The ZOOM series of photo-etch from Eduard features the absolutely essential parts to upgrade your model. Typically, it includes the things in the cockpit that provide dramatic impacts such as the pre-painted instrument panel and various other knobs, buttons, and stuff in the cockpit.

It is packaged in a resealable packaging. The set includes one fret of nickel plated pre-painted brass. The detail contained in the pre-painted parts is phenomenal. The detail that is painted is better than I could ever do. Some like it and some don’t. I love it.

In addition to the instrument panel are rudder pedals, radio faces, and all the little parts that are in the cockpit area. The amount of detail contained is impressive, to say the least. Adding this set to the kit cockpit elevates the cockpit to the level of some resin sets.

Background information from Wikipedia:

Ringtrichter Richtungshörer Horchgerät, or literally ‘hearing aid for anti-aircraft guns’ were developed in the First World War as military reconnaissance devices to locate guns on the battlefields. The successes were modest, however, because artillery fire is only short-term sound events, and there were several gun positions on the battlefields so that the localization was difficult. The directional receiver was much better suited for the localization of aircraft. By means of several devices, the true position of a relatively slow sound source moving in the subsonic range could be determined by cross-bearing. They were still used during the Second World War in order to locate enemy aircraft, even in weather such as fog or darkness. With the increasing speed of aircraft and the invention of radar technology, the Richtungshörer was largely obsolete.

When something in 1/144 scale comes up as available for review, I will quite often jump on it. There isn’t NEARLY as much in 1/144 as in 1/72 or 1/48, so I’m quite often looking at a list with nothing for me. When I saw the AOA Decals AC-119 decals in 1/144, I grabbed it. And I’m glad I did.

The Roden AC-119K Stinger is a pretty good kit, but I really wish the Eastern Europeans would start putting locating rings and tabs on their parts. A simple butt joint doesn’t always hold up well to handling. In this case, if you look at my Stinger, you’ll notice that the tail booms don’t line up very well with the fuselage. That’s because I managed to rip these parts off the kit THREE times.

So I’m very happy to review AOA’s decals for the AC-119.

The Bf 109 is one of the instantly recognizable aircraft of the Second World War, and it is iconic as one of the Luftwaffe’s most potent warplanes.

This book was originally published in 2007 and written by Lynn Ritger. It remains one of the most informative texts for the enthusiast and modeler. This updated version includes all new model builds, aftermarket accessories and decals. As the pages are turned, the reader is greeted with a plethora of mostly black and white period photos, color side view pictures, detailed drawings and various references for the modeler to take note of.

The book follows the development of each variant from F to K, theatres it performed in, and details some of the ground crew and pilots who operated them. Tables are included in each section that document a list of aircraft, pilots, dates and what happened to them. These are a sobering read and bring reality to mind as one reads: “pilot was killed”, “missing”, “captured”, etc.

The Airfix Stuka is an impressive kit but there is some room for improvement. When you think of Eduard you automatically think photo etch. So matching these two great modeling companies together is a natural.

Packaged in the typical Eduard resealable packaging with a cardboard stiffener inside are two different frets. The first fret is the pre-painted fret that is the ZOOM set. It is nickel plated and has the instrument panel and interior parts. The parts are really nicely done and the pre-painted is better than I can paint by hand. Some people have issue with pre-painted parts, but I do not.