Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.00

It seems that Master Model has raised the bar a little more with their Air Master Series. These awesome little pieces are designed and produced in Poland, and run the gambit with accessories from aircraft to ships in scales from 1/72 to 1/350. You have to visit their website to see it all, and more than likely you will be ordering something from them.

In this case I happen to be reviewing the Air Master Series of the 1/32 early Spitfire E-Wing which contains two Hispano 20mm cannons and two .50 cal machine guns in fairings. According to Master Models, these are turned brass pieces which are made to exact scale specs.

Book Author(s)
Paul Lucas, Illustrations by Andy Evans
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
SAM Publications
MSRP
$31.95

This book is not so much a “what-if”, but more of a "what might have been" story. Everything is based on surviving tech orders, ads, and other papers that show what the RAF wanted to use the TSR.2 for, as well as the schemes it would have worn and weapons that would have been carried. Like its Canadian cousin the Avro Arrow, it has become the stuff of myth and legend.

The book is profusely illustrated with artwork, showing various markings and paint jobs that will give the modeler looking for something other than the prototype’s white paint scheme a lot to ponder. Like wise, the various weapons load outs will spark the modeler’s imagination.

I found this to be a well-researched and laid out book. The author has done his best to cover all possibilities of the what, where, and how of aircraft assignments. Also included are operations had the TSR.2 entered service.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Background

Twobob’s latest releases showcase markings for US Air Force “Aggressor” F-5E Tiger II’s seeing service from the early-1970’s through the late 1980’s. This review showcases markings from Nellis-based “Gomers” assigned to the 64th and 65th Aggressor Squadrons.

The squadrons deployed throughout US and overseas to teach adversarial tactics and provide dissimilar air combat training to US Air Force flying units from October 1972 to June 1990. The units currently operate F-16C and F-15C aircraft in similar roles, as part of the regular Red Flag cadre at Nellis AFB, NV.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$0.00
  • QB48 333 AU-23A Nose $3.49
  • QB48 334 AU-23A Propeller with tool $6.29
  • QB48 335 AU-23A Exhaust $4.61

Roden’s AU-23A kit was a welcome addition for those who like Counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft, and Roden has established itself with a fine line of kits. However, being a short run kit, there are areas that can be improved with the addition of resin details. Quickboost comes to the rescue, with a series of items to help overcome some of the minor shortcomings of the Roden AU-23A kit.

QB48 333 AU-23A Nose

First in line is a single piece part to replace the nose on the kit. The resin part has a nicely molded front with deep air inlet. There is also some crisp panel lines scribed in, and at first glance this looks like a winner.

Book Author(s)
Colin Owers
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$23.81

It is refreshing to see a quality publication dealing with an airplane that is little known and rarely publicized. This certainly applies to the Parnall Panther, an airplane with as obscure a service history as any I’ve heard of. Conceived during the latter stages of World War I, the Panther was produced in some numbers at the end of the war, approximately 150 being constructed by several manufacturers. In addition, the U.S. Navy procured two for flight testing, the Japanese obtained a dozen, and one was briefly on the British Civil register, flying in the 1922 Royal Aero Club’s Easter meeting.

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.