AMW138, May 2022
Book Review: Third edition of Valiant Wings' Typhoon reference
Now in its third edition, this much expanded Airframe & Miniature volume focuses on Hawker’s Typhoon and Tornado designs, with most of the content devoted to the former.
Book Review: Crécy delves into the Boulton Paul company
Perhaps best-known for its Defiant turret-armed fighter, the Boulton Paul company is the subject of this hefty Crécy-published volume.
Book Review: Eaglemoss explores James Bond's Aston Martins
Here’s a book that all James Bond fans will savour, focusing on the secret agent’s most famous car: the Aston Martin DB5, a type first seen in the 1964 film Goldfinger.
DECALS FOR THE LEGENDARY ‘CHIPPIE’
Looking for alternative liveries for your 1/48 Airfix Chipmunk? Kits-World may well have the answer with its new two-sheet decal package, which offers a wealth of serials, stencilling and other decor.
Book Review: Land Craft volume on the HUMVEE
Arguably taking the mantle from the ubiquitous Willys Jeep, the HUMVEE is an instantly recognisable, rugged and dependable emblem of the western military, so is perfect material for Pen & Sword’s Land Craft volume.
Book Review: The Genesis of the Modern Destroyer from Pen & Sword
If there was any class of warships that could be considered ‘elite’ or as ‘special forces’, it is Britain’s Tribal-class destroyers - explored in this Pen & Sword volume.
Book Review: Osprey examines the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9
While the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 is known for being the type that proved the radial engine as ‘inferior to none’, later models featured an inline powerplant from the ‘D’ series onwards, with this sub-type examined in this Osprey Dogfight title.
BARRACUDA RESIN ROUND-UP
A wealth of accessories for classic World War Two fighters, in four scales, has been released by Barracuda Studios. Types include the Spitfire, Hurricane, Fw 190, Ta 152 and Fw 190
BUILDING A LEGENDARY TORPEDO BOMBER
If you have Grumman Avengers on your build list, Kagero's recent softback book on the type offers coverage of two excellent builds, in 1/72 and 1/48, and they are the Hasegawa and Hobby Boss kits respectively.
SCHEMES FOR AIRFIX’S NEW SPITFIRE SUPERKIT
Aftermarket producer Kits-World looks to be the first to offer items designed for Airfix's forthcoming 1/24 Spitfire Mk.IXc Superkit. They are decals, which have also been matched with paint masks in combined sets.
DISPLAY CASE
In a first for this feature, our Display Case this month has predominantly shifted the focus from aircraft models to readers’ ground-based vehicles instead, plus there's further variety with bonus online-exclusive entries.
FORTHCOMING TAKOM RELEASES
Exciting new 1/35 kits are due from Takom this May and June. They include a V-1 'Doodlebug' with interior detail!
NEW CMK AIRCRAFT ACCESSORIES
CMK's latest accessories cater for the 1/48 Academy/Accurate Miniatures A-36/P-51/P-51A, Special Hobby's 1/72 Ki-54 Hickory/Otsu and Vautour IIB, and any 1/48 Mitsubishi Zero. The detail is impressive and they're useful items, for adding refinement or helping at airbrushing time.
Double the Reference: Valiant Wings releases Bf 109 books
Valiant Wings Publishing has a treat in store for fans of the Messerschmitt Bf 109, with updated, revised and expanded second editions of two Airframe & Miniature titles on the type.
PRIEST: A FINE M7 REFERENCE
Whether you plan to build the M7 Priest tracked howitzer in 1/35, or a smaller scale, excellent reference lies in Pen & Sword's book on the vehicle... part of the publisher's Images of War series.
KP’S SPLENDID BUDGET MUSTANG
Arma Hobby's 1/72 P-51B/C Mustang may arguably be the best on the market, but a cheaper, yet still pleasing alternative lies in the P-51B tooling by Kovozávody Prostějov. Read about the firm's 'Mustang Malcolm' boxing here.
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.
HANDY MASKS FROM PEEWIT
Masking can be a real chore, but it will certainly be easier with these recent sets from Czech firm Peewit, if you're building Airfix's 1/72 Mk.Vc, Special Hobby's Harvard or Bf 109E-3, or Sabrekits' Hs 126A/B. There are also undercarriage bay masks for Eduard's 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I/II, AZ Model's 1/72 Bf 109G and Airfix's 1/72 Spitfire Mk.Vc.
ANOTHER HELPING OF U-BOAT STORIES
If you enjoy building German World War Two U-boats, the periodical series U-Boot im Focus has a wealth of information and reference. And the latest instalment, No.20, is now available.
NEW ‘FAGOT’ BOXING FROM EDUARD
Eduard's delightful 1/72 MiG-15 has been re-issued as a Weekend Edition boxing, with four new sets of markings. See parts photos and the colour scheme sheets here as part of the review.
‘POISONOUS’ TWIN-BOOM IN STYRENE
There has never been a decent, well-detailed 1/72 kit of the de Havilland Venom, until the recent FB.4 items from AccsGB. Here, we review the firm's 'Foreign Use' boxing, with Swiss Air Force markings.
NEW NOCTURNAL ‘MEATBOX’ FROM SPECIAL HOBBY
Special Hobby's recent 1/72 Meteor night-fighter Meteors are splendid kits, and now the company has added an NF.11 'RAF Squadrons' boxing to the family. It offers markings for four different airframes.
Bachmann launches MCC hobby centre
Bachmann Europe is launching its first high street retail venture – MCC (Model, Collect, Create) – which aims to bring hobbies back to the high street.
Appraising Airfix’s Classic Charmer: the 1/72 Henschel Hs 123A-1
Many modellers will remember Airfix’s small-scale Henschel Hs 123, which first appeared in 1970. Having now returned to the range in Vintage Classics format, does this old favourite have the same styrene charm? JOHN FULLER reveals all…