AIRCRAFT KITS

ON THE SHELF

SUPERIOR ANTON

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Fw 190A-2

By: Eduard Item no: 82146

Price: €37.45 Web: www.eduard.com

Eduard has cornered the market with its Fw 190s and this is the ProfiPACK release of the A-2 variant, which follows last year’s Royal Class box-set. It comprises seven styrene runners (including both two- and four-gun wings), resin inner undercarriage doors, a pre-cut canopy and wheel mask, plus a prepainted PE fret. As one might expect, the detail is excellent, from the richly furnished cockpit and delicate panel lines to the accurate shape. Five schemes are supplied:

• WNr 0125228, Black <L+, Ofw Erwin Leibold, Stab I./JG 26, St Omer-Arques, France, July 1942

• WNr 0125281, Yellow 4+I, Oblt Siegfried Schnell, 9./JG 2, Théville, France, June 1942

• WNr 0122125, Black 5+—, Oblt Max Buchholz, 5./JG 1, Katwijk, The Netherlands, summer 1942

• WNr 0125310, Black <<+I, Hptm Josef Priller, III./JG 26, Wevelhem, Belgium, June 1942

• White 7+I, Oblt Egon Mayer, 7./JG, Théville, France, summer 1942

ULTIMATE ‘109

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Bf 109K-14 ‘Kurfurst’ Aces

By: AZ Model Item no: AZ7601

Price: €15.10 Web: www.azmodel.cz

Much use has been made by AZ Model of its Bf 109G-6 moulds and, thanks to the provision of a third styrene runner, it has released a kit of the final variant, the K-14, with a four-bladed propeller, reworked fuselage and several Rüstsatz options. This means there are spare propellers, cowlings and oil cooler intakes and fuselage halves. The interior detail is more than acceptable, with a choice of moulded features or a decal for the instrument panel, while the cockpit sidewalls are convincing. Either a basic fighter or bombequipped ‘Jabo’ can be built, and there are three markings choices, all with variations of late-war RLM 81/82/76 camouflage:

• Black <<+, Gerhard Barkhorn, JG 6, 1945

• Outline <<+, Erich Hartmann, JG 52, 1945

• Red +1, Major Hermann Graf, JG 50, 1945

NORTHROP’S ATTACKER

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Gamma 2E ‘Bomber in China’

By: Azur/FRROM Item no: FR0034

Price: €29.30 Web: www.ffrom.com

While a civilian Gamma was welcomed by modellers, Azur’s military version is just as pleasing a subject. Two of the five runners are common to both offerings, as there’s a new canopy, fuselage, engine, cockpit and of course the bomb racks (although no munitions are supplied), and there’s a notable difference in quality, with the new parts featuring more refined detail. The cockpit is busy, with PE seatbelts, plus spare ammunition for the rear gun, a well rendered instrument panel and interior bulkheads, all visible through the commendably clear single-piece canopy. Four schemes are included:

• White 901, 9th Chunghui, 2nd Tatui, Chinese Air Force, Hankow, July 1937-April 1938

• K5053, A&AEE Martlesham Heath, 1937-38

• Black 14, Chinese Air Force, 1937-38

• Black 1412, 14 Volunteer Squadron, Hankow, 1938

STUMPY FIGHTER

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P-40K-1/5 Warhawk

By: Special Hobby Item no: SH 72379

Price: €16.30 Web: www.cmkkits.com

Curtiss’ P-40 Warhawk is receiving much attention from Special Hobby, and its latest iteration caters for the Allison-engined P-40K with shorter rear fuselage. These changes are incorporated on two new airframe halves, mating with the remaining three runners common to all threegun offerings; a resin DF-loop and raised mount completes the package. The cockpit is a delight, with detailed sidewalls and instrument panel, and options include open/closed canopy and engine cooling ducts, and centreline drop tank or bomb. There are four schemes:

• 42-46040/White 1-3, 64th FS, 57th FG, Hani Main, Tunisia, May 1943

• White 23, 436th IAP, 239th IAD, Soviet 6th Air Army, winter 1943

• 42-9768/White 255, 26th FS, 51st FG, Kunming, China, 1943

• 42-9742/White 15 ‘Becky’, 25th FS, 51st FG, Assam Valley, India, 1944

COLOURFUL ‘TOOMS

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F-4J Phantom II

By: Italeri Item no: 2781

Price: £34.99

Web: www.hobbyco.net

It might be approaching its 40th anniversary, but Esci’s 1/48 F-4 Phantom (re-boxed by Italeri) is still going strong. With five styrene runners it’s not the most complex offering, yet despite its age builds into a very respectable replica. That said, detail in the cockpit is simplified, and the rear seat area must be modified for a Navy airframe. Exterior panels are represented by crisp engraved lines, and the fuselage is accurate for an early F-4J. As with many of Italeri’s recent releases, the two decal sheets are the standout item, with beautifully printed markings, plus full airframe and weapons stencilling, for four options:

• 155511/127/AJ, VMFA-333 ‘Fighting Shamrocks’, USS Nimitz, 1975

• 7249/206/NH, VF-114 ‘Aardvarks’, USS Kitty Hawk, May 6, 1972

• 7298/201/AE, VF-84 ‘Jolly Rogers’, USS Franklin D Roosevelt, 1975

• ZE355/S, 74 Sqn RAF, NATO Tiger Meet, Cameri, Italy, 1988

FEET-WET INTERCEPTOR

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Sukhoi Su-33 Flanker-D

By: Revell

Item no: 03911 Price: £29.99

Web: www.revell.de/en

ICM’s splendid Su-33 Flanker-D makes a welcome return in a Revell box, albeit with different decal options. There are seven styrene runners, plus separate upper/lower fuselage halves. Surface detail is characterised by fine recessed panel lines, and the cockpit is more than acceptable, although modellers may wish to replace the ejection seat with an aftermarket alternative. A broad range of armament is provided, with four types of air-to-air-missile and two AS-17 Krypton missiles. Revell supplies colour references with mixes of its own products, although modellers may prefer aftermarket paints for more accurate tones. The two schemes feature aircraft assigned to the Russian Navy’s 279th Ship-borne Independent Aviation Regiment:

• Red 78, 1st Squadron ‘Eagles’, Admiral Kuznetsov, 2017

• Red 86, 2nd Squadron ‘Tigers’, Admiral Kuznetsov, 2010

ORIGINAL ‘SPOOK’

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FH-1 Phantom

By: Special Hobby

Item no: SH72332 Price: €17.50

Web: www.cmkkits.com

With each new release, Special Hobby continues to impress, and its 1/72 FH-1 Phantom is no exception. Provided on three styrene runners, plus a separate clear frame and small photoetched (PE) brass fret, it raises the bar yet again, with crisply moulded features, notably the instrument panel, undercarriage bays and exhaust nozzles. Finely engraved panel lines adorn the exterior, and the cockpit benefits from PE seat harnesses and throttle levers. An optional belly fuel tank is included, and there is choice of open/closed canopy. Four overall Glossy Sea Blue airframes are provided:

• BuNo 111778/112/R, Lt JL Fruin, VF-171, USS Franklin D Roosevelt, March 1949

• BuNo 111785/122/R, VF-17A, USS Saipan, May 1948

• BuNo 111799/101/R, VF-17A, Capt WN Leonard, USS Coral Sea, 19 May 1948

• Bu No 111786/109/R, VF-171, Lt Cdr RI Clinke, USS Franklin D Roosevelt, March 1949

TWO-KIT TREASURE

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F-106A Delta Dart

By: Platz

Item no: FC-10 Price: £19.99

Web: www.tiger-hobbies.co.uk

Modellers thinking of dabbling in 1/144 scale should seriously consider Platz’s re-boxed F-Toys’ F-106, which offers sufficient parts to assemble two models. There are two styrene runners per kit, plus separate wings, fuselage halves and canopy. A threepiece cockpit is provided, along with two-part intakes; the latter feature convincing detail on the splitter plates. Exterior detail is represented by delicate engraved panel lines; however, the real highlight is the decal sheet, with its crisp colour boundaries, plus perfect register and tone, which even includes limited airframe stencilling. The three options are:

• 57-2467, 539th FIS, Air Defense Command, McGuire AFB, 1967

• 59-0066 ‘Toro One’, 87th FIS, Air Defense Command, KI Sawyer, 1985

• 59-0130, ‘The Eclipse Project’, Dryden Flight Research Center, NASA, 1997

POST-WAR SCOUTS

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SE.5a Wolseley Viper

By: Eduard Item no: 8454

Price: €22.45 Web: www.eduard.com

Having premiered the Wolseleypowered SE.5a in ProfiPACK form (see February 2018’s build feature), Eduard has released its Weekend version, with just the styrene parts, supplied on three runners. Although aimed arguably at the less-experienced modeller, there’s much here to impress, without the potential distraction of photo-etched brass extras, such as the superbly furnished cockpit, complete with interior frames and trim wheels. The seat harness is supplied in decal form, as are optional bezel faces, while the titular powerplant is a delightful sub-assembly. All aspects of the design are covered, down to glass ‘windows’ for the aileron/elevator control cable runs. The two schemes both depict postwar airframes:

• C1149/W, Capt DW Grinnell-Milne, 56 Sqn, Bethencourt, France, 1919

• F8146/9, 27th Aero Sqn, United States, 1922

MISSILE-TOTING ‘TWIN’

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Heinkel He 177A-5 ‘Grief’

By: Revell Item no: 03913

Price: £29.99 Web: www.revell.de/en

Revell’s He 177 returns, as the R/1 sub-variant, designed to carry the Fritz X or Henschel Hs 293 glide bombs. It’s almost two decades since this kit first appeared, but the moulds have lasted well, with limited flash on the parts, and the detail is excellent, from the singlepiece bomb bay to the instrument panels and cockpit side consoles. With such a well-furnished forward fuselage, it’s disappointing the ‘fish-bowl’ glazing is poor, with distorted panels and unsightly, over-sized MG 81 mount. The type’s distinctive appearance has been captured faithfully, with accurately shaped engine nacelles and undercarriage, and a baseline A-5 version can also be built. Two markings options are supplied, including one example wearing a complex Wellenmuster (wave pattern) camouflage:

• F8+KP, 6./KG 40, Bordeaux-Merignac, France, June 1944

• WNr 550131/6N+DN, 5./KG 100, Aalborg, Denmark, 1944

THE FIRST SCREECH OWL

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Do 17Z-7

By: ICM

Item no: 72307 Price: £18.99

Web: www.hannants.co.uk

Having already released the Kauz II and III ‘Screech Owl’ nightfighting Dorniers (Do 17Z-10 and Do 215B-5 respectively), ICM now offers the first iteration of this early-/mid-war family, the Do 17Z-7 Kauz I. This machine sported a solid Ju 88C-2/C-4 nose armed with three 7.9mm machine guns and a 20mm cannon, rather than the nose-mounted infra-red searchlight and FuG 202 radar. Unsurprisingly, the kit parts echo previous boxings, and pleasing detail appears throughout. There are finely engraved panel lines, separate flying control surfaces, well-moulded engines and cockpit features, new components for the nose and its gun muzzles, and a full bombload to tally with the type’s secondary night intruder role. The schemesare:

• R4+HK, I./NJG 2, Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands, autumn 1940

• R4+FK, I./NJG 2, Gilze-Rijen, Netherlands, autumn 1940

BOMBS, OR CAMERAS?

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DH Mosquito B.IV/PR.IV

By: Mark I Models

Item no: MKM14484 Price: £19.99

Web: www.4pluspublications.com

Despite its affinity for World War Two subjects, it’s just recently that Mark I has treated modellers to a 1/144 Mosquito, but it’s been well worth the wait. It comprises three styrene runners, with sufficient parts for a single glass-nosed bomber/ reconnaissance model which, despite its small size, is pleasingly detailed. The undercarriage bays feature integrally moulded oil tanks (omitted in many larger scales), while the cockpit is a comparatively busy five-piece ensemble and there are separate clear wing tips. Options are limited to an open/closed crew access door, and a choice of bomb or fuel tank under the outer wings. There are four schemes:

• B.IV, DZ633/AZ-D, 627 Sqn, RAF Woodhall Spa, June 1944

• B.IV, DK333/HS-F, 109 Sqn, RAF Wyton, January 1943

• PR.IV, B-4, KTA War Technical Det, Swiss Air Force, Emmen, 1946

• B.IV, DK296, Red Army Air Force, summer 1944