Book Author(s)
Amaru Tincopa and Santiago Rivas
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 22, 2017
Company
Specialty Press
MSRP
$56.96

During the 1920 and 1930’s most Latin American countries started developing air routes and air services; at the same time that their own armed forces started developing their air arms.That fledgling market brought intense competition from industrial countries, including Germany and Italy, which landed significant contracts for both military and civilian aircraft.

This book is organized into 16 chapters, basically one chapter per country, plus a handful of special chapters like “Visitors” (i.e aircraft not operated by Latin American countries but that made special visits to Latin America), Axis Airline Services, Survivors, etc. In this section is where the only Japanese aircraft in Latin America is found.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 25, 2017
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

The F-16 is one of the sexiest aircraft ever made. The early aircraft were even more impressive before all of the bumps and bulges were added to later variants.

Like Salma Hayek in ‘From Dusk to Dawn’ the only way to make it even sexier is to wrap it in a snake. The Italians did this in April 2010 at Cervia AB, Italy. Sure it is a special paint scheme but what a great marking option. The aircraft itself is only painted in two colors FS36231 and FS36118 which makes for a pretty dark aircraft but add to that the bright yellow, purple and black Viper to it just makes it awesome.

Inside a 6x9 inch, zip lock bag is a double-sided high-quality paper printed in full-color instructions. The instructions show all four sides of the actual aircraft, along with the drop tank markings.

Book Author(s)
Martin Pegler; Illustrator: Mark Stacey, Alan Gilliland
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
February 10, 2020
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Martin Pegler graduated from University College (London) with a Medieval and Modern History BA and a Museum Studies MA. Martin spent twenty years as the Senior Curator of Firearms at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds. He is an aficionado of historic firearms and thoroughly enjoys shooting them. In his spare time he runs motorcycle tours out of the Somme Historical Center of the battlefield. He has authored many books on military firearms and has been prolific in contributing to magazines and television shows. His books include: The Military Sniper Since 1914 (2001), Firearms in the American West 1700-1900 (2002), Out of Nowhere: A History of the Military Sniper (2004), The Lee-Enfield Rifle (2012), The Vickers-Maxim Machine Gun (2013), Winchester Lever-Action Rifles (2015) He and his wife ran a bed and breakfast in the Somme (France) until January 1, 2017.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 25, 2017
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$2.75

Jet canopy frames feature rear view mirrors. Most kits don’t include these parts as they are too difficult to do in plastic. The KP/Smer Su-25 is one of those kits. Luckily Quickboost recognized this and provides you with this set.

Packaged in the typical Quickboost packaging this small set includes three mirrors. They are easily removed from the pour stub. Then it is just a matter of painting them and sticking them on the canopy framework. Simple, easy and effective upgrade for a small price.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain yours by contacting them at http://www.aires.cz/en//a>

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
February 26, 2017
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.00

Last year Eduard released a Weekend edition of their very nice La-7 kit in 1/72nd scale. This new set from Aires/Quickboost provides a replacement for the kit propeller parts. The kit spinner is assembled from two parts, the front spinner and a back plate, the blades are individual blades that are inserted into the assembled spinner and aligned visually.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 26, 2017
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

This small sheet addresses some short comings in kits sold overseas. The lack of swastikas. Now I’m not sure if it is just a typo or a way to get by overseas censors by calling them svastikas versus swastikas.

Either way you know what you are getting. Eduard prints their own decals and these are just perfect. They are printed on a 1.5 x 2.5 inch decal sheet. The decals are very thin and very crisp. You get 12 swastikas in two sizes. The normal Bf-109 sized swaskitas are 300mm. You get eight swastikas in this scaled size. Later in the war there were some slightly larger sized, 400mm, ones used on wooden tails. There are four of these.

The sheet is a good addition if you need some swastikas for your Bf-109 for your Bf-109G. Your F and E are available on other sheet. Those may have a white surround but these do not.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 26, 2017
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

This third sheet by AOA Decals for the A-4 Skyhawk includes markings for twelve Vietnam era aircraft. This sheet is mostly Navy aircraft but there are two Marine aircraft.

The instructions are typical of AOA Decals being stored in a large ziplock bag with four double-sided 8.5x11 pages. Each aircraft is described in detail. The specific updates to the models are included on the first page. This addresses the correct antennas and the things needed to do the model properly. All the aircraft are Light Gull Grey over White but that is the only thing plain about them. They display full color markings from the front to the rear of each aircraft. The last page of the instructions covers the stencil location for both types.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 26, 2017
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

This is the second sheet for the Hasegawa A-4 kit from AOA Decals. Like the others this is thoroughly researched with the help of the A-4 Skyhawk Association, notable pilots and mechanics. Who better to make sure that the markings are correct than the ones that were there?

The A-4 was a workhorse for the Navy and the Marines in Vietnam. As such it was operated from carriers and shore airfields. This sheet covers the Skyhawk from 1966 to 1972. Where a unit used both types or had early and later cruises, AOA selects an aircraft from both time frames.

Review Author
Mike Lamm
Published on
June 16, 2020
Company
PJ Production
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.00

Belgium’s PJ Production specializes in resin aftermarket accessories for aircraft, as well as, a few resin aircraft and vehicle kits, and a variety of figures for a variety of aircraft. Their series of pilot and crew figures range from WWI through modern pilots, and include seated and standing pilots for both civilian and military aircraft. They also have a number of crew figures to complete a diorama.

The review set provided included 2 RAF seated pilot figures from WWII. The pilots are seated with one looking to his right, and the other looking straight ahead. Both figures have their hands and feet in position to be in control of the aircraft and are wearing oxygen masks and the common yellow life vest over a leather flight jacket.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 26, 2017
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

Eduard’s Bf-109G series of models is one of my favorite models. As such I tend to build a lot of them. They are a lot of fun to build and look great when completed. The Eduard decals are printed by Eduard, and are very thin and beautifully done. Because of their thinness, they fit into all the panel lines with ease, and the carrier film disappears. The only thing that I’ve had an issue with the thinness of the decals is that they stick real fast if you don’t have enough water under them. This is not a bad thing just an observation. Eduard has released this sheet of decals which contains enough different styles to do at least two aircraft.

The decals come in a typical European self-sealing/re-sealing plastic packaging. The decals are protected by a thick card stock between the decals and the instructions. The instructions are simple as they should be. You don’t need a whole lot of instructions for just these crosses.