Master Models has released another great set, this I a barrel and muzzle set for the German Mk. 103 30mm cannon used in WWII. It was used primarily for “tank-busting” but could be used in air to air situation also. It was used on the following planes:

• Fw 190F-8 - Two, 1 in the gun pod under each wing
• Hs 129B-2 - One in the pod under the fuselage in the front part
• Me 410B-6/R3 - Pair in the nose
• Ho 229 V3 - Pair in the nose
• Do.335 A-1 - Single center-mounted cannon through the prop hub
• Do.335 A-0 - Single center-mounted cannon through the prop hub

The Henschel HS-129 was the primary user and already having the great Hasegawa kit, I jumped at the chance to review the set.

Mikro Mir has come on the scene from Ukraine, releasing a lot of new naval kits and some aircraft. I had earlier reviewed their new CAD designed model of the British 1/144 Holland Class Submarine. It was a pleasure to build, so I quickly signed up for this kit. I was wary of the Bilek release of the Yak-23 and was looking for Mikro Mir’s approach to the subject. Well, Mikro Mir had a hand in this kit, but the basic aircraft is the Bilek kit (4 sprues) with an extra sprue of details, new PE, new decals and set of masks from Mikro Mir. The Mikro Mir sprue includes a full engine (but no tailpipe!), wing tanks and simplified landing gear.

This book is published by Kagero and is distributed in North America by Casemate Publishers. “The Hapsburg’s Wings 1914” is authored by Professor, Senior Doctor Lecturer Andrzej Olejko.

As one would expect, the focus of North American WWI historians, students, authors, artists, and modelers is on the Western Front. Ask a Canadian to name a WWI Ace and they will respond with “Billy Bishop”. Ask an American and they will quickly name Eddie Rickenbacker. Other names will be put forward. Certainly, on this list, will be George Guynemer, Albert Ball, Andrew Beauchamp Proctor and Mick Mannock.

Ask, then, for the respondent to focus on German Aces. Of course, the first name that will come up is Manfred Von Richthofen followed quickly by Max Immelmann.

This book details Soviet strategic bombers development, use history and experimental bombers as well. Beginning with The Tu-4 “Bull” an aircraft reverse engineered from interred B-29s during WWII on until modern day.

The book is broken down into 15 chapters, beginning with post war development of strategic bombers. The next seven are devoted to the main bomber types in service with the USSR. These include the aforementioned Tu-4 as well as the Tu-95 Bear, M-4 Bison, Tu-16 Badger, Tu-22 Blinder, Tu-22M Backfire and the Tu-160 Blackjack. Each aircraft is given in-depth coverage of service of both active and retired aircraft and those that were used by client states outside of the USSR. You will find each of these chapters to be very interesting and packed with information.

The book is a top drawings series from Kagero and is a Visual study of the Junkers Ju 87B Dive Bomber of the Luftwaffe in World War II.

I found this book full of fascinating scale drawings and profiles of all the variants of the Ju 87B. There are 7 sheets of 1/48 scale drawings and 8 sheets of 1/72 scale drawings. There are also 10 color profiles of aircraft. These drawings are very useful for any modeler and are a great additional to any reference library.

Included in the book are a set of canopy masks in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale for Ju 87B models and are a great bonus to the book.

I recommend this book to everyone with any interest Ju 87B especially Modelers.

Thanks go to Casemate Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them