IPMS/USA Reviews

Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for continuing to bring back a tremendous resource for the modeler, in a print-on-demand paperback format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting story of the F-8/RF-8 Crusader's history, details, versions and markings.

Overview

The publication is yet another extraordinary compilation of history, data and images of a ground-breaking USN jet. This new publication is a thoroughly updated and improved reference, expanding on the first Crusader volume released in 1988. The content is organized in chapters covering history, variants, NASA Crusaders, foreign operators, Vietnam Crusaders, and aircraft details. The modeler's section is a very comprehensive and current summary of past and present kits and aftermarket products. There are over 104, 259 high-resolution photographs that are mostly in color, 25 excellent full color artwork profiles, and 19 illustrations.

The F-16 has always been a favorite of mine. So when these decals came out I just had to get a set. The Aviano aircraft have been involved in all major campaigns since 2001. This sheet covers from 2002 to 2009.

Packaged in a large ziplock bag are seven double-sided high-quality sheets with full color printings. There are marking options for 14 aircraft. Each aircraft has both side profile views. All the markings are clearly seen. If there was a variation in the markings it is pointed out. Each sheet has two aircraft on each side of the sheet. Some of the aircraft have really colorful markings, including nose art and tail markings. The Wyvern and fin flash are quite colorful. If you like color on your Falcon this is a great sheet. There are mission markings and kill markings.

I'm a sucker for Luftwaffe '46 concepts and 1/144 scale, so when Brengun supplied us with this little bat winged beauty my hand went up immediately.

The kit is petite, very nicely molded and with fine panel lines. Two color schemes are provided on the box, both for hypothetical units serving in 1946. The canopy is a little thick, but there isn't much of a cockpit provided. I added paper seat belts and a stretched sprue control stick; you could go further if you chose to add some detail.

I thinned all of the landing gear doors and used my fine engraving saw to separate the control surface joints. Assembly is easily completed in a few hours; I spent more time painting and decaling than I did building. I removed the molded-in cannon from the wing leading edges and drilled out the area to accept some sprue - but in looking at my review photos I realize that I forgot to add them.....but I did add a pitot tube using guitar wire.

Caracal Models is one of leaders in aviation decals offered in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144 scale with many unique subjects never offered before now. This B-1B Lancer ("BONE") is a continuation of a very popular subject with large colorful nose art and some tail flash.

Printed by Cartograph, the four sheets are printed perfectly with the small markings are very fine and easy to read. Two of the four sheets are dedicated to walkways, stencils and standard markings. The other two sheets are unique to each subject. Markings included for McConnel (127^th BS in 2000), three Dyess aircraft, one Ellsworth and one Robins AFB aircraft. There are instructions consist of eight color sheets that clearly show placement of markings for the six subjects. The instructions indicate the correct FS paint color (one color makes it easy) for all aircraft with note options of painting the refueling receptacle instead of a decal.

Master Model of Poland produces small brass parts for detailing models, be they aircraft or ships. They have parts for aircraft in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72, and 1/144, mostly pitot tubes, refueling probes and gun barrels.

This product is for the MiG-29. It's more complex than many other pitot tubes because it's got two tiny vortex generator fins, one on each side of the pitot tube. So the package contains the pitot plus a PE fret with the vortex generators.

Installation of the pitot tube is pretty simple. I used the Academy kit for this review. The Academy MiG-29 has a flat spot at the tip of the nose for the pitot. So it was fairly easy to drill a .3mm hole in the center of the spot and glue the pitot in place.

The vortex generators were more complex, as they were thin brass and only about .1 mm wide. I had to use my heavy duty magnifiers to even see the parts, and holding them with tweezers while putting them on the sides of the pitot were delicate procedures.

Once the pitot and vortex generators were installed, I painted them using Tamiya Silver. Done.