The Focke-Wulf FW-200 first achieved fame as one of the world’s first modern, four-engine airliners, although its early career with Lufthansa and Danish Air Lines was relatively brief. Two were exported to Brazil, where they lasted longer than any others, finally being scrapped in 1950. Its airline career was cut short by the outbreak of war, when most FW-200’s were impressed into the Luftwaffe, and most subsequent production aircraft were intended for long range maritime reconnaissance and bombing missions rather than their original transport role.

I was very excited to have the opportunity to review this title. I am very fortunate to have two of these featured Lancasters in my own back yard. I drive past the Calgary Aerospace Museum every day to and from work, I often stop in to view FM136 found on page 33. Also my inlaws live in southern Alberta and we visit them once or twice a month, highway 2 takes me thru the heart of Nanton and the Nanton Lancaster Society's FM159 (page 41) almost fully operational Lancaster MK X. As well my local club RMMC (Rocky Mountain Model Club, IPMS) holds its annual regional contest in the Nanton Lancaster Hangar usually the last weekend in May or the first Weekend in June (next contest June 4, 2011). So I have had the opportunity to climb inside and see the inside of this magnificant beast. Also during the contest the Society rolls the Lanc outside and fires up the two starboard engines (hopefully on June 4 the inner port will also be running).

The subject of this Datafile may seem somewhat eclectic to model builders who don’t have access to a mainstream kit that matches the subject. But this publication fills a significant void in aviation research and documents the history of an aircraft that has been generally ignored by most model companies (although one limited run 1/72 resin kit is currently available from Omega. Datafile 140 will be of value to anyone willing to tackle a most interesting conversion of one of the many mainstream Fokker D VII kits however, as the C.1 was actually a stretched D VII.

I have collected and built a few Hasegawa P-51B/C's over the years. The Hasegawa exhausts are adequate but do not have the flanges and are not hollowed out on their ends. I like my exhausts drilled and find this task very tedious. Quickboost solves this issue. This set is cast in light grey resin with no molding flaws, and is designed as direct replacements for the kit exhausts with no modifications needed.

The Quickboost exhaust fit perfectly to into the Hasegawa cowl (see photo). I also test fitted these exhausts into the Academy and Revell Mustangs, but they were not very good fits for either so they cannot be substituted for the kit parts. Perhaps in time the good folks at Quickboost will make exhausts to fit these kits as well. The MRSP is very reasonable and really will dress-up this area. I recommend this latest Quickboost update for the Hasegawa P-51B/C family of kits without reservation.

• 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.