Reviews: On the shelf

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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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FRANCO TANKS

A classic Matchbox gem returns with Revell's Char B1 Bis and Renault FT set, complete with a backing scene and figures for an instant vignette.

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DUNE SCOUTS

The tenth 1/35 diorama-series combo from ICM is yet another great value for money offering, with three ANZAC Model Ts for the price of just two if purchased separately.

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SOUTHERN TRAVELLER

After an absence of more than a decade from Airfix’s catalogue, its 1962-vintage HM Bark Endeavour sailing ship kit has been re-released to commemorate 250 years since Capt James Cook became the first European to map Australia’s eastern shoreline.

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HARD-HITTING ‘FRANK’

Modellers with Hasegawa’s small-scale Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate can add armament detail courtesy of CMK’s resin set.

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CONVOY PROTECTOR

IBG’s collection of G-, H-and I-class destroyer subjects is popular with maritime modellers thanks to its well-designed parts breakdown and incorporation of photo-etched components for railings, davits, ladders and radar housings.

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PILGRIMS’ PASSAGE

Revell’s Mayflower kit has been released to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers’ emigration to North America.

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INDEPENDENCE SHOOTER

Rather than just reissue its Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship kits, Cyber-hobby has been updating them with each release.

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LUNAR GIFT SET

While commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings, Airfix’s lunar diorama is also timed perfectly to pick up on the renewed interest in space following recent SpaceX missions and Space Launch System developments.

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IMPERIAL POWER

Star Wars fans will find much to savour in this Bandai combo set (re-released in Europe by Revell) regardless of modelling skill as it combines exquisite detail with small size, allowing builders to have their own Death Star and Star Destroyer without taking up too much room.

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ONE-OF-A-KIND TIE

While the Empire’s TIE fighters are instantly recognisable from the Star Wars franchise, a design that appeared in just a single film – the TIE Advanced XI – arguably became even more well known, due to it being flown by Darth Vader.

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Star Wars B-Wing Starfighter kit

Revell has released Bandai’s stunning Star Wars Rebellion B-Wing fighter under its European licensing agreement with Disney.

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INDEPENDENT FOXBATS

Ukrainian firm Foxbot Decals has released a set of 1/48 decals enabling modellers to represent the Soviet-designed MiG-25PDS Foxbat-E in service with its home country’s air arm following the breakdown of the Soviet Union.

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GLOBAL HINDS

Modellers wanting a different scheme for Zvezda’s newly tooled Mi-24V (see Sept 2020, News, page 8) will find much to savour with Eduard’s five-airframe collection.

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WESTERN DESERT ARMOUR

Perfect for any 1/48 Sherman tank kit, ToRo Model’s aftermarket decals provide markings for British-operated M4s at the second Battle of El Alamein, Egypt – a pivotal turning point in the Western Desert campaign, and indeed World War Two.

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‘CHINNED’ FIGHTERS

Intended for either Italeri’s or Special Hobby’s Spitfire Mk.Vc, this splendid set from Xtradecal supplies markings for six airframes fitted with the Vokes tropical filter, which gives the type a distinctly ‘chinny’ appearance.

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FLYING BOARS

Intended to accompany the firm’s delightful 1/48 Bf 109G-6, Eduard’s first Wilde Sau (Wild Boar) collection provides markings for five JG 300 airframes, all of which sport rather striking late-war camouflage schemes, with squiggles, waves and mottles all featuring.

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AIR FORCE TRANSPORT

Modellers seeking an unusual livery for 1/35 World War Two jeep kits may wish to consider H-Models’ selection of Allied air force-operated vehicles, which includes three Willys MBs and a Ford GPW.

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STANDARD CHARACTERS

Here’s a great product from Model Art that’s ideal for modellers seeking either bespoke (for scratch-building) or replacement white lettering for British military aircraft subjects (a set with black letters is available separately as GEN004).

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FAR EASTERN AVIATION

These strikingly bright markings from Blue Rider Decals provide for a fascinating array of aircraft types operated in China prior to World War Two.

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CENTENARY SUPER BUG

Modellers wanting a different look to their Academy or Hasegawa 1/72 EA-18G Growlers may wish to consider Syhart’s sumptuous offering, which depicts the scheme worn to celebrate 100 years of the Royal Australian Air Force’s 6 Squadron in 2017.

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PENINSULA CARRIER

Suitable for either Zvezda’s or ICM’s newly tooled Il-62M kits, this gorgeously printed decal set enables any one of the six Classic airframes known to be operated by the North Korean national airline, Air Koryo, to be built.

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AUSTRALIAN ARMOUR

This is the fourth set in Star Decal’s collection of aftermarket markings for Australian tanks and Armoured Fighting Vehicles during World War Two, with this selection covering Matilda tanks operated by the country’s armed forces.

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POLISH MOSSIES

Polish firm ModelMaker Decals has represented its home country’s military history with this set of markings representing de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI aircraft operated by No. 305 (Ziemia Wielkopolska) Polish Bomber Squadron.

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BETTER BLADES

Trumpeter’s 1/32 Bearcats are impressive kits, but suffer several shortfalls, so Barracuda’s resin replacement propeller and hub will be a boon for modellers, replacing the inaccurately shaped and poorly detailed styrene item.

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DUAL-MODE SMARTS

Suitable for A-10, F-15, F-16, B-1 and Mitsubishi F-2 kits (among others), Eduard’s GBU-54 set provides enough resin and photo-etched brass components for four of these dual-mode GPS and laser-guided bombs.

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FARMER’S PEW

Designed to fit Trumpeter’s quarter-scale MiG-19 Farmer kit, this resin and photo-etched (PE) steel ensemble comprises six resin components plus a single pre-painted fret.

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DITCHING INFLATABLE

This resin set is a quick and easy upgrade for Hong Kong Models’ 1/48 B-17G, although it could be adapted to earlier offerings from Revell/Monogram and Hasegawa.

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‘TONKA’ TWEAKS

Italeri’s 1/72 Panavia Tornado GR.1 kits are the recipient of Eduard’s comprehensive photo-etched metal upgrade, which includes one pre-painted fret and two plain brass examples.

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MICRO MACHINES

Maritime specialist Black Cat Models has turned its attention to armour subjects, these incredibly minute 3D-printed 1/350 scale M4 Sherman tanks.

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FIRING FITTINGS

This is the 1/72 version of Eduard’s photo-etched Soviet/Russian ejection seat firing handles set, which provides pre-coloured representations for a variety of fittings as these can be challenging to replicate with styrene.