ON THE SHELF
ALLIED ACK-ACK
1/350
40mm Bofors Mk.VII
By: Black Cat Models
Item no: AC350004b
Price: €6.96
CAD-specialists Black Cat has produced another stunning ship accessory product with its Royal Navy 40mm Bofors gun Mk.VII. The detail is staggering, even more so given the scale, with each of the four units comprising two exquisite 3D-printed components; the mount itself, and the gun barrel, with an integral six-round clip. It’s applicable to many late/postwar vessels, including Rothesay-, Tribal- and Leander-class frigates and would make a stunning addition to any model.
HERCULES POWERPLANTS
1/72
C-130E/H Engines Set
By: Brengun
Item no: BRL 72154 Price: €16.24
Web: www.brengun.cz
Italeri’s 1/72 C-130s are the only kits of the type currently available, which makes their inaccurate engine nacelles all the more frustrating, but Brengun has produced a neat resin replacement to address this shortfall. They are designed as drop-in items (although a small section must be removed from the inner wing fairings) with separate body, front section, spinner and blades. This is a simple, yet effective improvement, and one no Hercules should be without.
INVADER INNARDS
1/48
A-26B Bomb Bay
By: Eduard
Item no: 48954 Price: €44.95
Web: www.eduard.com
When first issued, Revell-Monogram’s A-26 was a stateof- the-art kit, but the recently re-released offering can be brought bang up-to-date with Eduard’s comprehensive photoetched brass package for the bomb bay. It’s mainly used to complement, rather than replace the styrene detail, with the new sidewalls (hiding the wing stubs) a welcome inclusion. There’s even a superb base for the upper turret, which transforms its appearance.
WARHAWK TREADS
1/72
P-40E Wheels
By: Eduard
Item no: 678168
Price: €5.95
Web: www.eduard.com
Eduard’s crisply cast resin wheels are direct replacements for the styrene parts in Special Hobby’s newly-tooled P-40 offerings, with a single-piece tailwheel complementing the two main units. The latter feature diamond-pattern tread, along with splendid hub detail. An optional cover is supplied on a small photo-etched brass fret, and there is a pre-cut self-adhesive mask sheet also supplied, making this a quick and easy upgrade.
AIR COMBAT TRAINING
1/72
AN/APX-05 TACTS Pod
By: MH Models
Item no: K72003
Price: €7
Web: www.mhmodels.cz
Designed for any 1/72 Mirage F.1C/CR kit, this neat upgrade from MH Models provides a single example of the Tactical Aircrew Combat Training System pod and the associated rail and pylon as separate resin components. Each is well cast, and the detail is commendable, with fine recessed panel lines. The pod and rail would be suitable for any modern NATO tactical aircraft.
STREET GRIDIRONS
1/35
Sewer Drains
By: LSG Europe
Item no: C35005 Price: €13
Web: www.yenmodels.be
It never ceases to amaze just how varied laser-cut wood products can be, such as this splendid pack of sewer/drain grids. These are the type seen on roads next to the kerb, and there are sufficient parts for eight items, with separate frames and grid components…note there is a choice of rectangular or oval apertures (two sets of four). Each also benefits from a two-piece kerbstone frame, which features an engraved upper plate.
CORRECTLY PLACED CURVES
1/48
F-4 Phantom Fuselage
Correction Set
By: Hypersonic Models
Item no: HMR 48029
Price: £8.58
While much praise has been heaped on Zoukei-Mura’s 1/48 Phantoms, it has been highlighted that the aft fuselage features an incorrect profile. Fortunately, Hypersonic Models has come to the rescue with a resin correction; modellers simply align the provided selfadhesive strips on the kit, cut where indicated and attach the resin items. There are even guide notes in the instructions on how to thin the relevant sections of the kit fuselage to match the new contours.
WOODEN DRUMS
1/35
Cable Reels
By: MiniArt
Item no: 35583
Price: £10.99
Comprising six identical styrene runners, this typically well-thought accessory from MiniArt contains enough parts for three large and three small empty wooden cable reels. The decals include humorous graffiti, along with a variety of company and manufacturer logos and legends, and include British, German and Soviet labels from the 1930s to present day, making these applicable to many dioramas. The moulded detail is excellent, notably the simulated wood grain, which is present on all components.
SAWS AND STOWAGE
1/35
T-54
By: Eduard
Item no: 36372
Price: €22.45
Web: www.eduard.com
MiniArt’s approach to the T-54/55 tank series has been a revelation for modellers, but despite the wealth of detail lavished on these subjects, there’s still room for improvement. Eduard’s photoetched brass improvements are primarily for the hull stowage, replacing four of the styrene items directly, along with a new saw blade for above the glacis plate. All the boxes can be posed with open/ closed lids, with interior framework for the former and locks/latches for the latter.
TOMCAT’S CLAWS
1/72
US Air-to-Air Missile Set
By: Fine Molds
Item no: FP31 Price: £19.99
Designed to accompany Fine Molds’ 1/72 F-14A/D Tomcats, this four-runner accessory supplies sufficient weapons for at least two models. It supplies two examples of the AIM-9L and -M Sidewinder, AIM-7F and -M Sparrow, AN/AAQ-25 LANTIRN targeting pod (and pylon), plus four each of the AIM-54A and -C Phoenix, for a total of 16 missiles and two pods. It is accompanied by a comprehensive decal sheet with all necessary missile markings and stencils, but note these are just for live-armed munitions, but there’s a minor ‘gotcha’ as the serial numbers are all the same.
‘HAZE’ TO THE RESCUE
1/72
Mil Mi-14PS Conversion
By: Neomega
Item no: N/A
Price: £30
Despite being derived from the hugely successful Mi-8 Hip, the amphibious Mi-14 Haze has received little attention from model manufacturers, but helpfully Neomega has stepped in with a splendid resin conversion for the Haze-C variant. It offers new fuselage halves for the type’s distinctive boat-shaped lower hull, plus the associated sponsons (with flotation gear) and all the required lumps and bumps to transform Hobby Boss’ kit…the biggest challenge will be sourcing the necessary decals.
EASY CLEAN AND SPRAY
AB900 Airbrush
By: Expo Tools
Item no: AB900 Price: £39.95
Web: www.expotools.com
Expo Tools’ dual-action, gravityfed AB900 airbrush is a step up from its AB800 (see News at: www.airfixmodelworld), offering a higher-capacity 7ml paint cup and larger 0.5mm needle, making this ideal for large area coverage. Its construction is essentially the same, with the nozzle locating inside the cap, and shares the wide aperture at the paint cup base, which easies cleaning considerably. This is a great airbrush for a beginner or intermediate modeller, offering great value with a high degree of control.
SKIN TONES
Quick Flesh Shadowing
By: Lifecolor
Item no: LP07 Price: £17.99
Web: www.airbrushes.com
Designed to be used with its other figure-painting sets, notably Flesh Paint (CS13), this collection of five pre-thinned skin-hued washes is suited to creating shadow effects, either in isolation or combination with other shades. There are six 22ml bottles in total, providing LPW 31 Ochre, LPW 33 Red Umber, LPW 32 Light Red, LPW 34 Green Shadow and LPW 35 Grey Shadow; the final product is the firm’s proprietary remover solution. A guide on how to use this set can be downloaded from: www.astromodel.it
BAY AND INTAKE
1/48
BAC Lightning
By: CMK
Item no: 4344 Price: €12
Web: www.cmkkits.com
Modellers seeking quick and easy upgrades for their Airfix quarterscale Lightnings may wish to consider CMK’s well-considered resin intake and nose wheel bay. It comprises seven neatly cast components, with a two-piece radome and fairing, plus replacement undercarriage doors; once the parts have been removed from their pour blocks and neatened, they will be ready for assembly. As a bonus, the additional weight will go some way towards preventing the model from being a ‘tail-sitter’.
UPGRADED TONY
1/72
Ki-61-1d Hien
By: Brengun
Item no: BRL72152
Price: €11.85
Web: www.brengun.cz
Modellers may have been wowed by Tamiya’s newly tooled Ki-61, but Brengun’s update set, comprising a single photo-etched metal fret and pre-printed acetate sheet is still able to add a wealth of refinement. Whether it’s the seven-piece ensemble for the tiny instrument panel or the new side console and associated lever, this package oozes class, and gives the kit a major makeover.
ROYAL IMPROVEMENTS
1/700
HMS Queen Elizabeth 1941
Detail-Up Set
By: Tetra Model Works
Item no: SE-70018 Price: £60
Web: www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk
At first glance, Tetra’s photo-etched (PE) and turned brass, resin and selfadhesive wood upgrade package may seem pricey, but when the contents are examined its actually great value, with two large PE frets, replacement main gun barrels (with resin blast bags) and complete deck coverage. Together these will transform the appearance of Trumpeter’s HMS Queen Elizabeth 1941 kit, with realistic lattice cranes, masts and radars, plus comprehensive updates for the Walrus aircraft…all in addition to the usual railings, ladders and watertight doors.
IMPERIAL EXHAUSTS
1/2700
Star Destroyer – Deflector Flaps
By: Greenstrawberry
Item no: 05518
Price: US$21.78
Modellers not wanting to opt for Greenstrawberry’s resin and photo-etched (PE) brass Star Destroyer engine bells (03417) may find its purely PE alternative more acceptable. As might be inferred, this is just the metal components form the original set, which are then attached to the kit nozzles. With three parts to each flap, and three of these per exhaust, all attaching to a base ring, this is a quick and very effective improvement to the Zvezda/Revell offering.
OBSERVER’S MACHINE GUN
1/48
Parabellum 1417
By: GasPatch Models
Item no: 48071
Price: €7
Parabellum’s 14/17 was used principally by observers in reconnaissance aircraft, but it was also employed by ground troops, making GasPatch’s quarter-scale resin accessory applicable to both genres. As usual, the two components are exquisitely detailed, with such fine detail as the ring sight, barrel change handle and trigger guard replicated faithfully. It does mean the parts are incredibly fragile, but the result is a stunning replica of this widely used World War One machine gun.
GRASSLAND FOLIAGE
1/32- 1/35
Meadow Flowers
By: Model Scene
Item no: VG3-028 Price: €5.95
Web: www.modelscene.com
Who would have thought replicating plants could be so intricate? Model Scene’s six-sheet set supplies precut paper parts for flowers with red, purple and yellow-petals, plus extensive foliage, with at least five different types, and several styles of grasses. There are no instructions, so it’s a case of mixing and matching the components to achieve the desired shape and density of plant growth.
STRIKE EAGLE EXTRAS
1/72
F-15E
By: Eduard
Item no: 73626 Price: €22.45
Web: www.eduard.com
Academy’s newly tooled F-15Es feature commendable detail, but there’s always more that can be added, such as Eduard’s photo-etched metal and brass improvements. The cockpit benefits from prepainted instrument panels and side consoles, plus seat firing handles/arming levers and harnesses. Similarly, much attention is paid to the exterior, with undercarriage door, airbrake and intake liners, but the big difference concerns the exhaust actuators, which replace the kit’s oversimplified items in their entirety.
SPECTRAL GEAR
1/72
FH-1 Phantom Wheels
By: CMK
Item no: Q72326
Price: €4.30
Web: www.cmkkits.com
Special Hobby and CMK’s collaboration on projects such as the FH-1 Phantom offers modellers a choice on how much refinement they wish to add to the basic styrene, such as these finely cast replacement wheels. These are drop-in items, but feature much better detail, notably on the mainwheel tread and hubs; note, none of the tyres appear to be bulged to represent them being ‘weighted’.
HEAVYWEIGHT PRECISION
1/72
GBU-11
By: Eduard
Item no: 632112
Price: €14.95
Web: www.eduard.com
The GBU-11 was the largest of the US first-generation laser-guided bombs and Eduard’s is the only available version in 1/32 scale. It’s resin package comprises 16 crisply cast components, sufficient for two complete weapons, with a separate tail section, guidance fins and a choice of covered/uncovered seeker head. There are also decals for the yellow bands and airframe stencilling, and would be used on F-4s in conjunction with either Pave Spike or Pave Knife designators.
FORTRESS DIALS
1/72
B-17G
By: Yahu Models
Item no:
YMA7304 Price: £3.40
Web: www.yahumodels.
Here’s a great time-saver for Airfix’s B-17G, in the form a pre-assembled and pre-painted instrument panel, all one needs to do is bend the right-hand side to the correct shape and its ready to attach. This is also suitable for Revell or Academy offerings, although it won’t fit as well. The rear has small engraved circles marking the relative dial positions, which is a boon for super-detailers wanting to add the instrument backs and cables to the panel.
INFANTRY TANK BLING
1/48
Churchill Mk.VII
By: Hauler
Item no: HLX48388
Price: €14.40
Web: www.hauler.cz
Modellers seeking additional detail for their quarter-scale Churchills should consider Hauler’s intricate photo-etched brass extras. Despite its small size, there are parts for grab handles, exhaust covers, antenna holders, equipment/tools clasps, with the hull and turret receiving particular attention. It’s a surprisingly complex upgrade package and one for the more experienced modeller, due to the amount of folding required.
