Squadron Products/MMD have partnered with Cartograf in providing us with four more new F-102 Decal sheets to go with their previously released Encore F-102 Case XX wing release of the (1992) Monogram F-102 kit. (In case you don’t know, the earlier Case X wing had squared-off ailerons and a “kink” to the wing… The Case XX wing has the curved leading edge which goes out to the extreme edge of the wing, and a diagonal extension of the ailerons. The previously released Monogram/Revell kits had the Case X wing, and the Encore and Promodeller releases had the Case XX wings…) Hats off to MMD for providing us these decal sheets!

The Parts

Designed for the Fujimi 1/24 scale Ferrari 458 ITALIA, this photoetch set comes with two photoetched sheets covered with a plastic film. The film helps keep from losing the part when cutting them off the frets. Some of the parts are new brake disc; new Ferrari emblems; gas and brake pedals and air vents, to just name a few.

Wingnut Wings has released two decal sheets that provide multiple marking options for their Pfalz D.IIIa kit. The decals, like others from Wingnut Wings, are packaged in zip-lock sleeves along with a comprehensive full color 4-page instruction booklet that includes application instructions, aircraft profiles, top and bottom wing plan views, historical information and a number of period photos of each of the aircraft covered by the decal sheets. These sets exhibit a high level of quality, on par with all of the products marketed by Wingnut Wings.

Set 30019 provides markings for six Pfalz D.IIIa fighters from numerous Jastas. Some of the subjects will require upper and under wing lozenge patterns (and rib tape) not included in this set, but is available from Wingnut Wings in sets they sell separately.

The markings are for:

1/32 scale has seen a bit of a renaissance of late with a very large selection of new kits hitting the market. Among them are many cold war to modern era US aircraft including F-4, A-4, F-8, F-16, and F-18 just to name a few. All of these aircraft, and many more, use the ubiquitous Mk 82 500 LB bomb. These bombs are commonly seen carried signally, on a Triple Ejector Rack (TER) or on the Multiple Ejector Rack (MER) and have been used in every conflict after Korea.

Though there are a lot of these type of bombs available in some of the plastic kits, none are as detailed or as accurate as this resin item from Master Details. In the bag you get enough parts to complete two bombs with a full selection of fuses including the “daisy cutter” fuse extender. A total of 30 resin parts plus a small jig to align the fins is included. Fuse types are:

History

This is another superb kit from the guys at Wingnut Wings. According to the detailed history on the instruction booklet, the Hansa-Brandenburg W.29 was allegedly designed by Ernst Heinkel on the back of a cabaret wine list and was basically a W.12 biplane with the top wing removed. This advanced monoplane had markedly improved performance due to the reduction of drag afforded by the loss of the upper wing as well as the lack of guy wires. The solid construction was achieved because of the rigid strut arrangement for the floats. Three prototypes were constructed in January 1917 and each was powered by a different engine for the comparison purposes. When production began in April of 1917 it was decided to use the 150hp Benz Bz. III. A total of 199 W.29s were produced in two versions. 156 planes were built with 3 machine guns (C3MG) and another 43 were built with 2 machine guns (C2MGHFT) and a wireless radio.