Aircraft reviews
New Special Hobby 1/32 Westland Whirlwind fighter
Editor at Large Chris Clifford lifts the lid on Special Hobby’s all-new 1/32 tooling of the fascinating, yet unsuccessful Westland Whirlwind fighter
Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-2 ProfiPACK
Messerschmitt’s legendary Bf 109 is a perennial favourite, and Eduard’s latest boxing (kit 82165) – depicting the unpressurised G-2 version ‒ will certainly please modellers who favour World War Two Luftwaffe subjects.
SUPER-SIZE STORM
Airfix has a long history of 1/24 scale ‘superkits’, and its returning Vintage Classics Hawker Hurricane is regarded as among the best of these from the firm’s 1970s-era offerings.
TRICOLORE SOVIETS
Brengun has produced a version of its 1/72 Yak-1B depicting aircraft flown by Groupe de Chasse 3 (3rd Fighter Group) ‘Normandie- Niemen’.
SPY IN THE SKY
There aren’t many kits of remotely piloted aircraft but Platz’s 1/72 RQ-4B Global Hawk is surely the largest.
RECCE TUTOR
ICM has continued to expand its range of Foxbats, which now includes the first of two planned two-seater offerings in the shape of the MiG-25RU reconnaissance conversion trainer.
RED STAR MIRAGE
Special Hobby’s lovely 1/72 Mirage F.1 returns in Revell boxing with spectacular markings for the disbandment of French Air Force Squadron EC 1/30 ‘Normandie Niemen’.
WEIRD BUT WONDERFUL 'WASP'
Part of AB&K’s ‘Luftwaffe Secret Projects 1936-45’ series, this 1/72 resin kit depicts the unusual Heinkel Wespe (wasp) – designed to test vertical take-off and landing from a tail-sitting starting position.
THE BEST, BETTER?
Considering the type’s success, it’s surprising there haven’t been more kits of the T-33A. This offering from Italeri is a re-packaging of Platz’s 2012 tooling, making this an inspired match between the latter’s superb parts and the former’s gorgeous decals, with options for six airframes.