Having established themselves as the leading manufacturer of WWI aviation kits, Wingnut Wings continues their program of releasing quality kits of previously unavailable subjects in 1/32 scale. The Rumpler C. IV Late does not disappoint in the slightest, providing an intricate model that is a joy to build.
Each quarter, WW I aircraft enthusiasts begin to pace back and forth, nervously waiting for the latest issue of Windsock Worldwide to show up in their mailbox or at their local hobby shop. Now, that may sound like something of an exaggeration, but is an understandable occurrence if it should happen, because Ray Rimell’s labor of love has come to be recognized all over the globe as the single best source for information about WW I aircraft model building. The latest issue, Vol. 28, No. 1, is no exception. It is stocked full of what enthusiasts and model builders are hungry for.
Out of Poland comes a series of add ons. This one is a turned brass replacement for the pitot tube on a F-111.
It looks fantastic and the instructions indicate that it replaces the kit part. The one thing missing is that they don't recommend which kit to use. According to their website it will work on any 72nd scale kit. I don't have an Aardvark in my stash to check but it sure looks like it will improve any kit.
The brass part is well-made and very petite. It requires no further clean up (as opposed to what the kit parts will need) and won’t break during handling while finishing your model. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Master Model Poland for the sample and to IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.
A nice replacement part from Poland, this is a turned brass pitot tube for the F-101B. This one is listed to work on any 72nd F-101B kit.
The instructions show to cut the kit part at the tip of the nose, drill a .8mm hole, and then glue in the replacement part.
I have the old Matchbox kit of the Voodoo and it looks like I will need to glue on the kit pitot tube and then cut it to match the contours of the replacement part and drill the hole at that point.
The brass parts do not require any other clean up and look to be an outstanding replacement for the kit parts and will not break during handling. Highly recommended.
Another turned brass replacement part from Poland, this one is for any 1/72nd scale F-100. According to the instructions, you need to cut the kit pitot off at the mounting base, drill a .5mm hole in the mounting base, and glue the replacement part. Then you mount the pitot on the airframe, simple.
The pictures show it compared to the Revell of Germany kit part. The brass part needs no clean up and would be much more resistant to breakage during handling of the model. Definitely an improvement. These parts are highly recommended.
Thanks to Master Model Poland for the pitot and to IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.
If you are a Phantom Phreak, the one thing you cannot get enough of is stencil data. The Phantom, no matter what service or nationality, seemed to be loaded with stencils. Most Hasegawa kits in 1/48 come with a fairly comprehensive set of stencils, though barely legible, incomplete, and they sometimes can be difficult to blend into the paint. If you have a slatted wing F-4E in your stash, then Afterburner Decals has come to the rescue with this very complete set of stencil data for those Phantoms painted in SEA camouflage and grey undersides.
The Yak-38 Forger was the Soviet Union’s equivalent to the Harrier. Built to operate from the KIEV Class Aircraft-Carrying Cruiser, the Forger provided limited air defense and anti-surface ship capability. The Forger relied on the main engine to provide the forward thrust and the lift capability for the rear fuselage. Unlike the Harrier, it had two dedicated lift engines behind the pilot to assist with VTOL. Like the Harrier, the Forger had spring-loaded blow-in doors in the intakes to provide more air during takeoff and landings. And, like the Harriers, when the Forger was shut down, these doors could often be found in the open position. I have provided an image from a Soviet State Publication on the Navy of the period that shows the open intakes to good effect. Unfortunately, the Hobby Boss kit provides intakes with the doors closed. You could open these doors and make replacements from styrene strip. Quickboost, however, has done this for you with this set.
The MiG-27 is a dedicated ground attack variant of the MiG-23 that was built for the Soviet Air Forces. Unlike the MiG-23BN ground attack variant, which still carries the GSh-23L two-barreled 23mm cannon, the MiG-27 instead is fitted with a six-barreled GSh-6-30 Gatling-type 30 millimeter cannon. Unlike the 23mm gun, the 30mm is not shrouded by a cover and so the barrels are fully exposed. The only 1/48 scale kit of this aircraft is the former ESCI kit now made by ITALERI and it does come with a 30mm Gatling gun. It is molded in two halves and the seams must be cleaned up. The detail is rather simplistic and the barrels a little large. Given its visible position, it really needs greater detail.
Arriving on the heels of their all-new Bf-109E in 1/48 scale, the boys at Eduard have already produced an excellent and comprehensive photo etch upgrade set. Considering the beautiful, highly detailed, all-new tooling Eduard kit, I wondered what else they could add to this superb kit. The answer is easy. Starting in the cockpit, we get a new document box, rudder petals, trim wheels, plus all the extra small items that add the finishing touches where needed. The gun bay and engine also benefit by adding ammo box grab handles. The DB 601 benefits from adding lifting-jack points, intake screen, and a top case plate. New cowling formers for the engine bearers and a cap for the header tank are also included. The radiators also get the treatment with new exit doors that include the proper linkages. We also have new interiors for the main landing gear wells, as well as gear-leg parts that include drag links, brake-plates, and brake-lines.
The Parabellum LMG 14 was introduced in 1914 by the German company Deutche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, and was based on their MG 08 gun. Rather than using a belt feed system, the LMG 14 utilized an enclosed drum magazine to hold the same 7.92 mm ammunition as its predecessor. Other modifications for the LMG 14 included a lighter casing and the use of air instead of water for cooling the barrel. The gun had a rate of fire of 700 rounds per minute, and was used mostly on bombers, scout planes, and zeppelins. There were attempts to synchronize this particular gun with the propeller on initial Fokker E.1 planes, but this was later abandoned due to issues with the reliability of the LMG 14.
