Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$8.95
  • Intake Covers Type A or B
  • Part No. : 32088 / 32091
  • MSRP: $ 8.95
  • Exhaust Covers Type A or B
  • Part No. : 32087 / 32090
  • MSRP: $ 8.95

I love building jets but there are two things that are a pain on most of them and that is getting the ejector pin marks out of the intakes and exhausts. Besides that, almost all jets have covers on them as soon as possible to prevent FOD damage so if you want to pose a parked jet, it should have these covers on them- engines are expensive!

Quickboost has issued two sets each for exhaust and intake covers which are as simple as they sound and yet can make the diorama pop to life. The intake covers are one piece for each side with two delicate handles for each cover that can be detached and added. The difference between type A and B is the raised pattern on them. I trimmed one set, painted them red and tested the fit on my Trumpeter MiG-29. The fit was perfect.

Book Author(s)
Chris Thomas
Review Author
Robert DeMaio
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

The Typhoon was the primary close ground support aircraft for the British and Canadian land forces in the European theater of World War II. Twenty squadrons flew this aircraft in the 2nd TAF, who were also instrumental introducing the use of controversial rocket armament. The aircraft may not be pretty but has a listed history of successful land supported engagements. This Osprey book brings the Typhoon to life in a very condensed ninety-six pages. Since the author’s father was a pilot of these aircraft, I imagine there must have been many conversations between them.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Air Modeller
MSRP
$14.95

Air Modeller’s latest issue, #31, contains some of the best looking models I’ve seen in quite some time. The cover photo alone is really impressive, a well worn and weathered F-100. Typical of the magazine, this one contains 64 pages of brilliant color photographs.

The first model highlighted is a highly detailed two color scheme F-104 built by Diego Quijano. This is actually the second part of the build, continued from the previous issue. It in no way detracts from the beautiful job. The scratch building is impressive and the weathering is outstanding. The weathering is explained thoroughly and will help any modeler improve their model.

The next model is part one of multi-part builds of 1/72nd scale Hasegawa B-26 by Andrea Vignocchi. This highly detailed model is displayed in a beautiful diorama. When you see the amount of work inside this model you will be astounded. I know I was.

Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
Company
Platz
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$25.00

Platz has re-released their F-8C kit as a dual build F-8K/F-8A---molded in light gray plastic with excellent detail and recessed panel lines. Two complete kits are included in the box, with three choices of markings. A little reference material comes in handy, as a couple clues on the kit are subtle and the instructions, though complete, are in Japanese except for the part numbers and color callouts. Some parts in the kit aren't for use on the A and K variants.

Review Author
Jack Kennedy
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$46.95

The F-86 Sabre Jet happens to be one of my all time favorite aircraft so when John Noack put this kit up for review, I just had to jump on it.

The cockpit set is for the Kinetic 1/32 F-86F of which I have three. The kit cockpit is pretty nice but this Aires kit is the frosting on the cake. It consists of 11 very finely cast resin parts, two clear parts (actually the instruments are in clear and black), and 21 photo etched parts.

I primed the parts with Duplicolor Light Grey auto primer as I do with most of my models. I then used several books for detail research. I painted the details with Model Master acrylic paints. Once the details were painted, I removed the parts from their casting blocks. The major parts fit by interlocking the parts. The only thing left to do was to glue the parts to form the complete cockpit. I did not glue the seat in as I still have to put the photo etched seat belts.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$3.99

These accessories are produced by Quickboost, a resin-manufacturing firm that provides corrected components for discriminating modelers who want to get it right. Quickboost produces a large variety of corrected parts for aircraft kits in 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scale, and their website is very interesting to browse through. In this case, Hasegawa has taken a shortcut in their production process, not the first time this has happened. It reminds me of the old Lindberg kits many years ago that had standard propellers which were supposed to fit on many different kinds of airplanes. It didn’t work then, and still doesn’t today.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

Eduard has released its Messerschmitt Bf-110G-4 in the Weekend format. I appreciate Eduard releasing kits in the “weekend” format as a more affordable channel for modelers to get access to a kit. This is the most expensive kit ever boxed in the Weekend format ($39.95) but you get a lot of plastic for your money; as a reference point, the Profipack version retails for $64.95.

So, what is in the box? You get all the plastic sprues from the Profipack packing, except sprue D (underwings ordinance). The decal sheet, printed by Cartograf, has one option and stencils are included. The box includes 11 sprues for a total of 349 parts. I should mention that you get over 100 parts (mainly from the 110E) that go straight to the spares box. The kit does not include photoetch nor canopy masks.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.35

This is a British product, the first of a series, providing a very nice set of 1/32 scale decals and an accompanying booklet, featuring three aircraft flown by Polish pilots flying with the French Armee de l’Aire during the Battle of France in 1940. Two versions of this issue exist, one in 1/32 scale and one in 1/48. The decal sheet and booklet are provided in one unit, and cannot be purchased separately.

The booklet, a rather large publication of 16 pages plus cover, measures 13 by 9 ¼ inches, and consists of detailed information on the colors and markings of each aircraft. A short history of the pilot and his operational career is included, and these make interesting reading. The booklet is filled with excellently reproduced photos, mostly from German sources, as many of the photos show Luftwaffe personnel examining the abandoned French aircraft.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

The FuG 220 Sn-2b radar antennas were installed on Bf 110 and Ju 88 night fighters during World War. These radar antennas are the focal point of any night fighter kit. Model Master from Poland provides us with turned brass antenna struts and antenna dipoles to enhance the look of our next night fighter kit.

The turned brass parts mean that no mold line is present and that alone is enough of a reason to consider upgrading your kit. The other advantage is that antenna struts and dipoles actually have a circular cross-section.

Assembly is straightforward and simple. The instructions recommend soldering the parts together for assembly, but my soldering skills are not very good. I’ve used super glue instead. It worked OK, but I managed to knock off the dipoles in a few occasions during construction.

Book Author(s)
John Alcorn
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$17.12

This is the second of two volumes dealing with the history of the DeHavilland DH-9A, and continues the story of the postwar development and service of this most versatile biplane. The first volume generated a lot of feedback, so a number of points are clarified, and more details are included, although the main thrust of this issue is the postwar service and development, as well as the Russian copies that were produced as the R-1 after the Bolshevik Revolution. Since there are a couple of kits available of this aircraft, at least in 1/72 scale, the book will be of special interest for those of us who model World War I and “Tween the Wars” airplanes.