Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Robert Folden
Published on
October 13, 2011
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$36.00

NOTE: Two cockpit sets are virtually the same, with only a few parts different.

To go along with Aires’ new A6M5 Zero wheel bay set, Aires released two cockpit sets. The sets are virtually the same, and are intended for use with the same base kit. The differences are that one set offers an A6M5 Zero, while the second set is the A6M5b Zero. The -b Zero featured various upgraded avionics within the cockpit. Comparing the two sets, minor differences are seen, including different controls and avionics boxes. As with all Aires sets the castings are well done and are cast in grey and beige resin. While the casting in grey resin was excellent in my samples, the beige castings featured quite a bit of flash, and did not seem to have the crisp detail that Aires is known for. In my opinion, this is not a fault of Aires, but more due to the type of resin used.

Review Author
Robert Folden
Published on
October 13, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$21.95

One of the leaders in resin detailing parts, Aires recently released a detail set for the wheel bay of the Tamiya 1/36 A6M5 Zero. Cast from resin, with no flash or flaws, the set comes with the two main gear bays, detail parts, and partial gear doors. As with all Aires sets the detail is superb. I did not have the Tamiya kit on hand to compare to, but a comparison to the 21st Century Zero kit showed a serious improvement over the kit bays. It is also noted that the Aires parts do fit the 21st Century kit (it was rumored that the 21st Century kit had detail copied from Tamiya).

Once again, I am very impressed with Aires’ latest release. They have an eye for detail, and an amazing skill for casting resin parts. This is one highly recommended resin set. My thanks to Aires for providing an excellent sample for review.

Review Author
Robert Folden
Published on
October 13, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.99

When it comes to resin detail parts for aircraft, Quickboost is one of the top manufacturers on the market. One of their newest releases is a set of pitot tubes for the Trumpeter 1/48 Seahawk FGA Mk. 6. The set comes in finely cast resin and includes two pitot tubes and mounts. As with all Quickboost sets, the instructions simply list which parts from the kit to replace with the resin parts

As with every Quickboost set I have worked with, the parts are free of defects and flash, and are easily removed from the pour plugs, with little clean-up. This is a must-have detail set for anyone working with the Seahawk FGA kit. My thanks to Quickboost for providing the review sample

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
October 13, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost has added a new resin item to their growing line of aftermarket parts for 1/32 aircraft. Set 32 112 will add detail to the Kinetic, Italeri or Hasegawa 1/32 F-86F kits. This set provides two ready-to-install pitot tubes cast in a flexible gray resin that likely will survive occasional bumps sometime experienced when a finished model is handled. As the photo below shows, the pitot tubes are molded on a common casting block with extended bars that protect the parts from damage in the package. These parts exhibit a much better detail than those included in the kits.

A sharp #11 x-Acto blade can be used to remove each pitot tube from the casting block. This part is a direct replacement for a kit part, but there is no molding seam to remove as is usually the case with injection molded kit parts. Because this part is cast in resin, it should be attached with super glue or epoxy cement.

Book Author(s)
Warren E. Thompson
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
October 12, 2011
Company
Specialty Press
MSRP
$24.95

Editor's note: This publication is also available in a downloadable version from the publisher.

As a Desert Storm veteran, it was quite a unique thing the first time I actually saw an F-117 in the air. The initial raids against Baghdad brought to light the existence of these stealth fighters and their capabilities. Firsthand accounts of air combat have always been a favorite read of mine. This book was right up my alley.

This soft bound book features 200 pages of accounts from the pilot, ground crew and commander’s perspective during the war. The book features many previously un-published black and white photos. These will be helpful and informative for the modeler. Every photo comes with an extensive caption that provides insight.

Review Author
Tom Pope
Published on
October 6, 2022
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$22.95

Introduction

1947 was a much simpler time but there were complex problems to be solved. 'Let's put a rocket motor in a small fuselage shaped like a 50 caliber bullet and see if we can maintain controlled flight, faster than the speed of sound'. Sounds simple enough.

Looking back now, the X-1 was simple in shape, power and design and we are still learning from those tests.

Revell has re-released the X-1 as a model kit that captures that simplicity with great detail.

My thanks go out to Revell for providing this kit for review and to IPMS USA for letting me do the review.

In the Box

There are 49 parts in this kit molded in gray and 2 clear. At 1/32 scale, the parts are big and easy to handle and assemble for young, small hands or us 'more experienced' folks with sausages for fingers. A few of the bigger parts separated themselves from the sprues in shipping.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
October 8, 2011
Company
SuperScale International
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

The decal set consists of one 4.75 x 7.5 inch sheet accompanying by a color glossy 8.5 x 11 inch instruction and placement page in a ziplock plastic bag. I always appreciate the resealable bags, for storing unused decals afterwards and protection from coffee. The decals themselves were printed by Cartograf. Markings for two aircraft are provided, BuNo 162224 of VAQ-135, and BuNo 163527, VAQ-137. Very well-done and unique unit art is included for each aircraft, as well as numerous decals for some ECM pods and drop tanks. The formation light panels appear to be a reasonably accurate color. Unfortunately, there are only formation lights for one aircraft. Consider this if you actually are going to build both aircraft off this sheet. General and detail side views of both are included, and there are two general top and detail views. FS colors are provided for the color schemes, and the decal inks appear to match the FS color chips fairly well.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
October 6, 2011
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$60.40

The F/A-18 Hornet has been around for a while, and it looks to be almost as big a winner as its predecessor, the F-4 Phantom. One of the stories going around St. Louis in the 90s was that the plant wanted to build 5058 Hornets, one more than the production run for the Phantom. Well, the production line is still open, and they’re past 1100 now.

The F/A-18 E and F are different aircraft from the A to D models. The whole plane is larger, the engines are more powerful, and it’s stealthier. The engine intakes are square and the landing gear doors have sawtooth edges, which reduce radar return.

Here’s a picture of my recent CF-18A with the F/A-18E.

The Kit

You get two kits in separate plastic bags. The only difference between the two kits is that the F model has a longer canopy. Otherwise, they’re part-for-part the same kit. You even get two ejection seats and the extras for the rear cockpit with the E.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
October 5, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.40

The Detail Parts:

Quickboost offers a set of four antennas for the Trumpeter Su-24M in 48th scale. The parts are “scaled” appropriately for 48th and that, of course, means the parts are rather small and delicate. Caution must be the rule when removing the parts from the sprue and then, again, when attached to the aircraft.

Upon first glance, one will think that Quickboost has relaxed its consistently high standard of quality. The antennas appear to be covered with flash. But look again and you will see that this is not the case. Quickboost has supported the parts while on the sprue with a thin layer of material that protects the parts and provides additional “contact points” between the parts and the sprue. This extra material is easily removed and causes no difficulty when using the parts.