Aircraft news
NEW 1/48 MUSTANG REFRESH FROM AIRFIX
Airfix's excellent 1/48 new-tool Mustang has been re-released with fresh colour schemes, representing P-51D/K airframes of the USAAF Eight Air Force. Optional propellers and glazing are provided.
MAINPLANE UPGRADE: AIRFIX’S NEW F-86F-40 SABRE
Always wanting to get the most from its moulds - and offer more choice for modellers - Airfix has produced a new 1/48 F-86 boxing. This provides new parts and decals to portray the F-86F-40, with longer, slatted wings. Decals airframes flown by Japan and Norway are included.
NEW CARRIER-BASED PHANTOM II FROM FINE MOLDS
Fine Molds has reissued its excellent 1/72 F-4J Phantom II with decals for three US Navy aircraft, two of them MiG-killers from the Vietnam War. If you're a Phantom fan and haven't yet seen this range of F-4s, they are arguably the best on the market for US variants.
PLUS MODEL RELEASES MARTIN T4M KITS
In an unusual move, Czech company Plus Model has released two 1/72 kits of the characterful 1920s-30s Martin T4M biplane.
EDUARD’S MUSTANG GETS NEW SCHEMES AND AFTERMARKET
Eduard's superlative 1/48 P-51D has been repackaged with fresh decals, photo-etched metal details and tape paint masks. Read on to view the colour schemes and see parts photos.
ARMA’S WILDCAT: RE-ISSUED WITH NEW SCHEMES
Arma Hobby has re-packaged its 1/72 F4F-4 Wildcat with new decals, catering for US Navy and Marine Corps airframes. If you haven't taken the plunge with any of Arma's Wildcats, you're in for a treat.
Chiron to Swordfish: Airfix's latest releases revealed!
Airfix has released a varied batch of new products in March 2022, from the first of its new 1/43 supercars to a pair of Vintage Classic 1/76-scale tanks.
RE-ISSUED MUSTANG BY ARMA
As if it wasn't glorious enough that Arma Hobby released what is now considered the best 1/72 P-51B/C Mustang on the market, it's just re-issued the parts in a Mustang III boxing, with two new RAF colour schemes.
EXCLUSIVE: AMUSING HOBBY’S NEW ME 262 HG III
'What-if' modellers can expect heaps of fun with Amusing Hobby's forthcoming 1/48 Messerschmitt Me 262 HG III, which oozes fine detail. It's a great option for a notional Luftwaffe jet fighter.
GLOSTER TWIN-JET OPERATIONS EXAMINED
The new Combat Meteors book from MMP/Stratus offers a wealth of reference for anyone building Gloster's classic twin-jet fighter. Insightful text and great imagery are highlights.
THIRD STUDY OF THE TOMCAT
If you have the first two instalments of the Detail & Scale F-14 Tomcat books, you won't want to miss Part 3, which looks at Prototypes, Test, Evaluation and Adversary Aircraft. It's packed with great reference, to help get your kit builds on another level in terms of accuracy.
UNUSUAL WORLD WAR TWO TRIO FROM TAKOM
Three new items from the Takom stable will delight any modeller looking for a different World War Two build project.
MORE EAST BALKANS FIGHTERS
If Exotic Decals' first round of Bulgarian Air Force decals for the Messerschmitt Bf 109E didn't grab your attention, then perhaps Part 2 will catch your eye. Three options are provided, in 1/72 and 1/48 scales.
EDUARD’S NEW WEEKEND MESSERSCHMITT
Eduard's sublime 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109E parts help to form a new Weekend Edition boxing, with new decals and a sprinkling of photo-etched brass details. There's the choice of four different Bf 109E-7s to be portrayed.
NORTH AMERICAN’S CARRIER FIGHTER REVISITED
Detail & Scale's second volume on the FJ Fury covers the FJ-4 and -4B variants, and it's a splendid reference if you have these aircraft on your build list... especially as it appraises available kits.
UNUSUAL ’109 SCHEMES
If you're looking for a different scheme for your 1/72 or 1/48 Bf 109E, Exotic Decals' new release with a Bulgarian flavour could be just the inspiration you need. Three individual airframes are catered for.
‘FIRST & LAST’: AIRFIX CLUB’S LIMITED EDITION 1/72 HAWK
The latest limited-edition kit available for Airfix Club members is this splendid themed package, with two special-scheme BAE Hawks. Learn about all the membership benefits, and the kit itself, here.
BEAUFIGHTER MK.II CONVERSION FOR AIRFIX KIT
Until now, the only route to a 1/72 Beaufighter Mk.II involved two old limited-run kits. Now though, CMK has come to the rescue with a comprehensive mixed-media conversion for Airfix's excellent styrene Mk.X.
Whirlybird Models Closure
January 2022 marked the closure of a modelling stalwart, in the form of South Yorkshire-based Whirlybird Models. Read more about the loss of this firm here.
CORSAIR, METEOR AND SEA BALLIOL SCHEMES BY MODEL ART
If you want to finish your Vought Corsair or AW Meteor in a less obvious scheme, or you need fresh markings for your Sea Balliol, Model Art Decal System has the answer in sheet 72-081.
EDUARD'S STUNNING TWO-SPIT RELEASE
A Spitfire Mk.Vb and a Mk.Vc can both be built with Eduard's new 1/48 Dual Combo package, which offers a generous ten colour schemes under the banner Spitfire Story: Southern Star.
NEW TRUMPETER KITS DUE END OF MARCH 2022
A wealth of exciting kits are on their way from Trumpeter, due late March onwards. Aircraft, military and naval genres are catered for. The most impressive product is arguably the 1/16 Jagdpanther!
ICM GLADIATOR GOES SWEDISH!
ICM has given its splendid 1/32 Gloster Gladiator a winter makeover by adding ski undercarriage, and Swedish unit markings for units operating at home and in Finland for the Winter War.
ACADEMY MARKS MIDWAY ANNIVERSARY
It's the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Midway this year, and Academy is marking the fact with themed kit releases. The first two are a 1/48 B-25B and a 1/72 PBY-5A.
REVELL 2022 NEW ITEMS TO AUGUST
Check out Revell's new items due up until August 2022. They include re-introductions, updated kits and new toolings.
EDUARD’S AFTERMARKET FOR ITS 1/48 TRENER
Eduard has released a handy selection of aftermarket details for its recent 1/48 Zlín Z-126/226 Trener aircraft kits. Why not jazz up the cockpits...but wheels are on offer too!
SPECIAL HOBBY’S NEW-TOOL 1/72 BUGATTI 100
Anyone building on the theme of racing aircraft will find Special Hobby's new 1/72 Bugatti 100P an absolute must. It's a great-looking styrene kit, with resin details.
REVELL’S 1/72 TORNADO GAINS ASSTA 3.1
Revell's original late 1990s 1/72 Tornado tooling has, via fresh parts, been updated to portray the modern German ASSTA 3.1 airframe. There's a whole new runner carrying instrument panels, Litening III/RecceLite pods, a new vertical tail and more.
NEW TROPICAL VAMPIRE FROM SPECIAL HOBBY
Having produced various 1/72 de Havilland Vampires since 2014, the firm has adapted the tooling yet again to offer the tropicalised Mk.9. It has splendid detail all round and a generous decal sheet carrying markings for five liveries.
GERMAN AIRCRAFT COLOURS FROM AMMO
Fast jet fans will find this new paint set from AMMO handy if building German jet aircraft. The six colours are acrylic and suitable for the F-4F and RF-4E Phantom II, Alpha Jet and Tornado among others.