Reviews of products for scale aircraft models.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing

Continuing Kagero’s new series of books aimed at modelers is this volume focusing on the Dora version of the Bf-109. It is packaged in a self-sealing sleeve with a 8.5 x 11 booklet of 26 pages. Included is a small decal sheet.

The cover is heavy card stock and the pages are high quality gloss paper. The format is similar throughout the series. This one is slightly different, however. This volume sports single pages of high-quality images. These large images allow you to see the weathering and wear marks that modelers love.

There are five full color profiles, including the centerfold of a colorful Swiss Bf-109D-1 in red and white stripes. The decals for this machine are included in 1/72nd and 1/48th scale.

Also unique in this volume is the inclusion of full color 3D drawings which should prove useful for modelers. There are six pages of line drawings, including two pages that go from the Bf-109A to the 109D-1 (Late).

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$15.50

Safely packaged in a resealable sleeve is a beautiful 8.5 x 11 booklet and a small decal sheet. The booklet contains 25 pages of high-quality paper featuring clear photos. Most pages have two large photos which make details easy to see. A variety of variants are covered in this volume from the early E-1 to the E-3. This period of use for the Bf-109 was quite colorful with a variety of paint schemes. Kagero has shown most of the paint schemes. There are 16 pages of photos, four pages (not including the back cover) of wonderful color profiles. Six aircraft are included in the profile views. There are six pages of line drawings to show the differences and changes in the variants. The drawings are in 1/72nd and 1/48th scale.

Text is limited to the captions on the photos. That really isn’t the purpose of this book.

Book Author(s)
Stefan Draminski
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$15.34

This is a nice compact publication filled with scale drawings of the various versions of the Ta-152. Accompanying these drawings are six color profiles and one over/under color profile. A nice edition is a decal sheet for two different Ta-152s in 1/48 and 1/72.

This is a nice, inexpensive book detailing the specifications and differences between the model C and model H variants. The addition of decals in two of the major scales is a genuinely nice touch. I can recommend this to anyone with an interest in Focke-Wulf aircraft. I thank Kagero for the review item and IPMS/USA for the opportunity.

Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$15.15

This book, covering the SBD Douglas Dauntless, is #13 (of 19 published to date) of a reference series devoted to famous WWII aircraft. It is published by Kagero Publishing (Poland). The book begins with excellent WWII era black and white cockpit pictures of the pilot's cockpit, though there are no pictures of the gunner's area. Next comes 4 pages of color paintings of a US Navy SBD-3 (USS Yorktown, Battle of Midway 1942), a USAAF A-24B, two late 1940's French navy SBD-5s, a US Navy SBD-5 (USS Lexington, 1945), a Mexican AF SBD-5 (1944), and finally a yellow wings US Marine SBD-1(1940).

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$36.00

Special Hobby has provided the 1/72nd scale DeHavilland 98 Mosquito NF Mk. XXX “Night Predator” for review. The Mk. XXX was the first night fighter Mosquito variant with Merlin two-stage compressor engines.

Looking at Scalemates.com, this is a brand-new mold for 2025. The decal sheet represents six markings for the following:

Book Author(s)
Holger Müller
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

I thought the Chinese Chengdu J-7 was a copy of the Soviet MiG-21 (even the NATO names are similar with Fishcan and Fishbed, respectively). This was but the first of many misconceptions put to rest by author Holger Müller. As stated in the Introduction,

The development of the Chinese MiG-21 derivatives is not only an interesting technological history in itself, but also reflects the changes in the politics of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on a smaller scale: from its alliance with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to rapprochement with the West and the PRC’s own path of state capitalism.

Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Stirlingkit
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$49.99

StirlingKit is a manufacturer/supplier of high-quality scale model kits, ranging from propellor, jet and automotive engine types. They cater to modelers ranging from beginners and kids, to advanced builders.This model was based off the Rolls-Royce Trent-900, high bypass turbofan engine currently used on the Airbus A380 and A350. The model was primarily designed for kids (under supervision) with an interest in jet engines and aviation. It was motorized and contained a rechargeable battery embedded within the stand. A USB cord was included to charge the battery.

This is the first IPMS/USA review of a StirlingKit model. Included below are links to the product, Turbofan engine kits, the official website and a 12% discount code for all of their products:

Product link: https://bit.ly/47Cmb94

Review Author
Rick Reinert
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$44.99

BLUF - Bottom Line Up Front

This review covers both the ICM Do-217K-1 kit as well as the ICM paints released that includes all the major colors required to paint the kit in any of three markings included.

Overall, the kit itself builds up to a very nice replica of a D0-217K-1. The build is straightforward, and I built it out of the box. On the other hand, painting with ICM paints is different for me. I had difficulty getting the right mix for airbrush use. I eventually did, and painted the interior of the weapon bay that way. And, by the way, as ICM instructions call out, a base coat is required. And indeed I hand painted most of the cockpit. For use in an airbrush, ICM states to use 40% to 60% water or thinner. Well, that’s a pretty big range. I could never get the paint properly thinned for airbrush use, and ultimately broke out Tester’s RLM 78 for the underside and Tamiya Acrylics for the upper half.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1/96
MSRP
$24.99

If you are looking to relive the past with your modeling, one of the recent releases from Atlantis Models is the H-16 Transporter that was first released in 1955. Containing a mere 59 parts and measuring 9–3/4 inches when assembled (helicopter body length excluding rotor blades), the kit can take you back to a simpler time in the world of modeling. Just like the original release, the parts are molded in silver plastic along with a clear plastic nose canopy, observation blister, and left and right windows (placed behind the cockpit). This new kit includes a collectible trading card showing the box art as well as a stand that can be positioned. Built out-of-the-box, this kit can be fun for beginners as well as those experienced modelers looking to experience building the kit they may have built as a kid or just missed out on when they started modeling.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$133.99

This is the second ICM B-26 that I have been fortunate enough to review. The previous review was the -G version. See my B-26G Marauder review for my comments on that build.

History

The B-26F Marauder’s most significant modification was its redesigned wing structure. By increasing the angle of attack by 3.5 degrees, the engines gained a slight upward tilt. This change shortened the takeoff run by about 90 meters (about 295 feet), reduced takeoff speed, and decreased landing distance—though it slightly lowered the maximum flight speed.