Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
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.
‘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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
FELINE THRUST
Czech firm AB&K Models has released a superb resin 1/72 Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engine for Airfix’s F4F-4 Wildcat kits.
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.
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.
NAVAL TRAINING
Belgian firm PJ Production has released this simple but effective 1/48 Hawker Hunter conversion set, which allows modellers to transform Airfix’s new-tool F.6 offerings into GA.11 airframes – as used by the Royal Navy for weapons training.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Most modern jets usually carry training stores more often than bombs and missiles, so it’s great to see Eduard providing the US Air Force and Navy’s standard practice bomb carrier, the SUU-20.
HIGHWAY TONES
Here’s a great set of acrylic paints for diorama builders, with six colours matched to various road/track/building shades, from mortar to asphalt and concrete.
LONG-RANGE REFINEMENT
Zvezda’s 1/144 Boeing 777-300ER (also re-boxed by Revell) is the subject of BOA Decals’ photo-etched metal upgrade, which appears to have been developed by now-defunct firm ExtraTech.
‘TURKEY’ TUB TREATS
Creating realistic instrument panels can be challenging, so Eduard’s Löök series is a boon, offering pre-coloured consoles on 3D-printed resin.
SCALE SOFT DRINKS
Perfect for a 1/35 scale modern-era unloading scene, or populating the cargo area of a commercial vehicle, Matho Models’ cardboard boxes depict crates of popular soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta and Schweppes.
LATIN AMERICAN SCOOTERS
With the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict fast approaching, Santiago Rivas’s informative depiction of the Argentine Air Force and Navy’s A-4 Skyhawks makes for an engrossing read.
SPRING AWAKENING
Works covering German offensives in Hungary during 1945 are scarce, but this volume from Peko examines this topic in detail.
ADMIRAL TOM’S CAT
While there’s no shortage of references covering Grumman’s F-14 Tomcat variable-geometry interceptor, Guideline’s 126th Warpaint publication is sure to be popular.
REGAL TONES
From a historical aspect, the Balkans is a fascinating subject, particularly the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between the two world wars, and it is this time period that’s covered in the first in a series on the Yugoslavian Air Force.
GOD OF THE SEA
Modellers with Boeing P-8A Poseidon kits from Hasegawa or Welsh Models – plus those attempting a resin replica or conversion project – will appreciate this superb guide to the maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft, based on the firm’s 737 airliner.
MEDITERRANEAN AIR POWER
The evolution of the RAF’s close air support to army units during World War Two is a complex subject, and this volume – the first in a two-part series – delves into its origins.