Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
PRUSSIAN KNIGHTS OF THE AIR
German publisher Luftfahrtverlag START has produced a stunning new book on a lesser-known World War One German fighter unit, along with accompanying decals.
HUNTING BY NIGHT
The first in a two-part series, this Classic Colours volume describes the changes in camouflage worn by Luftwaffe night-fighters between 1939 and 1945, while also providing valuable insight into how these aircraft were designed, organised and operated.
WONKY WING
Known for unconventional designs, German manufacturer Blohm & Voss arguably surpassed itself with the Bv 141, producing an asymmetric design in response to a reconnaissance requirement (eventually filled by the Fw 189).
RUSSIAN CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
The Duke Hawkins series of photo studies is now in its 17th edition, which is devoted to Sukhoi’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft. Packed with high-quality colour photos throughout, it showcases the type magnificently, with examples included from the Soviet Union/Russia, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Belarus and Georgia.
MARITIME 'HOW-TO'
Written by experienced modelmaker Mike McCabe (perhaps better known as the owner of Starling Models), this is a one-stop shop for anyone interested in building maritime subjects.
A RISING POWER
Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov have turned their attention away from their usual Soviet/Russian subjects to focus instead on China’s burgeoning air power as it has transformed from relying on types bought from Moscow with indigenous designs.
STRINGBAGS VS BATTLESHIPS
Renowned naval historian David Hobbs examines the roles and contribution of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm to actions in the Mediterranean during World War Two.
MEDITERRANEAN LEVIATHANS
Comparatively little has been written on Italian warships compared to those of other nations, but this Kagero volume on the Vittorio Veneto-class battleships seeks to address that shortfall.
PINE-PRODUCED PURSUER
While it has been the subject of numerous kits over the years, few MiG-3 offerings have been tooled recently and thus feature minor inaccuracies or generic detailing.
PENINSULA AIR BATTLES
For some reason, the Korean War tends to be overlooked by aviation historians, despite its significance of marking the transition between propeller- and jet-powered aircraft, resulting in the first jet-versus-jet combat.
SILVER WINGS OVERSEAS
This third volume of a mini-series dedicated to charting the rise of combat air capability in the Arabic area of the Middle East charts colonial operations by France, Italy, Spain and Britain between 1918- 1936, plus the formation of homegrown forces.
DAZZLING GREAT WAR BIRDS
Stunning colour schemes define Eduard’s Weekend Edition re-release of its splendid 1/72 Albatros D.V biplane fighter. Check out the four liveries here...
Airfix Model World July 2021
Welcome to Airfix Model World July 2021 featuring full coverage of Airfix's re-released 1/72 Ju 87B-1 Stuka, AMK's stunning 1/48 F-14D Super Tomcat, Airfix's 1/35 US Military Tractor, exclusive model builds, scale modelling news, reviews and more. Read the full issue in PDF format here or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure.
TONKA DETAILS
Modern aircraft are often covered in a bewildering array of stencils, warnings and labels, and these items are either omitted from kits for simplicity or replicated poorly, so Eduard’s bespoke decal set, for those with Tornados GR.4s from Revell, Italeri or Hobby Boss, will be a boon.
IRAQ/SYRIA COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPS
Here’s another massive collection of markings from Air-Graphics, with the theme being aircraft involved in counter-insurgency operations against ISIS/ISIL between 2014 and 2020.
TESTBED CHECKERS
Modellers wanting different schemes for their Canadair Sabre Mk.5s will find Vingtor’s splendid Boeing Chase Planes sheet ideal, providing two liveries worn by Boeing’s test fleet.
INITIAL RESCUERS
Paulus Victor is a new decal firm to AMW, but its well-researched and highly detailed products, such as this superb set dedicated to US Army first responders at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, are sure to be popular with modellers.
GOING ON A SUMMER...
Decales Global offers up yet another unusual airliner scheme, this time in the form of the short-lived (1994-96) Turkish charter company Holiday Air, with its smiling four-tone ‘sun’ logo on the tail.
TRIPARTITE ALLY
This is the first in a series of decal sets covering Axis forces from World War Two, and concentrates on Bulgarian wheeled and tracked armour.
ARMOURED ROCKETRY
ToRo’s collection of Polish rocket-launching machinery continues with this third offering, which includes both surface-to-air and surface-to-ground systems.
COLOURFUL SUPER SLEDS
The second batch of F-100D schemes from Euro Decals provides four more colourful liveries as worn by US Air Force aircraft during the late 1950s.
CAPTURED MATERIEL
Perfect alternatives for the schemes supplied in Tamiya, Bandai or Hobby Boss kits, Star Decals’ 1/48 Finnish T-34s depicts vehicles captured from Soviet forces or purchased from Germany and operated by the Scandinavian country.
HOGS OF ALL HUES
Two Bobs can always be relied on to approach a subject differently, such as its latest A-10 sheet, which offers one aircraft as it appeared during Desert Storm plus during the DARPA Persistent Close-Air Support Program (PCAS) and a participant in Operation Cool Snow Hog.
FLYING SWIMMERS
While the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter isn’t popular with kit manufacturers – Matchbox/Revell produce the only mainstream 1/72 styrene offering – Iliad’s treatise on the type is well received, having now been re-printed with a bonus scheme.
ITALIAN TONES
A recent release from AMMO- MIG has been its excellent set of colours, which are intended for late-war Italian Air Force fighters and bombers. It comprises the usual six 17ml dropper-style screw-top bottles, each with a ‘stirring ball’ to aid paint mixing while shaking.
DIMINUTIVE DINGHIES
Ship modellers who work in 1/400 scale will find Black Cat Models’ 3D-printed 16ft dinghies useful, as these auxiliary rowboats were carried on many Royal Navy vessels during World War Two.
INTERIOR RELIEF
Czech firm Eduard is one of several companies to release 3D-printed decals, with the result being its ‘Space’ range of accessories, which also feature photo-etched metal additions.
FIN-FOLDING ATTACK
Although stated as being for the MiG-21, the 16-shot 57mm rocket pod was a common sight on Su-17/22 Fitter and MiG-23/27 Flogger aircraft plus Mi-8 Hip helicopters.
IN-FLIGHT DUSTER
Not having been included in any iteration of its newly tooled 1/72 Z-37A Čmelák, Eduard’s Brassin M72 applicator – essentially the type’s crop-spraying equipment – will be a boon to those looking for enhanced detail.
EARLY 'EMIL' ARMAMENT
Special Hobby’s new-tool 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109 has drawn many plaudits since its recent release, but those seeking extra detail will appreciate subsidiary firm CMK’s detailing sets – such as this wing armament package for E-1 or E-5 versions.