If you like to build your planes as they would be just before a flight, one problem has always been to get a decent pilot boarding ladder. Some have come out but have been all photoetch and delicate. Plusmodel to the rescue! They have recently released a series of 1/48th scale boarding ladders for several planes. This one if for a Mig-21 and could be used with either the Eduard or Academy kits and it is INJECTION MOLDED!!!!!

The kit includes approximately 325 ceramic tiles prefinished with a light terra-cotta color. The color of the roof tiles is nicely mottled and would be ideally suited for Southern Europe or Mediterranean buildings. The tiles in this sample are much lighter than the illustration on the package.

There are 3 shapes to the tile - the typical field tile, a shorter field tile, and a shape with an extended edge for a roof eave or cap. There are few bubbles in the casting, some chipped edges, and some flash that can easily be chipped off. All these add to the nice texture of the tile. The ceramic material is very fine grained, integrally colored so any chipping will blend in, and can easily be trimmed with a hobby knife or sanding stick. No instructions are provided.

In the months before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Pennsylvania and Virginia had disputing claims over the trans-Appalachian area that would become southern Ohio and Kentucky. This area had been ceded by the French at the end of the French and Indian War, aka the Seven Years War. Of course, the native people, the Shawnee, Mingo, and their allies including members of the Delaware, Miami, Ojibwe, Kickapoo, Ottawa, Potawatomi and Wyandot, also contested the rights to his land.

In time, the colonists allied with each other and sent militias to take the land under the leadership of Virginia’s governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (Lord Dunmore). The regular armies, i.e., the Redcoats did not participate to any great degree in this campaign which culminated in the Battle of Point Pleasant at the convergence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers near present day Charleston, WV.

Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty eight years.

The October issue starts off with several small articles which include the IJA/N Airplane Illustrated and a build article on the Tamiya 1/35 WW1 British Tank Mk. IV Male. This features a beautiful diorama and photos of a Mk. I, Mk II and Mk. IV and a opened up MK. IV.

The main article this month features the IJN Carrier Akagi shown through models in the different configurations of it's career. This article consists of thirty two pages and utilizes several 1/700 scale models and one 1/350 models. Most of the configurations are of the single flight deck, but one model is of the "Three flight deck" version. This aricle consists of multiple color photos and many helpful tips on making the most accurate looking Akagi.

Need a little something to spice up that 1/48 scale plane on its base? Aerobonus to the rescue with a set of four FOD (foreign object debris) buckets. The set is one casting of four buckets with a piece of wire to form the handles and decals.

Assembly is basic with the modeler cutting the bucket free and adding the handle. I did use a drill and pin vise to open the handle holes slightly. Cut the wire and bend like a handle and your done. the color call put is for blue grey. I used medium blue gray from Testors and then gloss coated for the decals. The decals come in white or black lettering and I chose the white and they went on well. A quick flat coat and then paint the handle silver and we're done. Just that quick and easy.

The set is simple, well made and would make a great addition to the base or a diorama. Recommended. My thanks to Aires for the chance to build and paint these great little buckets,.