Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
D-DAY BOMBARDIER
Airfix’s HMS Belfast is undergoing something of a recent renaissance, with a Vintage Classics release (A04212V, see Reviews, AMW114 May 2020) and now as a Gift Set package.
EARLY SCOOTER DATA
MILSPEC’s stencil set is ideal for any early-model A-4 Skyhawk in high-visibility colours, providing sufficient items for a single airframe, but also offering variations on ejection seat and intake warning labels, plus three different styles of ‘Rescue’ arrows.
ULTIMATE INTERCEPTORS
Fündekals has released this set of aftermarket markings for 1/48 Convair F-106 Delta Darts, including the famous ‘Cornfield Bomber’ (58-0787), which crash-landed almost intact after Captain Gary Faust ejected from the jet.
COLD WAR POLES
ToRo’s third collection of early Cold War Polish Army vehicles is an eclectic mix of tanks, self-propelled artillery, armoured personnel carriers and staff/utility cars.
FIRST REPUBLIC FLIGHT
Blue Rider Decals has produced markings for nine aircraft operated in Austria following the conclusion of World War One.
POSTER BOY MARKINGS
Fans of Lockheed’s P-38 Lightning will appreciate Exito Decals’ 1/48 markings, which follow the firm’s usual format of combining terrific waterslide transfers with stunning instruction ‘posters’ suitable for framing.
SMALL-SCALE STIPPLING
Replicating the mottled or stippled finishes on small-scale models can be challenging.
INVERSE OPERATIONS
Modellers can replicate the unusual ‘inverted’ livery worn by the Belgian Air Force’s solo display F-16AM during the 2009 airshow season, thanks to these markings from Syhart Decal – sampled in 1/72 here, but also available in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/144 (32/48/144-082, respectively).
DEUTSCHE FALKEN
Brazilian firm LPS Hobby’s range of markings for 1/72 Curtiss P-36 Hawks – otherwise known as Hawk 75s – includes this set, which caters for those aircraft in Luftwaffe markings that were captured from French forces during the early stages of World War Two.
LOW-COST CARRIER
While the airline itself is long gone, having shut down in 2000, Decales Global’s delightful decals will enable modellers to reproduce one of Mexican carrier TAESA’s Boeing 737-200 airframes.
WARRING HOOLIGANS
Modellers wanting to build quarter-scale F-104A/C/Gs that flew in combat will find this superb collection of seven airframes from Iliad of great use, although two of these machines were shot down by enemy forces.
STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
Modellers with Eduard’s 1/72 Fokker D.VII in their stash will appreciate this aftermarket release from the Czech firm, as it provides blue-toned ribbing tape for all areas of the aircraft requiring this covering, which supports the underlying structure on the real aircraft.
EARLY 'EMIL' DISPLAY
Although similar to its other 1/32 Bf 109 displays, this set from Yahu Models has been tweaked so it will fit offerings from Eduard and Cyber Hobby/Dragon, as well as featuring the RLM 02 Grau colour.
THOROUGHBRED BOOTS
Although designed for Revell’s recent 1/32 P-51 Mustang, BarracudaCast’s replacement mainwheels are suitable for any representation of the thoroughbred fighter in this scale.
STAYING AFLOAT
Black Cat Model is well known for its 3D-printed maritime accessories, and these Carley life-preserving rafts (named after inventor Horace Carley) are no exception.
SMALL DIAMETER BOMB
One of the latest precision guided weapons to enter service worldwide, Boeing’s GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is available as an accessory for F-15E, F-16, F-22 and F-35 airframes among others.
AMROURED WHEELS
Although its own resin kits depicting the Soviet BTR-60 armoured transporter are 1/87 scale, Hauler has ‘up-sized’ the wheels to 1/72 as replacements for the styrene examples supplied in ACE Model, ICM, Hobby Den and S-Model offerings.
'TONKA' HARNESSES
Replicating ejection seat furnishings can be challenging, and Kits-World has employed 3D-printed decals to achieve as much realism as possible.
FORTRESS DEFENCE
Although being the ‘downscaled’ version of Hong Kong Models’ 1/32 B-17 Flying Fortress, the firm’s 1/48 version is still an imposing model and benefits greatly from the addition of extra refinement – such as Eduard’s Brassin machine gun set.
HOVERING 'HUPGRADES'
Intended for Mark I’s lovely 1/144 first-generation Harrier kits (GR.1/3 and AV-8A/S), this packed photoetched brass fret supplies sufficient parts for one model and left-over items could furnish another one to two builds, depending on the variant(s) chosen.
EIGHT-GUN OPENINGS
Modellers wanting to pose the .303 machine gun bays open on their Eduard Spitfire Mk.Is will find the firm’s own great-value set ideal.
COMMON ORDNANCE
One of the most frequently carried ordnance on British fighter-bomber types during World War Two was the 250lb MC (medium capacity) weapon, being carried by Spitfires, Hurricanes, Mosquitos, Blenheims and Beaufighters.
SPY-PLANE SUPPLEMENTS
Eduard has produced this set for AFV Club’s recent 1/48 Lockheed U-2A ‘Dragon Lady’.
IN-FLIGHT SECURITY
Although Yahu is known for its type-specific instrument panels, which are usually pre-decorated, the firm has recently expanded its range to include generic interior parts, such as its 1/72 seatbelts – this set is suitable for a World War Two-era US Army Air Force or Navy airframe.
PILOT'S 'PEW'
Part of CMK’s ‘Quick & Easy’ line, this pilot’s chair is intended for Hasegawa’s 1/72 Kawasaki Ki-61-I Hien Japanese Army fighter.
FLANKER PROBES
Here’s a great way to enhance the appearance of any 1/72 Su-33 Flanker-D kit – purchase Master Model’s turned brass and photo-etched metal pitot.
AERIAL 'FISH'
Brengun’s Mk.XIII munition is ideal for any US Navy World War Two torpedo bomber and this highly detailed offering provides parts for early and late configurations (with nose ring and breakaway aerodynamic covers for the latter).
AUSSIE TWEAKS
Those wanting to build an accurate Australian Mk.21 Beaufighter from Revell’s 1/48 kit need look no further than this well-designed set from CMK.