This update set is typical Aires, coming in a sturdy plastic package with foam backing and instructions tucked between the cardboard back and plastic. First impression – how crisp the detail is on the electronics bay as well as the access doors. Mold release is non-existent; however, I still recommend washing the resin before use.

Compared to the Kitty Hawk kit parts, the Aires bay is much deeper than the kit bay, which is very shallow. The kit part features are very crude while the Aires set has far more detail and is very sharp. The kit’s access doors exteriors do not look much different from Aires’ except for the air inlet scoop. The inside of the doors is where the update really shines. There is no detail in the Kitty Hawk parts, while the Aires doors have very fine detail showing structural ribs and insulation blanket detail.

First, the usual “THANK YOU!” to Ross at SAC for providing IPMS USA this review set. Said it before and will again, it’s companies like SAC supporting us that keep the hobby interesting and viable. And thanks to the leadership at IPMS USA from me for allowing an old guy, once again, to babble on about a great product, which was graciously provided for my use… Steve, Dick, Paul, and the rest, you are doing a great job.

SAC metal gear – what can you say? Perfection is a good starting point. This set is intended to be a total, drop-in replacement for the kit plastic. You get all three main gear, nose and wing mounted, and associated actuating cylinders. The detail is as good as the real thing, and the strength of the new gear is truly appreciated.

From 1940 until the end of the Second World War, the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) provided stealthy reconnaissance patrols in Western Europe and North Africa. The vehicle most commonly associated with these groups, particularly when they were in North Africa, is the Chevrolet truck depicted in this kit. Captured weapons were often used and, in this case, we have a 2cm Italian Breda cannon.

The kit is composed of 72 parts on three sprues of soft grey plastic and one decal sheet. The parts are fragile, especially the 2cm Breda cannon, so care should be taken when removing them from the sprue. There’s a color profile and decals for two vehicles.

Eduard now offers a mask set for Cyber Hobby’s recently released Bf-109E-3 kit. The set provides multiple pieces for masking the clear parts and wheels. Like other Eduard mask sets, it is made of Kabuki tape (similar to Tamiya’s masking tape) and provides precut masks for the kit’s windscreen, canopy, and wheels. The masks will adhere well to any flat or curved surface, so masking is easily accomplished and the masks can be removed after paining is completed. A simple instruction sheet is included to guide the masking process. This set should make masking most parts and painting a reasonably quick process with little or no drama.

Having built the original release of the Moebius Models Iron Man Mk. II, I jumped at the opportunity to review the “updated” Mk. III kit. Prior to the kit’s arrival, I knew it was based on the original, but with an updated pose. When the kit arrived, I was pleased, yet also slightly disappointed.