Tamiya’s 1/72^nd scale IL-2 Stormovik kit is a great looking kit with fine details. But, as usual, there are always ways to improve. This new item from Quickboost is a direct replacement for the exhausts in the kit. The advantage is they are hollowed out so you don’t have to try and attempt that yourself.

Clean up is simple to remove them from the resin backing so no instructions are provided.

All in all a quick and simple replacement that will add that extra bit of detail to your IL-2.

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review kit.

Thanks to Dragon/Bronco and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this kit.

Background

The MPCV (Mine Protected Clearing Vehicle) Buffalo produced by Force Protection Inc. came out of the US’s experience in Kosovo. It is considered a Class III MRAP. It’s a 6X6 with a V shaped hull to protect the 6 man crew. When installed, the spall liner protects the crew from 7.62 mm munitions as does the ballistic glass. Weighing in at 22 tons, it is powered by a Mack 450 hp diesel coupled to a 5 speed automatic transmission. It is capable of 65m mph. The V shaped hull provides protection from up a 20 kg mine or 15 kg IED. The A2 has an upgraded engine and transmission.

I love small air forces and I love the F-16 (and not just because they are based at Hill AFB just up the street) so a decal sheet that combines both is always high on my list.

This new sheet by Caracal delivers. 5 of the 6 schemes are small air forces with the other scheme a Minnesota Air National Guard version in a new camo. The decals are printed by Cartograf who have a solid reputation and feature the following markings:

Yellow Wings Decals has added two new sets to their line for 1/48 scale Curtis P-6E Hawks. Set number 48-085, or Part 2, provides colorful markings for two Langley Field based USAAC aircraft of the 8th Pursuit Group:

• P-6E #15 of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron
• P-6E #61 of the 36th Pursuit Squadron

The instructions show that in 1933, 8th Pursuit Group P-6Es sported Gloss Olive Drab #22 painted fuselages with Orange-Yellow #4 wings and tail surfaces and by 1936 fuselages were finished in Blue #23 with Orange-Yellow #4 wings and tail surfaces. Markings are provided for all national insignia, rudder stripes, aircraft numbers, fuselage bands and squadron markings as shown in the photo below of the decal sheet. An instruction sheet is included that also provides information about all paints that were used with Tamiya color matches.

Among recent offerings from Brengun is a set photo-etch details designed to enhance the 1/72 Tamiya A6M3 Type 32 Zero kit. Set BRL 72071 provides about 70 parts on a single photo-etch fret and two on a printed acetated sheet that will combine to enhance the cockpit and exterior details of the a/c. The photos below show the fret and the instruction sheet that guide where the details are to be installed.

The small photo-etched parts on the fret are very impressive, but look strangely familiar to me. Familiar, because they are exactly the same as the parts on Brengun’s set BRL 72074 for the Zero type 22…yes, exactly the same. Not surprising though, because the detail parts they provide were the same on the original aircraft (with the possible exception of a small dial face on the instrument panel). One of the photos below from the Brengun website shows most of the parts installed.