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October 2017

Package

Modern Russian Tank Commander
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.00

Welcome to the world of heavy details. That is the banner on the homepage of Aires Hobby Models.

It is quite apropos. The company, in the Czech republic, has been producing aftermarket resin bits for years. The have an extensive assortment of aircraft air-brakes, arms and weapons, cockpit sets, ejection seats, and figurines. They market their figurines under the Aero Bonus line.

The Aero Bonus line consists of 1/72nd and 1/48th scale figures. Aero Bonus includes a painting guide with each figure as well as recommendations for the kits that would be appropriate for a particular offering(figure). Some of the subjects they offer are designed with a specific kit in mind. However all of their subjects will work nicely with any suitably scaled kit. The subject of this review is one of the recent release from Aero Bonus: a Modern Russian Tank Commander in 1/48th scale.

Box cover

Bachem Natter Ramp/Trailer
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$13.79

Background

The Spring of 1945 was not a good time for the Luftwaffe. Large numbers of Allied fighters were patrolling the skies over the Reich, bombers were decimating the factories, the transportation system, and the whole industrial complex. They were also bombing and strafing air bases wherever they found them. The Me-262 was slowing down the rate of attrition, but not stopping it.

The idea for the Bachem Ba-349 "Natter" was that it would be built of wood, and instead of factories, it would be built in woodworking shops, requiring no strategic materials except the rocket engine and the armament.

Box art

Bf-109F-2 ProfiPACK
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.95

The Bf-109F-2 was the first real variant of the Freidrich that was produced in significant quantities. Some F-0 and F-1s were issued but the F-2 was the first mass produced version. The new streamlined shape made for what many consider the ultimate version of the 109. There are no prominent bumps and bulges anywhere. It is a sleek and sexy version of the Messerschmitt.

Eduard has released the F-4 previously, and did release the F-2 in their Royal Class kit. This is the first time that they have offered the F-2 by itself. The light grey sprues are still blemish free and feature great detail. If you've built any of the F-4s or G-2s you are very familiar with the plastic. There is also a clear sprue with the canopy and the fuel supply line for the cockpit.

Box Art

F-4S Phantom II: Part 1, Comparison and Cockpit Build
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$75.00

I am honored and privileged to review a beautiful new scale model offering in the Super Wing Series from Zoukei-Mura, Inc. I also wish to extend a very deep appreciation to the IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps for choosing me to review the F-4S variant of the famous McDonnell Phantom II.

The kit was released on 26 JUL 17, following on the heels of a previous F-4J release in the same scale and series. This review will be the first of two sequential reviews. I thought at first I would compare the F-4S kit with the earlier F-4J and describe the build planning in this first review. I actually couldn’t wait to get started, so construction of the cockpit is described here as well. The second and related review will include my adventures in completing the kit build. Both of these reviews will dovetail with previous IPMS reviews of the earlier F-4J kit.

Packaging

Middle East Allied Pilot WWII with Dog
Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Aerobonus
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.00

Aires Hobby Models is a company in the Czech republic that has been manufacturing resin aftermarkets bits for some few days now. (Actually years.) They produce cockpits, complete engines, detail and conversion sets, and figures. The scales range from 1/72nd to 1/32nd.

Their figures are sold under the banner of Aero Bonus and include a large number of nicely sculpted and molded resin figurines. The subject of this review is a Middle East Allied Pilot WWII with a dog in 1/48th scale. The dog looks to be an Airedale Terrier in need of grooming but it could just be a mutt.

Box Art

Fokker (ProfiPack Edition) German WWI Fighter
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

Eduard has re-released this kit from 2008 as a ProfiPack of the Fokker Dr.1 with markings for six versions included in the Aircraft.

In the box is;

  • 3 x light grey sprues
  • 1 film sheet
  • 1 large decal sheet
  • 1 mask sheet
  • 1 photoetch detail set
  • 1 instruction booklet

The kit consists of 3 main sprues, the sprues are extremely well molded with a little flash but great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft in two different versions with 6 markings to choose from.

Construction

First is the construction of the interior which is well detailed. Photo Etch helps a lot to make this a very impressive cockpit. The fuselage halves joint perfectly.

Next, you join the middle wing.

At this stage, I choose to paint the main colors and add the main decals as I selected to build the D scheme.

Product packaging

Black Bunny F-4J VX-4 Decals
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Furball Aero-Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.96

Thank you to Furball Aero-Design for providing excellent specific markings set for this very unique aircraft. I am certain that F-4 fans will be thrilled with this set! Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them, I am very appreciative of the chance to contribute back to the scale-modeling community.

The words that capture this decal set are “stunning detail.” Furball chose the striking color scheme of Vandy 1, the gloss black test F-4J aircraft operated by VX-4, providing both the original 1969 markings and the later “bunny” markings. What makes this set different from kit decals and aftermarket decal sets are the nearly 200 crisply-printed stencils printed in white. Modelers often correctly make the argument that stencils are often quickly worn off and not visible, but this aircraft was maintained in “high-polish” with all markings likely there.

Box Top

F-4 Phantom "Vietnam Aces"
Review Author
Camden Koukol
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.99

Background

Originally developed as the Navy's primary fleet defense interceptor in the 1950'ss, the F-4 Phantom II rapidly evolved into the mainstay multiple fighter for the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps by the mid '60's. During the Vietnam War air war, the Phantom became the exclusive mount of all 6 American "ace" (airmen scoring 5 or more air-to-air victories) emerging from that conflict.

In this release, Italeri presents 4 of the F-4's flown by Americas Vietnam aces. Markings and parts options are included for Navy F-4J "Showtime 100" flown by Randy Cunningham and Willy Driscoll, Air Force F-4C flown by Robin Olds, an F-4D flown by Jeff Feinstein, and an F-4D flown by Steve Ritchie and Chuck DeBellevue.

Box Art

Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf D
Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.99

This is a plastic only kit comprised of about 62 styrene parts, no photo etched parts fret, and a standard set of instructions, they need to be reviewed carefully before gluing any parts together.

Package Top

Navy Deck Crew (Modern Crew)
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Videoaviation
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$34.11

Videoaviation is a small company out of Italy manufacturing big things; in this case, they provide large scale modelers the items missing from many of our 1/32 models to bring them to life, particularly in a diorama setting if you have room! In this case, a crew of modern day carrier crew members in action poses.

First, kudos to Videoaviation for providing total instructions, including basic painting for the figures. Some still do not have internet capability (gasp) so this is important. I found the instructions helpful.