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Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.
Cover

The IAR-80 & IAR-81 - Airframe, Systems, & Equipment

Book Author(s)
Radu Brinzan
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
SAM Publications
MSRP
$23.95

I’ve loved the looks of the I.A.R.80 since the LTD model came out. There is something about the look of the airplane that makes it look like the Hughes racer. It is sleek and sexy and relatively unknown in the western world.

Prior to this book, there have been very few references available on the I.A.R.80. There was a book published in Rumanian, and later French, I.A.R.80 – The History of an Unknown Fighter, which is very good. I have a copy and the photos make it worth the price of admission. However, I can’t read it. This book by noted Rumanian aviation historian, Radu Brinzan, fixes that.

Box Art

F-8 Crusader
Review Author
Gary Telecsan
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$23.99

This kit is a re-release, complete with raised lettering on the underside of one stabilizer showing the 1988 date. The decals are new. It is highly recommended as the next kit for a younger modeler ready to move up from snap-together kits.

The kit shows its age in the uncomplicated engineering, raised panel lines, and very simple cockpit – but it is a true delight to build. 62 parts come in the box, and there are two options, one Navy and one Marine Corps. The instructions show the Navy version with Sidewinder missiles and the Marine version with 6 roughly 500 lb pound bombs. The in-flight refueling station can be built closed or with probe extended. The instructions are clear and easy to read – with one exception. A list of parts and color guide is included, though no call-outs for any particular brands.

Detail Parts

USN F-4 Exhaust Nozzles (Late)
Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$55.00

When Eduard started their "Brassin" series of detail parts, they really raised the bar for aftermarket detail manufacturers. Burner cans and exhausts, regardless of the scale, have always been an area that was badly in need of assistance, even with kits like Tamiya's F-4J Phantom. That seam down the middle of tubular structures has always been a modeler's nightmare. Eduard's Brassin series has done a fantastic job of taking care of that problem and has taken even resin casting to a new level.

Cover

Boeing 737 At The Gate
Book Author(s)
Robert W. Tidwell
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$18.95

Thanks to Gary Newman of Squadron/Signal Publications and to IPMS/USA for giving me the opportunity to review this delightful overview of one of the standard airliners flying today. The book is written by Robert W. Tidwell and is lavishly illustrated with wonderful examples of 737s around the world. Each page has one or more color photos, superb Don Greer renderings, line drawings by Melinda Turnage, or aircraft version specs. I reviewed the softcover edition. The photography is excellent throughout and they are all color. The “At the Gate” series concentrates on commercial or private aircraft and is similar to the “Walk Around” series, also by Squadron/Signal.

Box Art

Bf-109 V-13 Conversion
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Werners Wings
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$45.00

I was given the opportunity to review the Eduard 1/32nd scale “Bf-109E over the Balkans Peninsula” and since I’d already built the Eduard kit I thought why not use it to build the V-13 Record Setter. Luckily for me, IPMS thought why not as well.

Cover

A-1H Skyraider Concept Notes SWS no. III
Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
MSRP
$59.00

This is Zoukei-mura’s third publication for their SWS model kit range, this one concerning their excellent 1/32 A-1H model. As I write, I can’t recall any other similar publication from a kit manufacturer to complement their kits. The book is broken down into 4 chapters, with a foreword and an afterword section. The photos are some of the best I have ever seen in any publication and I am going to say I've never seen them displayed in any other book. Their quality and crispness is by far a step above many other publications.

The text is 50-50 Japanese and English. At first it was a little hard to read but, after a few minutes there was no problem.

Also included is a very nice decal sheet with data and stencils (only in the first edition for this book).

The Forward

The Forward section deals with the company’s concept to come up with a "Dream Wing" for their "Super Wing Series."

Box Art

Sukhoi Su-30MK Flanker C
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$65.00

History

The Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C is a two-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter for all-weather, air-to-air, and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions, developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. The Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family. The design plan was revamped and the name was made official by the Russian Defense Ministry in 1996.

While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have sufficient range for the Soviet Air Defense Forces, which needed to cover the vast expanse of the Soviet Union. The development began in 1986 on the Su-27PU, an improved-capability variant of the Su-27 capable of serving as a long-range interceptor or airborne command post. The two-seat Su-27UB combat trainer was selected as the basis for the Su-27PU, because it had the performance of a single-seat Su-27 and long-range missions require two crew members.

Decal Packaging

P-51/F-6 Pacific Mustang Decals
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.00

These decals are first-rate from several perspectives.

First of all, they’re very well researched, and Kagero seems to have gone out of their way to do subjects which aren’t common among decal makers.

Second, the instructions are head and shoulders above anything I’ve seen as far as color instructions, decal placement instructions, and decal application instructions.

Third, the decals are by Cartograf of Italy, and they are the industry standard for color, registration and ease of application.

First, the subjects:

Parts Packaging

F-6D Photo Mustang Conversion
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.95

History

The F-6D was a standard P-51D Mustang that was converted to photo-reconnaissance after completion. 126 P-51Ds built at Inglewood, California were converted to F-6Ds. The conversion consisted of 3 major items:

  1. An oblique camera mounted in the side of the fuselage.
  2. A vertical camera mounted in the bottom of the fuselage.
  3. A radio direction finder with an added loop antenna on the rear fuselage.

After I received the QuickBoost F-6 conversion, I decided I would like to build a famous aircraft, if possible. In my search through the internet, I found a very interesting, if little known, Photo Mustang.

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