Editor: Features the Russian captured D-9, "White 16" II./JG 301, "Black 4" W. Nr. 400271 III./JG 2 and "White 15" W. Nr. 600651

Just when you thought you had seen every marking scheme for Fw 190D9’s, Jerry Crandall comes out with a new book on the Dora and decals for newly discovered aircraft.

This sheet contains markings for four different aircraft, one of which was a captured aircraft used by the Russians The other three bear non-standard colors and markings, which was not at all unusual during the late stages of the Spring of 1945, right at the end of the war.

These decals are in keeping with the usual high quality research of Eagle Editions and are perfectly in register, as printed by Cartograf of Italy.

By the way, if you want some good reading and an excellent reference to add to your reference collection, get FW 190 Dora Volume Two, published by Eagle Editions, Ltd. It will give you even more info on these four aircraft.

Set Contents

• 1 X 32239 Exteriors
• 1 X 32643 Interior S.A.
• 1 X 32501 Remove Before Flight
• 1 X JX093 Express Mask

History Brief

The North American F-86F-30 Sabre was America’s finest fighter during the Korean conflict. I’ve had the opportunity over the years to talk to a few F-86 pilots who also had a turn with the Mig 15. The Sabre was always their first choice. One pilot said to me comparing the F-86 to her Russian counterpart is like comparing a sports car to a pick up truck. The only problem was no one knew that back then.

A huge “thanks!” to our friends at Aires; they continue to provide IPMS USA with plenty of review opportunities for upgrades to our favorite aircraft…!

This is a simple conversion to the Hasegawa kit parts. Included are augmenter burner cans, turbine faces with integral mounting pegs to fit the Hasegawa kit, flameholders in photoetch, and the nozzles themselves. Instructions are clear and clean on the standard blue folded sheet, showing exactly what is needed to install the parts. The nozzles, a major feature of the F-22, are intended to be shown in this case in the “open” position.

This allows one to look directly down the exhaust and view the excellent detail provided by this set.

As you can see in the composite kit provided parts photo the kit turbines are not detailed other than having the flameholders; no turbine detail is provided. The kit augmenter cans are two-sided items requiring the usual filling of a seam as would be expected in the case.

Given the tactical organization of the Regia Aeronautica during World War II, this book covers the story of all the different Gruppi that were part of the 53 Stormo during World War II. The Regia Aeronautica organized their units in the basis of a Squadriglia, (Squadron) with strength of 9 to 12 airplanes. Two or three Squadriglie would form a Gruppo (Group) and two or three Gruppi would form a Storm (Wing). Often there would be autonomous Gruppi and sometimes even Squadriglie assigned to different front or sector.

The Gruppi described in this book are the 150 Gruppo “Gigi Tre Osei”, 151 Gruppo “Asso di Spade”and 153 Gruppo “Asso di Bastoni”. Also 157 Gruppo was attached to 53 Stormo briefly and therefore included in the book.

The new Cyberhobby Bf-110s are some of the finest versions of this famous aircraft but even they could use some resin to make them even better.

These little gems are molded in light grey resin without a bubble anywhere. The level of detail far exceeds what is in the kit. These parts are easy enough to add. Simply remove them and substitute them for parts K12 and K13. The only thing these need to make them outstanding is a good paint job. Granted they will be mostly hidden but I think that they add to the look of the finished model.

I like to upgrade cockpits and wheel wells so this set is perfect for me. So if you are like me you will ‘need’ these.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy

You can obtain your copy from your local hobby shop or by contacting Quickboost at www.quickboost.net.