If you build modern aircraft subjects, you’re probably already familiar with Two Bobs Aviation Graphics decals. Owner Bob Sanchez is a USAF vet who has put in plenty of time around modern jet aircraft. His firm produces some of the best quality decals available for unusually marked and typical line examples of modern aircraft subjects.

The subjects of this set are nineteen examples of B-2 “Spirit” stealth bombers of the 509th Bomb Wing, stationed at Whiteman AFB, MO. They include the “Spirits” of America, Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, California, South Carolina, Washington, Kansas, Nebraska, Georgia, Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, Oklahoma, Kitty Hawk, Pennsylvania and Louisiana, each with their distinctive gear door graphics markings. There are only 20 B-2’s in the USAF inventory, and one is assigned to testing duties. So this set allows you to model any of the current inventory stationed at Whiteman.

The Do-335B-2 Zerstrorer version of the late war German fighter plane had two wing-mounted 30mm cannons in addition to the standard 30mm armament in the nose.

Master has provided some remarkable parts to replace the kit ones. Packaged in the standard card stock backed zip lock baggie. The individual items are packaged separately to ensure that they are safe from damage. The set comprises two resin pieces, the muzzle flash suppressors, and seven beautifully turned brass parts. There are two cowl-mounted 30mm barrels, as well as the wing mounted ones which the flash suppressors are fitted to. A pitot tube is included along with a FuG-25 underwing antenna. The propeller blast tube is also included and makes this set very complete.

History: After the US declaration of war on Germany, hundreds of thousands of American troops flooded into France and were thrust into the front line. Among them was the US Marine Corps' 4th Marine Brigade whose first major action was the battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, fighting elements of Germany's 10th, 28th, and 237th Infantry divisions. Volunteers to a man, the newly arrived Marines faced experienced but war-weary German conscripts whose doctrine had been honed by nearly four years of conflict on the Western Front. During the fighting, the Germans are alleged to have given the nickname "Devil Dogs” to the Marines, and Belleau Wood has become enshrined in the Corps' heritage.

The book: For a book with just 80 pages and loaded with illustrations it has a lot of information on the Marine assault at Belleau Wood and it appears Greg Adams has done a good bit of research. The chapters are:

The Su-35 is a super maneuverable Russian fighter plane. One of the reasons for this is the vectored exhaust nozzles which can direct the exhaust in a variety of directions allowing the super maneuverability required in a dogfight.

Amigo Models has released a set of exhausts for the Kitty Hawk Su-35. Packaged in a small cardboard box the parts are protected by bubble wrap and resealable bags. The resin is a very light grey resin. The parts are superbly cast but more importantly extremely well detailed. They are quite thin as they should be. The interior of the burner cans is simply breathtaking in its detailing. The detail on the inside and out is simply beautiful. Removal of the burner ring is tricky but the rest are really easy to remove. Time and patience will reward you with perfectly formed pieces.

Eduard has initiated a new line of masks that are rather unique in that they provide masking for the outside and inside of the canopy. While this is not a new solution it is the first time that pre-cut masks have been available. If you are like me you mask the outside and paint the inside color so that it shines through and call it a day. The drawback of this method is that while the correct color it is shiny.

• EX581
• EX582

In the past canopies have been rather thick and as such caused distortion so that if you masked from the inside it might not be perfectly aligned with the outside and vise versa. Modern kit canopies are significantly thinner than previous kits. So that opens up the possibilities of masking the inside.