Werner's Wings has released a 5-piece resin set to transform the 1/35 Academy AH-1W NTS into the latest version flying in Afghanistan with turned exhausts to provide a lower heat signature. The parts look very clean and the edges are nicely formed with crisp edges.

The set includes the exhaust housing and outlets, 2 inserts for inside the exhaust outlets, the inner engine bulkhead, and a cover for the tail rotor shaft.

It also comes with a detailed instruction sheet showing you how to install the parts.

It requires that you cut part of old exhaust attached to the fuselage and replace it with the resin parts. Also warns about cutting the area around the driveshaft cover, recommends that you cut the exhaust area first then measure area for the driveshaft cover.

Because the parts have some weight to them you will have to drill out some of the resin from the front of the exhaust. This will help balance the aircraft so it sits correctly.

Editor: this part also comes in other scales. Check Master Model website.

This is the first time that I’ve used one of the turned brass after market pieces from Master Model. The piece that I’m reviewing is the NATO standard Refueling Probe. As their instructions state “NATO Standard refueling probe is the same in every NATO aircraft with air-to-air refueling system, but fitting is different for every aircraft”. The best part is that after that statement they provide 4 black and white photos showing how it should look.

Well I started looking through the stash for some kits that have an exposed refueling probe and I was starting to get a little disappointed at how many don’t have the option for the refueling probe out. Then I started looking for the aircraft that have them permanently out. I decided to install it on the British Buccaneer.

NOTE – In box review only…full build article to following in Journal

I don’t know about you folks, but it seems that every time I make the decision to undertake a major/difficult project, only because there are no alternatives available, someone else comes out with a beautiful kit of the subject and this was no exception.

[Japanesse] manufacturer Platz has expanded its UAV line to cover several versions of the Predator. This review covers the MQ-1A one, which is the armed one.

The kit is molded in light plastic and two sprues. You get 6 marking options, but there are plenty of extra decals in the sheet, so you can probably find enough markings for almost any predator in service.

Wings are one piece, helping to set the proper dihedral which is critical on an airplane with such a long wingspan relative to the fuselage.

Given that there is no cockpit, assembly is quick and easy. It took me about two hours to prepare the parts and assemble them. I left the landing gear out the kit for ease of painting.

In the post war years of the 1940s The U.S. Navy wanted a new missions aircraft to replace the AF2 and secure a single platform aircraft. The Grumman “iron works” aircraft company always catering to the needs of the Navy introduced the G-89 a twin-engine high wing prototype. The prototype was all navy she featured folding wings, large payload capacity, searchlights and a tail-hook. Also a magnetic anomaly detector boom and a retractable belly search radar. The first prototype ‘XS2F-1’ flew on December 4^th1952. Entering service in 1954 the S-2s were the first single ship aircraft to carry out anti-submarine warfare (ASW) which previously required 2 aircraft. The Trackers and her cousins served faithfully during the cold war keeping track of Russian submarines for many years by 1976 over 1,000 Trackers have been retired from the Navy.