ON THE SHELF
Keep up to date with the latest and most comprehensive round up of new model, accessory, decal and book releases from Airfix Model World. Whether you are looking for aircraft, military, figures, auto or maritime kits or that specific set of decals you will find it here. Plus you can use our search feature to look for specific suppliers, scales or types of model.
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'LAWN DART' LIVERIES
Several of the schemes depicted in Xtradecal’s 1/48 Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Collection Part Two are ‘upscaled’ versions of those included in its 1/72 version (see April 2020, p.89), but this also means the superb quality is retained.
WEATHER-FORECASTING FORTRESSES
Kits-World has produced a pair of markings sheets allowing modellers to depict Boeing B-17F/G Flying Fortresses operated by the RAF as Fortress Mk.II/IIIs for varied roles including Coastal Command, Meteorological Reconnaissance (MET) and Radio Countermeasures (RCM).
FRESH-FACED JUMBO
Intended for 1/144 747-100/200 kits by Revell or Welsh Model, this three-sheet package from airliner specialist 26 Decals allows modellers to depict BOAC-liveried jumbo-jets, including the first airframe delivered to the airline: G-ANWA.
DIVISIONS, DECISIONS
A broad array of divisional markings was applied to the German Wehrmacht’s Panzer units during World War Two, but these 1/35 decals from FC Modeltips (a sub-brand of FC Model Trend) contains a wide selection and a guide to when the symbols were used.
8x8 'FEET'
Ideal for either of Aoshima’s Type 16 Manouver Combat Vehicle releases, Hauler’s resin upgrade provides eight units, organised into four pairs of wheels, labelled A-D.
MOLTEN METALS
Compared to just a few years ago, it is surprising at just how many specialised metallic tones are now available as acrylic paints.
'BRICK' BOOTS
Modellers seeking extra refinement for Airfix’s recent 1/72 Blackburn Buccaneer S.2C will find these resin wheels from Eduard a suitable substitution for the kit representations.
STORMING WELLS
Those unsatisfied with the refinement in Airfix’s Sea Fury will find plenty to savour in Barracuda’s gorgeous resin upgrades, notably those for the undercarriage bays.
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.
AVIATOR'S LIFERAFT
Here’s a quick and easy addition for Airfix’s splendid F4F Wildcat in the form of a dinghy hatch and deflated life raft.
INITIAL TRACK WHEELS
Modellers wanting to build an early T-64 tank just had the task made easier thanks to these excellent replacement resin idler wheels from OKB Grigorov.
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.
DRAWING EFFECTS
The humble artist’s pencil has long been a staple for many modellers, allowing fine control over where a colour can be added to a surface, so it’s unsurprising bespoke brands have released their own products.
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.
STUKA BLING
If Airfix’s re-tooled 1/72 Stukas have a weak point, it’s in the representation of the instrument panels and the lack of seatbelts, so Eduard’s two-fret photo-etched metal upgrade will be a boon to many modellers.
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’.
IMPERIAL SIGNS
Here’s the perfect accompaniment to Bandai’s small-scale Imperial Star Destroyer, in the form of a splendid photo-etched brass nameplate.
PLUMBER'S NIGHTMARE
Czech firm Eduard has expanded its range of aftermarket accessories to include 1/35 firearms, such as this package of eight STEN (also called the Sten gun) Mk.II submachine guns – nicknamed ‘Plumber’s Nightmares’ for their propensity to jam during World War Two combat situations.
'BANANA-BOMBER' UPGRADES
Eduard’s two-fret photo-etched package for Airfix’s newly tooled Buccaneer provides a wealth of detail for the interior and exterior.
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.
PODDED SCANNER
Here’s a great addition to any late-war Hellcat, Avenger, Corsair, Helldiver, Firefly, Barracuda or Mosquito kits, in the form of a two-part resin AN/APS-4 radar pod ensemble from CMK.
QUILTED PEW
While combining styrene parts with photo-etched extras can be useful, sometimes it’s easier to just have a single-piece resin item incorporating all that detail.
SOVIET RESTRAINTS
Yahu has branched out from instrument panels with this very useful photo-etched brass set, which includes enough parts for two seat harnesses as used on Yak fighters during World War Two.
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.
LATE-PRODUCTION TWINS
Kagero has dedicated two of its TopDrawings publications to Messerschmitt’s Bf 110 and while the first covers early machines, the second is devoted to the later production Bf 110E to -G versions.
CLASSIC DIVE-BOMBER
Modellers with Stuka projects in any scale will find Valiant Wings’ latest Airframe & Miniature invaluable.