Scale Aircraft Modelling is an excellent monthly publication focusing on modeling scale aircraft. No surprise there. And if you are a long-time fan of SAM, then it is also no surprise that I state that SAM is one of the best modeling magazines focused on aircraft that money can buy.

Averaging just under 100 pages, SAM is filled with “build” articles featuring some of the newer kits on the market as well as projects based on old favorites. In this issue (Vol 34, Issue 08), a number of featured articles span subject matter from World War I to jets, but the premiere article features the B-25.

Jay Laverty and Pat Sublemontier present an in-depth photographic reference for the B-25. Of course, the model around which this article is built (pardon the pun) is the HK 1/32nd B-25. The article really isn’t a review of the HK kit but rather it is a narrative which includes the load of aftermarket items that are made for use on the HK kit.

Iliad Design is a Canadian company producing books, color charts, and decals specifically geared to the modeler. Their latest release is this decal set in 1/48 scale.

Post-war Air National Guard P-51Ds from the following four units are covered:

• 154 FS, Arkansas National Guard
• 110 FS, Missouri National Guard
• 175 FS, South Dakota National Guard
• 113 FS Indiana National Guard

All the specific markings for each aircraft are provided, but only one set of national insignia is given. As the post-war Stars’n’Bars are easily obtainable, I am happy to see the space devoted to covering as many unique subjects as possible.

Tragically one of the most famous ships of all time, the RMS Titanic was heralded as “unsinkable” prior to her fateful maiden voyage in April, 1912. A floating palace of luxury and nautical innovation, Titanic and her sisters Olympic and Britannic were the pride of the White Star Line. On April 15, 1912, Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank – taking 1502 souls with her.

Italeri produces a number of HO scale (1/87th) railroad items, all featuring European rolling stock or motive power. The Vcff Hopper Car is another item in that successful and excellent line of kits. If you are an aficionado of European trains, specifically Italian equipment, then there is no question that this kit is of interest to you.

But why, you may ask, would I be interested in this offering? Foremost, the quality of this model is very high. The molding detail is excellent, showing lots of bolt heads, and the final product is quite accurate. In fact, placing it on my layout (yes…I’m an IPMS member and a model railroader, all at the same time!), I found that the gauge on the wheel sets included in the Italeri kit matches up with my Atlas track, and the model rolls properly on my layout. Beyond that fact, there are those who enjoy building plastic kits of railroad equipment, and this item makes an interesting addition to any railroad collection.

Cyber-Hobby has released a new helicopter, the Sea King HC.4 in 1/72 scale, that marks the 30th anniversary of its use by the English forces during the Falklands War (1982). The kit has 6 sprues for a part count of 151 pieces, of which 7 will not be used. In addition, a small photo-etch sheet of three parts is included, as well as a decal sheet printed by Cartograf that will allow six different ships to be depicted. The fuselage has delicate recessed panel lines and flush rivets molded in Dragon’s usual light gray styrene. Two types of rotor blades are also provided; one bending upward as in flight and one bending down as when on the ground. The kit also allows one to build the rotor blades in the stowed position; this is the option I chose to keep the shelf space down to the minimum. Back to the fuselage: it is made up of three parts, two halves and the fuselage’s bottom.