Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$15.00

These represent a fairly new product from Aires, long time producer of quality resin aftermarket aircraft accessories and they are absolutely GORGEOUS !!!

As image shows, all tires and hubs are cast flawlessly as separate pieces which makes making painting a breeze. The tires have raised “Goodyear” and tire info in raised letters that take a light dry brushing extremely well. Images show the difference between kit and resin parts. There is also included a length of copper wire to be used as a brake line. I truly believe that these will sell very well when the work spreads as to the quality found here. See the “Wheeliant” line on Aires website at https://www.aires.cz/en/. Many thanks to Aires for the review sample.

Please note that cost is an estimate.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Loon Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.00

Eduard’s FW-190s are some of my favorite models. One of the things that is ‘nitpicky’ about them is that you have to cut open the wing root gun covers so that the kit parts will fit in a closed position. Sometimes this results in a less than perfect fit, depending on how well you cut them. Well you don’t have to do it anymore. Loon Models provides you with the two covers with the trailing edges suitably thinned so you no longer have to cut into the wings. This will make that whole process so much simpler and ensure a perfect fit.

Molded in light yellow resin that is blemish free these are easy additions to the kit.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Loon Models for the review copy. You can obtain your copy by contacting Roll Models. Tell them IPMS/USA sent you.

Book Author(s)
Bill Yenne
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Specialty Press
MSRP
$29.95

The concept of the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is not a new concept. But UAVs have been hot-points in the news from many parts of the world over the last decade. “Birds of Prey” is an absolutely fascinating, current, and in-depth description of the wide variety of these vehicles. The author skillfully intertwines factual information with almost "Tom Clancy" descriptions of combat action. The huge variances in the size, style and missions are covered extremely well. To put the size variance into a modeling perspective, the smallest winged UAV, the Scan Eagle has a 1 inch span in 1:48 scale! Compare this to the Global Hawk Block 20+vehicle with a wing span of 32.5 inches in the same scale.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$43.49

This upgrade provides excellent cast cockpit tubs, instrument coamings, and ACES II ejection seats. Included are side controllers; the control sticks are molded into the side panels. Score high there; no disappearing act on the joystick or those throttle levers while trying to attach them to the panels. Detail is unmatched on the resin. The photoetch fret contains all the myriad little bits designed to disappear or be invisible except to specialized cameras or those with 20/05 vision.

Review Author
William Seaman
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.99

Tamiya’s kit practically begs to be used in a diorama and this could make a great start. It has:

  • complete sets for left and right wings
  • ammunition trays
  • gun bays
  • access panels with PE locking rods
  • feed chutes
  • 4X .50 Browning machine guns with PE top covers and charging handles

Again, some of the pour stubs on the gray parts are thick and you’ll need to be very careful with the cream color .50 gun barrels and feed chutes. They’re extremely fragile. I’d recommend you have some experience with resin, modifying kit parts, and PE before you tackle this one.

Book Author(s)
Richard Staszak
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Richard Staszak
MSRP
$15.00

In 1984 Richard Staszak authored an excellent publication entitled, “Building and Improving Vacuum-Formed Model Aircraft”. The book was published by Kalmbach Books and was given the item number of 12054 and received the ISBN number of 0-89024-047-7.
Recently Mr. Staszak has released a DVD that is, or all intents and purposes, a complete copy of the original book. In addition, the DVD includes colored pictures and mini-reviews of over 100 vacuformed models from the author’s collection. Current sources for some of the older vacuform kits are also identified as well as new kits from current manufacturers.

Book Author(s)
Alexander Maladenov; illustrated by Ian Palmer
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

Osprey’s newest edition to their popular New Vanguard Series is an overview of the Mil Mi-24 gunship, popularly known by its NATO code name, Hind. Using the now-standard format for the New Vanguard series, the author explores the Hind’s development, its various variants, and a short combat history not only in the ex-Soviet Union and Russia, but the other countries who field this gunship.

Review Author
William Seaman
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.49

Designed for the reigning king of the 1/48 P-47’s, the exquisite offering from Tamiya. There’s no difference between the D and the M wing, so that means they it can be used on any Tamiya P-47 kit.

About the toughest thing to do with a Tamiya P-47 is to get rid of the ejector pin marks. This set takes care of that with the landing gear doors and wheel bays. The castings are in Aires standard dark gray resin except for the covers for the gear struts. Those are in a cream color and much more fragile than the gray castings. The pour stubs on the wheel bays are heavy and could be tricky to remove. It’s pretty much a straight drop, except you’ve got to remove the kit’s wheel bays.

Review Author
William Seaman
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.99

Quick Boost has quickly built a reputation for excellent resin castings at affordable prices. These two sets are sure to add to that for the already great out-of-the-box 1/72 Hasegawa A-1J kit.

Few things are more heartbreaking than finally getting to the last stages of finishing a kit, only to realize that you’ve lost an antenna. Sure, you can try your skills at re-construction from scrap styrene, putty, or both but we all know that’s easier said than done. Again, these are direct replacements for the kit parts. My sample was very crisp and bubble-free

As always, make sure you wear a respirator when you make your cuts and vacuum up the residual dust once you’re finished.