After going out of business after decades of serving modelers needs, Squadron Hobbies has been resurrected like a phoenix from the ashes. Since being purchased by Brandon Lowe, the company has moved from Texas to Georgia, and is quickly reestablishing itself as one of the best mail order hobby shops around. In addition to a growing selecting of model kits, Squadron is also getting back into the production of accessories, including decals.

Scale Aircraft Conversions has made a name for itself by providing metal replacements for some of the more fragile parts of aircraft models in a range of scales, these mostly being landing gear and other assorted paraphernalia. This set is no exception, offering direct replacement parts for both the main and tail landing gear, as well as all struts between the wings. All parts are suitable for any of the ICM configurations or the Revell issue of this model.

Made in the cleanly cast white metal, this set includes 11 parts and all are direct replacements for the plastic items in the kit, providing sturdy gear well able to support the model, and being metal, can also be gently adjusted to accommodate any slight inconsistencies in the model. The is particularly welcome as the kit item is somewhat fragile and prone to breakage, especially during painting. The wing struts will dramatically strengthen this part of the kit as well.

it’s a good time for fans of reference books. Since the collapse of the Iron Curtain, many former Soviet Pact countries are flooding the market with detailed new sources aimed right at the modeling community. This volume focuses on the Mig 15 in service with the Polish Air Force. Each of the seven variants, which are defined by foreign or domestic manufacture, are covered. The first two sections cover the Soviet manufactured Migs, the Mig 15 and Mig 15bis (improved). In between the end of the Soviet built examples and the Polish built series were the S102s manufactured in Czechoslovakia. The Migs built in Poland were part of the Lim series which translated meant “License Fighter”. In all, four Lim series were built.

Key publishing specializes in books covering aviation, transport history and sport. This book is a fairly compact, paperback full color book. There are two primary sections, U.S. Customs and Border protection in the first section and U.S Coast Guard in part two. In each section are two chapters further breaking down into further sub groups.

Most of the aircraft featured are currently use with each organization but a few notable aircraft that have been retired are covered. With each aircraft covered, detailed information on the aircraft, capabilities and missions performed are discussed. Locations for each group is also covered along with a thorough description of each air station. I did not realize how large of a variety of aircraft the Dept of Homeland security operated and the unique marking on some of the aircraft. Aircraft from UAV’s, small fixed wing aircraft (Cessna 206) up to the C-130 is all covered.

Phoenix Scale Publications is a new publishing company in the world of scale models but the team is made up of several veterans of the business. They have released two modeling magazines, one on all types of models and this one which is just on the aviation side of builds. They also have released several aviation modeling books.

Do we need another scale modeling magazine about aircraft? The more the merrier I say but Phoenix has put together a quality product that covers a lot in its 82 high quality, glossy pages.

The first quarter of the book covers news and what’s new information starting with the Newsstand and the Czech News. In The Box looks at what comes in one kit in detail and then we have Accessories, Decals and Bookshelf. The end of the magazine has a section providing news from IPMS (UK).