One sure way to mess up the kit speculators is to re-release a rare kit. In this case, re-releasing the classic Monogram B-52 with X-15 combination was eagerly awaited, as some on the open market paid over $400 for this particular kit, which was released in the “Young Astronaut” series back in 1992 or so. Thanks to Revell/Monogram for providing us this excellent kit!
What's New
Aires has continued in its release of enhancements for the family of Trumpeter MiG-23 kits. Here is a look at what is now available for the cockpit. The first set, a multimedia KM-1 Ejection seat can be used not only for the MiG-23 but also the MiG-21. The other two sets are each unique to a specific variant of the MiG-23, the ML and the MF. Each of these sets is up to the standard that we expect from Aires.
This kit comes with 12 pieces to upgrade the interior of your StuG.III F/8. The parts replace the 3 Dragon-supplied radio parts with highly detailed color face plates and radio boxes. It also comes with 2 headphones (a very nice addition) that have been pre-painted in black.
Can’t wait to build my StuG.III, the parts are going to look great.
I highly recommend this upgrade kit to all detail nuts like me (but still not a bolt counter).
I would like to thank Eduard and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to conduct this review.
This upgrade PE kit comes with 2 sheets totaling over 100 pieces (part 99 has 12 pieces to it).
The first sheet has parts 1-50. This sheet has most of the ammo box details. You also get a set of mud flap enhancements.
The second sheet, parts 51-100, has most of the small interior enhancements for the tool mounts, mp5 gun mounts, tool and ammo box handles and latches, along with various enhancements such as corner plates and locks (part 92) for the boxes. You even get a set of 4 PE chains (part 55).
You can’t go wrong with this very detailed upgrade kit for your StuG.III F/8. Also see my review for the StuG.III Ausf.F/8 Interior Radio PE set – the two really go well together.
I highly recommend this upgrade kit to all detail lovers.
I would like to thank Eduard and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to conduct this review.
Eduard has put together another nice PE kit. This kit comes with two PE sheets with a total of 77 parts.
The first sheet has parts 1 to 36 for the cockpit control panels, foot pedals and seat belts. Each part has been pre-painted and has self-adhesive glue on the back. The etchings look sharp and the colors are correct for the scale.
The second sheet has parts 37 to 77 that include the armor plating and side wall details, along with some of the small control handles and interior details. Altogether, the two sheets replace most of the interior of the cockpit with PE.
Got to say, I wish I had this kit when I made my 109 a few months ago, it would have been a very nice upgrade. So I guess I have to build another one to take advantage of these items.
Highly recommend it to all detail lovers! This kit will bring a smile to your face when see the details on your finished masterpiece.
This is a very nice PE set; it has 25 parts on the tree to enhance the cockpit of your 109E-1/E-3. The control panel and seatbelts are pre-painted. The details on the control dials are aligned and have the correct color.
This would be a great upgrade to the Eduard Bf-109E-1/E-3 weekend kit.
I would like to thank Eduard and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to conduct this review.
Two Bobs products are well known for their high standards and this decal is no different. The decal sheet is quite extensive, with Low Vis insignia, tail codes, and sundry fuselage markings. The decal sheet is accompanied by two full color camouflage guides for thirteen different "Egg-Planes". A set of the markings was used as a test sample and applied to a scrape wing which was cleaned and prepped, and then primed with a gray primer.
As is the case with all of the Two Bobs decals I've applied, the test samples went on smoothly and easily. The test samples worked well with Micro Sol, Micro Set, and Solva Set, displaying no difference in adhesion over panel lines using any of these three common setting solutions.
Thanks to Two Bobs for the review sample. This product is highly recommended.
Wow, the team at Afterburner Decals has been busy! If you like modern US Navy aircraft, then you are no doubt familiar with Afterburner decals. These latest two decal sheets will not disappoint. Colorful and artistic, the schemes provide some of the latest markings being flown on the family of Super Hornets that are now dominating flight decks on both the East Coast and the West Coast. Between the two, the East Coast CAG aircraft have the edge in color and artwork. The fact that the instruction sheet backgrounds are Blue and Gold, is a nice touch of detail.
Tim Mason had a forty year flying/Royal Air Force career. Since his retirement he has written three books on the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment. The Seaplane Years is the third of those books. (Editor's note: The book is subtitled - A history of the Marine & Armament Experimental Establishment, 1920 - 1924, and Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, 1924 - 1956)
The book opens with an interdiction by Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire, followed by an Introduction and Acknowledgements.
The first three chapters cover the three facilities used for testing from 1920 to 1956. Of special interest to modelers will be some of the pictures found here. There are a few good diorama ideas tucked into this part of the book. The meat of this book for scale modelers will be found in Chapters 4 and 5.
On the underside of the F-4 Phantom and the British variants are two doors astride the centerline which open outward. These two small doors always open when the landing gear extended to provide extra cooling air to flow to the engines. The underside of the wing in all of the Hasegawa kits has these doors molded open, revealing the hollow void of the fuselage. Now in fairness, when the model is displayed on its landing gear, especially with stores, the emptiness is not that noticeable. But if you are a modeler who does not like open voids, Aires has a solution. This particular set is designed for the Spey powered British Phantoms, but Aires offers them for the USN and USAF variants as well; I am unsure of the differences if any.