Czech Manufacturer Aires Hobby Models has released an aftermarket set to replace the Sea Harrier FRS.1/FA.2 wheel bays. The Sea Harrier has two main wheel bays (nose and ventral) and this kit provides you parts for both. As an ‘extra’ you even get the interior part of the SHAR air intake -the area just behind the cockpit area- molded in resin.

All parts are molded in cream-colored resin. The parts are free of surface defects and/or part lines.

All parts are superbly molded, with a level of detail that plastic simply cannot replicate, including superbly detailed air compressed tanks, hydraulic fluid tanks and valves. You even get individual electrical wires molded into the resin. Detail painting will pay off.

Pouring stabs are of moderate size and removal of them might take a bit of effort. Likely plastic parts modification would be needed, mainly on the ventral bay.

MMP Books continues its series of “Colours of…” Smaller European Air Forces. This time, the Bombers of the Swedish Air Force in the 1924-1058 period are covered. This period cover the critical years of World War II when these aircraft performed a critical job of protecting Swedish neutrality.

Don’t let the word “Colours… “ in the title fool you. This book is not just about color profiles and camouflages - a topic which is certainly covered extensively.

This book also has plenty of historical facts, operational details, plus some stories like when a Ca.313 was being tested as a dive-bomber by the Swedish pilots and an Italian engineer came up crawling to the pilot to say: “Please, signor - I have a wife and ten children to provide for!”

In particular this book covers the following airframes

MMP Books continues its series of “Colours of…” Eastern European Air Forces. This time the Yugoslav Air Force in the 1919-1941 period is covered. The first volume covers the period immediate to the end of World War I up to a few years before World War II.

In particular this book covers the following airframes

• Nieuport 24 & 27
• Spad S.7
• Albatross D.III
• Phonix D.I & D.II
• Aviatik D.I
• Ansaldo SVA 5
• Bristol F.2b
• Dewoitine D.1
• Dewoitine D.9
• Dewoitine D.27
• Avia BH-33E
• Potez 25 A2

The book has chapters for each aircraft type in detail, including an introduction of how the airframe entered service. It finishes each section with a sub-chapter devoted to the camouflage colors, patterns and gorgeous color profiles (sometime even 3-view) of different aircrafts, next to a historical picture of the airplane.

This the second volume in a series devoted to the uniforms and equipment of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard. The first volume concentrated on the Infantry and I have not seen it. This volume focuses on the cavalry. The Imperial Guard, as the name suggests, was Napoleon’s personal guard that expanded into the elite regiments of the French Army. The material culture of the military through the ages has always attracted buffs, historians, and modelers. The author, rather than relying on secondary sources has dipped into archives and museum collections to understand the nitty gritty details, in particular colors and construction. As the author points out, despite the evidence that does exist, in many cases, we will never know many of the details that made up the uniforms of Napoleon’s elite guard. I can only assume that the first volume is a similar layout.

Thank you to Phil and to Bill for all the work that you do and your support of IPMS.

The Kit

Intended for Italeri or Hasegawa 1/32 F-86 Sabre models, this Aires Aero Bonus kit includes one resin cast block and one single-sided instruction sheet with a full color illustration. They are packaged in a plastic container (for protection) inside of a plastic pouch. Prior to working on the kit, I recommend washing it in a mild detergent solution to remove any mold release residue. The resin cast has sharp detail and is flash free.