What's New

Book Author(s)
Glenn Ashley; illustrated by Jon Freeman
Review Author
Phil Pignataro
Published on
Company
AIRfile Publications
MSRP
$28.00

The Harrier is one of the most easily recognized modern jet fighters and has been so since its introduction into the RAF in 1969. It certainly is one of the noisiest, particularly when in VTOL mode. This excellent book is another of the ongoing AIRfile publications covering British aircraft. As in their other books, this volume is full of relevant information and color profiles, this time focusing on early versions of the Harrier. The chapter titles speak for themselves:

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/4
MSRP
$8.90

When Eduard released the Bf109E Instrument they also released a mask to go along with it. Unfortunately the only way to purchase this mask is through Eduard's store and you have to be a member of the Bunny Fighter Club.

Now when it comes to masking a model you could take and make your own mask with one of the many medias available, or you can purchase a ready to use mask for that specific model and cut your masking time in about half. The mask for the Instrument panel helps in several difficult areas. One of the areas that the really comes in handy is for some of the raised details on the instrument panel that have to be painted. Another very helpful part of the mask is for molded on bolt heads. It makes painting these a breeze. You can follow the link above for a better idea of what is included or Eduard has a great article on building the instrument panel which includes a breakdown of the mask. The article can be found by following this link:

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Roden
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$35.99

The Aircraft

The Boeing 720 was a direct development of the highly successful 707. The 720 had a shorter fuselage and was narrower, making it more cost effective for airlines on the shorter runs. 720s were profitable for Boeing because the development work had all been done with the 707. There were two basic versions of the 720, 720A and 720B. The A had P & W JT-3C turbojet engines, the B had JT-3D turbofans. Many As were upgraded to Bs through changing the engines. 720s were built from 1958 to 1967.

The 720 in this kit was a 720B N7224U, owned by Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas Nevada. The aircraft was called “Caesar’s Chariot”. It was leased to the rock group Led Zeppelin for their 1977 North American concert tour. The plane had a special paint job, with Zeppelin’s “Swan Song” album logo on the tail.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.00

Lifelike has produced this set of decals for he recent RS Models Ki-100 kit. They can also be used for the FineMolds kit but the producer does not that there might need to be some modification.

In the package, there is one decal sheet which covers the five aircraft. The decals are printed by Cartograf and beautiful, in register and colorful. Also included is the sheet with five full color profiles of the aircraft and their histories and information which is wonderfully researched. Last is a page indicating the paint colors and also the stencil placement and reference sources.

The planes covered are:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.00

Lifelike Decals continues its superb line of 1/72 decals with 5 options for the Hasegawa kit. The decals are perfectly in register and are printed by Cartograf. The instruction sheets are superb being full color and having side profiles of all five aircraft. There is also a very thoroughly research paint scheme and stencil instructions.

The five aircraft represent the following:

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$53.99

This wonderful ICM kit has been kindly furnished by MMD Squadron for IPMS review.

When Hitler came to power in 1933, all fire services came under the newly created Fire Protection Police (Feuerschutz-polizei) as an arm of the Order Police (Ordnungspolizei), commanded by Heinrich Himmler. The fire equipment color changed from red to Polizei dark green. After the war, fire-fighting equipment was changed again to red. The L1500S truck was produced between 1941 and 1944 during World War II for use by the German Fire Police.

ICM also will be producing another version of the Fire Truck, L1500S LF 8, kit# 35527, and MiniArt has announced a similar kit, #35171, German Fire Truck L1500S AF8 with TSA Trailer.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$68.00

History

The Fiat G.50 was Italy’s first single-seat, all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear. The prototype of the G.50 was first flown in 1937 and introduced into service in 1938. The G.50 served Italy in the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air force) in the Battle of Britain, in Africa, and in the Aegean theatre, and helped to defend against the invasion of Sicily. They also served in the Aviazione Legionaria (Italian Expeditionary Force) in Spain. 35 were flown to Finland and served in the two Finnish wars against the Soviets. Although fairly quick (max speed was 292mph) and maneuverable, it was lightly armed with just two 12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns in the cowl.

Review Author
Mark Aldrich
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$29.00

In the current hobby where making obscure one-offs has seemingly become the norm and where every manufacturer feels they have to make a kit with more than 300 pieces and at least one 2x3 sheet of photo-etch, Italeri stands alone! I must applaud them for making that stand! One of their latest releases is a kit that contains only twenty two pieces. There is no PE, no clear or colored styrene, and no metal. OMG!!! This is ridiculous! There must be a mistake! It isn’t even a kit of an armored vehicle of any kind! However, it is more valuable than any M1, M1126, M113 or M117. It is also more easily recognized and used than any of the above mentioned vehicles. Italeri has made a bold move and issued a model kit of a 20-foot container.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
SuperScale International
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Superscale Decals is now owned by the excellent people at Squadron Products, and their latest release is this sheet containing four different sets of walkways for 1/48th scale Phantoms. Both the wing and top of fuselage walkways are included. The set is printed by Cartograf and is beautifully in register and glossy.

The sets included are:

  1. Black outlines with the walkway language
  2. FS36231 Gull Gray with black outline and stenciling
  3. FS36231 Gull Gray with no outline and with stenciling
  4. FS36118 Gunship Gray with no outline and with stenciling

The instructions are well done, in color, and show the needed location of the decals.

This set is highly recommended and will go really well with older Phantom kits or the newer Academy kit. My thanks to Gary Newman and Squadron Products for the chance to review these great decals, and to IPMS USA for the opportunity to do so.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
SuperScale International
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Super Scale (Squadron Products) has released and excellent new set of decals for the Academy F-4B Phantom. This set covers an F-4B from the VF-32 Swordsmen aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CFA-67) circa 1970.

The decals come with a single sheet of colorful decals and include the markings for BuNo 152972. The national insignia are also included, along with some specific stencils. The decals are printed by Cartograf and are perfectly in register and very colorful. The highlights are the large yellow/black tail flashes and sword on the rudder. The intake warnings are colorful and also included.

These decals are a great addition to the excellent Academy kit. Highly recommended. My thanks to Squadron Products and IPMS/USA for the chance to review these decals.