1/48 scale models
1/48 scale is the ideal half-way house between ensuring really great detail, and finished models that aren't too big for display. The choice is myriad, with almost all major kit manufacturers producing quality items in this scale.
GALLIC WIZARDRY
Designed in competition with US-made AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, Matra’s R.550 Magic (Missile Auto-Guidé Interception et Combat) weapons are the subject of this Eduard Brassin set.
TOMCAT TWEAKS
While much praise has been heaped on Tamiya’s F-14D, there are certain aspects that are challenging to render convincingly in styrene, so Eduard’s photo-etched brass set is most welcome.
FRENCH FIGHTER DIALS
Yahu has again stepped in to help modellers who find creating a realistic instrument panel challenging, with its pre-painted and assembled photo-etched metal replacement for Tamiya’s 1/48 Dewoitine D.520.
EIGHT-GUN WING
CMK’s delightful resin gun bays are ideal for Airfix’s recently re-released 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I, replacing the kit’s weapons in their entirety and adding the missing outboard guns.
KAMIKAZE TUTOR EXTRAS
Modellers wanting to improve their Brengun 1/48 two-seat MXY-7 Ohka K1 Kai (see Aircraft, p. 77) will find the firm’s dedicated photo-etched metal set most useful.
UNSHEATHED BLADES
Eduard has followed its highly regarded new-tool 1/48 P-51D Mustang with a Brassin propeller set, which allows modellers to depict airframes fitted with Hamilton Standard propellers devoid of rubber sections, which were known colloquially as ‘cuffs’.
SHIPBORNE TUG
Royal Navy carrier deck scenes from late World War Two or the Korean War just became a little easier, thanks to this gem from Brengun.
APACHE AND VIPER BITE
Eduard’s resin and photo-etched brass set provides sufficient parts for two quad-rail M299 launchers and eight AGM-114 missiles, complete with full stencilling for the latter.
ALL ABOUT CONTROL
Although Eduard includes the option for dropped elevators and ailerons in its Tempest kits, on occasion these parts have been found to have sink marks, so Barracuda’s drop-in replacements are a great value-for-money way of correcting this issue.
GANGLY LEGS
While Eduard’s 1/48 Fw 190A-8s are excellent straight from the box, modellers wanting more refinement will find the firm’s cast bronze undercarriage legs a boon as they feature far sharper detail.