The EA-18G Growler is the US Navy’s newest ECM aircraft, replacing the venerable Grumman EA-6B Prowler. Now in service with several squadrons, the EA-18G provides our military forces the latest hardware for electronic warfare. Boeing modified the basic two-seat FA-18F Super Hornet for the ECM mission by adding numerous antenna, sensors, and stores, and by removing offensive items such as the 20mm cannon. To produce a model of this machine, Hasegawa essentially did the same. They took their basic FA-18F Super Hornet kit and added sprues with all the relevant pieces to produce the G model.

Trumpeter’s new kit of the 1/32 A-4 Skyhawk is one of the better kits that Trumpeter has recently come out with. However, as with all kits from all the makers of fine hobby kits, there is always room for improvement. In this case Quickboost has come out with an upgrade for Trumpeter’s air scoops.

Quickboost’s kit consists of three different types of scoops and one set of pitot tubes in a light grey resin and can be easily be “picked” off of the sprue and sanded so as not to hurt the design of the part. These are so precise and real-looking that they easily enhance the look of the aircraft kit.

I would definitely recommend this upgrade not only for how well they look but also for the price. They are definitely worth it and they won’t break the bank, either, and the best part is that any modeler at any skill level will have no problem attaching these to the kit. CA glue is necessary.

• Premium Edition, #EC85001, $89.99
• Standard Edition, #EC80001, $53.99

Well, lads and lasses, time to quit playing and report out. This was, I think, the most fun I’ve had since I began reviewing kits, and I am known around club meetings as a guy who enjoys building anything. I am at 90%+ completion, with only the starboard side photo-etched parts and the rigging to do.

The set had very minimal flash and no ejection pin marks. The few mold lines that exist were easily removed with a sharp blade. There are decals and painting instructions. The decals were a pleasant surprise. Now all the small details like shoulder patches and campaign ribbons are better shown.

The figures went together okay, but the Horricks figure has the hands and arms molded in one piece and that created a gap in the shoulder attachment that required some additional effort to close up. Colors are called out in Hobby Color, Mr. Hobby, Humbrol, and Tamiya paints.

Conclusion – Riich Models is a new company and is off to a decent start in 1/35 scale figures. The figures depict a section of a period photo taken of them. The action is very minimal, however. Since there is nothing else showing in the picture, I would add a British tank or some other vehicle to make a nice little diorama. The kit is well done and appears better than my figure painting makes it look.

The set had very minimal flash and no ejection pin marks. What mold lines I saw were easily removed with a sharp blade. There are no decals, and some painting instructions. You will need to copy what you see in the illustration. There are not even any part numbers on the sprue, just a picture on the back of the box with the numbers listed next to the part. There are two insert photos of possible camouflage painting of the smocks but the paints listed don’t match the colors.

The figures went together without a lot of shaping and filling. Two of them are balanced so they can stand without pins or glue. The weapons fit the hand fairly well and are nicely made.