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Book Author(s)
Colin A. Owers
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$24.00

History

The Albatros D-series fighters appeared early in 1916 and went through several stages before the “V” strutted D.V’s were placed into service. While influenced by the French Nieuports, the only problem with these aircraft was the structural integrity of the wing, which tended to fail under extreme loads. This must have caused its pilots much concern, as they knew that the whole wing structure could fail under heavy stress loads. Later, most surviving pilots were happy to convert to the newer Fokker D.VII, although Albatros fighters remained in the inventory of the Imperial German Air Service until the end of hostilities in 1918, mostly serving in second-line units. Von Richtofen flew the type until he could get his hands on the Fokker Dr.1.

Review Author
Keith Pruitt
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.50

Master Model from Poland has produced another winner with its 1/48 F-102 Delta Dagger Pitot Tube. Turned from brass, the metal part is beautifully detailed. The metal part would also add needed strength in a weak area, considering the usual ease with which plastic parts can be broken. Additionally, using a metal pitot tube will eliminate the need for removing the mold marks commonly found on the plastic part. The package states that it fits all 1/48 F-102 kits. Whether the build is from a standard kit, or some type of resin conversion, this part should work well as intended.

Installation, as with all Master Model metal detail parts, is quite simple. The modeler would remove the molded plastic kit part, drill an appropriately sized hole in the plastic radome and glue the metal pitot tube into the hole with cyanoacrylate glue.

Review Author
Keith Pruitt
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.50

Master Model from Poland has once again scored a hit with its 1/48 RF-101B Voodoo Pitot Tube. Turned from brass, the metal part has excellent detail and should be much more durable than the plastic kit part. The increased detail of this metal part, combined with the inherent weakness of plastic parts, would make this an outstanding choice for replacing the kit pitot tube. While the package states that it fits all 1/48 RF-101B kits, the only one that has been released, outside of possible resin conversion sets, is the Monogram kit from 1986. Whether the Monogram kit or a resin conversion is used, this part should work well as intended. The Monogram kit mentioned has the added disadvantage of having the pitot tube molded with one of the radome halves, which jeopardizes the part even more during any handling as assembly progresses.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Eduard continues its prolific release schedule of truly new items with this weekend release. Thanks very much for providing us the kit, and, as a company, for supporting IPMS USA with review items!

This kit is a re-release of Eduard’s Fw190D kit, without the photoetch, extra markings, masks, etc… and as such the price is much lower. The intent: build a model in a weekend! An excellent idea for those who don’t want to have AMS(Advanced Modeling Syndrome) rule their modeling, and it certainly makes the kits more attractive to the modeling public at large. A brilliant idea that appears to be bearing fruit!

I had not built one of the Eduard Fw190 series models. I have an A-8 and the Profipack D-9 in my stash, with the intent of building them later when I have time (!). When this kit became available, I was pleased to have an excuse to dive in.

Review Author
Jack Kennedy
Published on
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$29.95

I have built many Cyber Model kits in the past year and I believe that they are getting better. This kit of the XB-70A is a real beauty. I might add that the scale is a little off from the standard but I can see the reasoning. The XB-70 is a truly huge aircraft.

One of the highlights of my stay in Columbus for the Nationals was a visit to the USAF Museum in Dayton. I had been there before, but I really wanted to see the XB-70 again and take some detail shots. At the time I didn’t know that a kit of this aircraft was coming out. I have one in 1/144 and one in 1/72 but they are just too big. This scale worked out just fine for my shelves.

Review Author
Mark Aldrich
Published on
Company
SabIngaMartin Publications
MSRP
$35.00

Doctor Robert Manasherob just keeps making our day for those of us that are into the Israeli Defense Forces! His many in-depth books covering the armored vehicles of the IDF are nothing short of spectacular! His books often contain personal insights and stories that help bring the books to life. The inclusion of never before seen pictures and color walk arounds of the actual vehicles are a modeler’s dream come true. The only better way to research these topics would be for you to go to the Latrun Museum yourself.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$26.95

This magazine is a very, very nice binding of 136 glossy color pages in A4 size, analogous to what a National Geographic feels like, only larger and a little more hefty. Nearly all of the text is in Japanese, but I gained a great deal of information about Formula 1 car kits, despite my inability to read Japanese. There is just enough English throughout to understand the material and navigate the text. Of course, seeing words like “Ferrari” and “Pirelli” on the colorful variety of subjects doesn’t hurt either.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$38.00

Aires always releases some fantastic resin and photo-etch accessories, adding a great deal of detail to the finished model. Much excitement surrounded Kinetic when they released a 1:48 EA-6B Prowler, newly tooled. This cockpit set adds a substantial additional level of detail to the kit.

First, let’s take a look at a little history and nomenclature so you can decide if this is the correct kit for you. The EA-6B has gone through five upgrades, six if you count the canceled ADVCAP. Each changed the internal cockpit layout, sometimes drastically, and the electronic equipment that was carried. From the exterior most of the various upgrades can be spotted by the differing antenna fits, so this makes it a little easier for the modeler wanting to replicate a particular aircraft without having to crawl through the cockpit.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost has always helped out the modeler by providing hollowed-out exhausts and other drop-in replacements for kit parts. This latest addition is the fishtail version of the Spitfire exhausts. It is molded perfectly in light grey resin with perfectly hollowed-out exhaust stacks. The fishtail would have made it near impossible for me to do that same amount of detail.

Like all of the Quickboost items, clean up is easy and you just have to replace the kit part. Easy, inexpensive and perfectly cast.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost has always helped out the modeler by providing hollowed-out exhausts and other drop-in replacements for kit parts. This new addition is the round exhaust version of the Spitfire exhausts for the Airfix kit. They are molded perfectly in light grey resin with perfectly hollowed-out exhaust stacks. The tiny exhausts are perfect, far superior to anything that I could do with a pin vise and Opti-visor.

Like all of the Quickboost items, cleanup is easy and you just have to replace the kit part. Easy, inexpensive and perfectly cast.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Quickboost and IPMS/USA for the review copy.