Eduard has perfected the art of the pre-painted instrument panels. I can’t even paint the instruments as good as they pre-paint. If you haven’t used them you really should try them.

The newest addition is designed for the new Academy 1/48^th scale F-4C. The single sheet fret is a nickel plated sheet with all the instrument panels and side consoles for both the front and back seats. These parts are self adhesive and designed to be added directly to the kit parts. You will have to sand off the molded on detail but that is simple enough to do with a sanding stick.

The self adhesive is definitely sticky but I still use super glue to hold the parts together and Future in the bezels to add the sticking and to replicate the glass. The set is simple to add and the visual impact is amazing.

Packaged in a plastic vacuformed package in typical Aires style, this set is designed for the Academy kit. Granted the F-4D has not been released yet but it is probably the next release from Academy. There is a lot of resin inside the packaging. The photo etch fret is quite nice.

Molded in light grey resin the resin displays impressive detail and immaculate casting. The biggest piece is the cockpit tub with the side controls molded in place. This is impressive to say the least. I do wish that Aires would embrace the pre-painted instrument panels. That is in no way a ding on this set. The sandwich type panel will be quite nice and hard enough to see under the glare shield. What is nice is that you are provided with an extra side controllers for both cockpits just in case they get broke in transit.

AK Interactive offers a wide variety of items for the modeler, from paint and weathering sets, to books, to model kits. The website is easy to navigate and offers a button to provide an “English” translation. Another button offers a currency exchange calculator from Euros (the posted pricing) to US dollars.

AK is on Facebook and has a YouTube presence. To quote the AK YouTube link, “AK's Official YouTube Channel (will) show Advanced Techniques, Tutorials, Tips & Tricks and many more things. Currently working on it :-)”

AK provided a copy of Aces High issue No.2 for review. This issue focuses on aircraft of World War I, being labeled a “Centenary” edition. Also included are three additional articles featuring a set of figures, a truck, and a piece of airfield equipment.

Introduction

Round 2 Models continues re-releasing older kits with their latest release of a true classic Lindberg’s Winnie Mae. The Lockheed Vega was a true master piece of aviation engineering. The Vega was designed by Jack Northrop and Gerrard Vultee in 1926. The 27 foot long Vega was constructed of a molded plywood fuselage and a single spar wooden wing, which was a radical design and lacked the familiar wing struts. The Vega first flew on July 4th, 1927 and quickly became the favorite of many veteran pilots. The Vega was also used by several business firms and airlines, having flown with 47 different commercial airlines. In the late twenty’s and early thirty’s the Vega was constantly setting speed records. This prompted an early advertising slogan, “It takes a Lockheed to beat a Lockheed”. The Vega was faster than many of the fighter planes of the day and notched 34 separate world speed records.

Osprey Publishing continues to expand the Aircraft of the Aces series with the installment of P-38 Lighting Aces 1942-43.

This book is well researched and has plenty of black and white pictures, including several images of aircrafts with very decorative nose-art or ‘teeth’ in the engine cowlings. All of the depicted aircraft have the Olive Drab over Neutral Gray camouflage scheme.

The book is divided in the following sections:

• Introduction
• Lockheed’s Hot Rod
• Get Yamamoto!
• New Guinea – The fighter pilot’s war
• Twin-Tailed Dragons of the CBI
• Mediterranean Action
• The Mighty Eight

Each section is virtually an independent monograph and the book could be read in any order.