. At the same time, I have never built a 1/32 scale aircraft and found it a little overwhelming. The kit has great box art and standard Dragon instructions along with a decal sheet, 430+ parts on 17 plastic sprues, and a PE fret. The canopy sprue has 11 pieces for two different variations. At first glance at the decals, they are really crisp.