Thanks to Aires for this stunning bit of resin; Even though this was a second generation F-15 model from Hasegawa, this kit is over 20 years old and has been in need of an upgrade to the cockpit. Aires provides just what is needed to strengthen the presentation of this model.

Once again it is easy to see the level of detail Aires provides; how they do it is beyond my abilities, but they do. The basic cockpit tub is a phenomenal casting; all the required details are there. The same goes for the avionics bay located aft of the cockpit. As a reminder, this aircraft is pre-MISP (an avionics upgrade to bring AAMRAAM and other capability to the jet), so the black boxes and other bits are appropriate for the Icelandic markings. (If I remember correctly from my time at 17^th AF in USAFE, the 56^th birds received their jets from the 36^th at Bitburg before MISP started; someone correct me if my old memory has faded that much).

The A-1 Skyraider was known for its ability to carry a “world of hurt” on its underwing pylons. Quickboost has provided a set of pylons for the Tamiya kit that significantly enhance the appearance of an already well-detailed kit. Specifically, the QB parts replace the pylons provided by the Tamiya kit.

Quickboost provides an illustration that clearly indicates the Tamiya kit parts that are replaced by the QB items. QB realizes that some of the parts they provide are very delicate and need additional support in order to arrive on the modeler’s workbench in one piece. QB parts # 5 (sway braces) appear, at first glance, to have “flash” on them. Upon closer inspection you will identify that “flash” as extra support material, protecting the arms of the sway brace. It is not difficult to remove this support material but some caution needs to be exercised in order to prepare the part for placement on the model.

Review

Osprey Publishing keeps providing modelers and aviation aficionados with plenty of reading and reference material. The latest installment of their “Aircraft of the Aces” is devoted to those that flew with JG3. I have to say that I like a lot the most recent books of this series, in which they cover both the history and aces of a single unit.

JG 3 is a very relevant unit to both the modeler and historian, as it participated in all major Luftwaffe campaigns and some of the most significant battles of the war, including the Battle of Britain, Battle for Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, Normandy, Ardennes and Berlin. Not only that, it also flew all the marks of the Bf-109 (from the early –Es to the late –Ks), plus the Fw-190, both radial and inline versions. In addition to that their aircraft wore all different camouflages, from Western Front to Eastern Front (snow camouflage) to Desert and Mediterranean camouflages.

Kit Review

This is the second review I’ve done of a MiniArt Building, and let’s just say they aren’t getting easier. That’s not to say they’re not great kits, but they are perhaps they lend themselves to the more experienced modeler. If you haven’t built or seen one of these, the kits consist of both Vacuform and injection molded parts. The major building pieces are vacuformed with the interior and exterior walls and roof sections molded as separate parts. No base is included/provided as in other MiniArt building/ruin kits. The detail on the kit is quite good, and this kit in particular comes with extra parts that don’t necessarily go on the shed, gutters, downspouts, louvered shutters for example. These can go right into the spares box for another time.

The December issue of Model Art starts off with a short article covering some of the new releases at the 2013 All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show. I will try to give some of the highlights of the releases that will be hitting our stashes soon.

For the aircraft builders, here is a few examples of what you should see soon. Hobby Boss 1/48 P-38L-5-LO due spring 2014, Trumpeter 1/48 T-38 release date TBA, Fine Molds 1/48 Fine Molds Mitsubishi Ka-14 (A5M prototype) due Dec. 2013, Tomytec 1/700 Launch Complex 39 pad A due Dec. 2013, 1/48 Kittyhawk Mig-25 due Oct. 2013, 1/32 Wingnut Wings Salmson 2-A2 release TBA, 1/48 Avant Garde Aero L-29 Delfin release TBA and the 1/48 Avant Garde CM.170 Fouga Magister.