Aircraft

Introduction

1947 was a much simpler time but there were complex problems to be solved. 'Let's put a rocket motor in a small fuselage shaped like a 50 caliber bullet and see if we can maintain controlled flight, faster than the speed of sound'. Sounds simple enough.

Looking back now, the X-1 was simple in shape, power and design and we are still learning from those tests.

Revell has re-released the X-1 as a model kit that captures that simplicity with great detail.

My thanks go out to Revell for providing this kit for review and to IPMS USA for letting me do the review.

In the Box

There are 49 parts in this kit molded in gray and 2 clear. At 1/32 scale, the parts are big and easy to handle and assemble for young, small hands or us 'more experienced' folks with sausages for fingers. A few of the bigger parts separated themselves from the sprues in shipping.

The instruction booklet is simple, large, clear and well organized. There is a short history of the X-1 program and a complete color and marking application guide.

The decal set consists of one 4.75 x 7.5 inch sheet accompanying by a color glossy 8.5 x 11 inch instruction and placement page in a ziplock plastic bag.  I always appreciate the resealable bags, for storing unused decals afterwards and protection from coffee.  The decals themselves were printed by Cartograf.  Markings for two aircraft are provided, BuNo 162224 of VAQ-135, and BuNo 163527, VAQ-137.  Very well-done and unique unit art is included for each aircraft, as well as numerous decals for some ECM pods and drop tanks.  The formation light panels appear to be a reasonably accurate color.

Thanks to Gary Newman of Squadron/Signal and IPMS/USA for allowing me to review this decal sheet.

The F/A-18 Hornet has been around for a while, and it looks to be almost as big a winner as its predecessor, the F-4 Phantom.  One of the stories going around St. Louis in the 90s was that the plant wanted to build 5058 Hornets, one more than the production run for the Phantom.  Well, the production line is still open, and they’re past 1100 now.

The F/A-18 E and F are different aircraft from the A to D models.  The whole plane is larger, the engines are more powerful, and it’s stealthier.  The engine intakes are square and the landing gear doors have sawtooth edges, which reduce radar return. 

Here’s a picture of my recent CF-18A with the F/A-18E.

The Detail Parts

Quickboost offers a set of four antennas for the Trumpeter Su-24M in 48^th scale. The parts are “scaled” appropriately for 48^th and that, of course, means the parts are rather small and delicate. Caution must be the rule when removing the parts from the sprue and then, again, when attached to the aircraft.

Upon first glance, one will think that Quickboost has relaxed its consistently high standard of quality. The antennas appear to be covered with flash.  But look again and you will see that this is not the case. Quickboost has supported the parts while on the sprue with a thin layer of material that protects the parts and provides additional “contact points” between the parts and the sprue. This extra material is easily removed and causes no difficulty when using the parts.

The Detail Parts

We all know what a propeller is, but what is this “tool” of which we speak?  Trumpeter provides a block of resin with a “bed” for the prop blade to be placed into, and a locating hole and ring for the spinner. When placed into the “bed” the prop will assume the correct angle for alignment with the spinner. Using this tool, which is also included in many of the other Quickboost prop sets, alignment of exactly the same angle and orientation will be achieved for each of the three blades. What a great idea!

The Detail Parts

Quickboost has a well established reputation for offering detail parts that are of excellent quality and this product maintains that reputation. There are three Pitot Tubes on a single sprue, bracketed by “goal posts” which serve to protect the Pitot Tubes.

This product is designed to be used with the Italeri Ju-87B-2 Stuka. Upon examination you will see that the Pitot Tubes can be used on other subjects but they are designed for the Italeri kit. Each Pitot Tube measures 11/16^th of an inch in length, and, to the best of my ruler’s ability, slightly less than 1/32^nd of an inch in diameter at its base. The tubes have a constant diameter for the first 15/32^nd of their length, and then the diameter reduces by about half to the end, or forward tip of the tube.  In short, the tubes are very small and have a “scale appearance” in all regards.

Product/Stock #:   148 003 Navy Chock/ Bar (Early Production)   $5.99
                                148 002 Universal Navy Chock/Rope (Early Production)   $4.99
                                148 006 Universal Navy Chock/Rope (Late Production)   $4.99

Yellow Wings Decals has released two new decal sets that provide optional marking for Special Hobbies’ 1/32 scale Curtiss P-36A kit. Each of the decal sets is packaged in a typical zip-lock sleeve along with a comprehensive color 4-view instruction sheet with supplemental sheets that include application and placement instructions, and brief historical information. These sets exhibit the same high level of quality as all of the other decal sets currently available from Yellow Wings Decals.

To counter Axis armor, the British introduced a tank busting version of the Hurricane. Armed with two Vickers 40mm cannon they had the same effect as an armor-piercing rocket, but were four times more accurate. First fitted to the Hurricane as the Mk IID, they were also used on the later Hurricane Mk IV. Hurricane IIDs saw service in North Africa, the Far East and in the UK.