IPMS/USA Reviews

Based off of the 2018 tooling of the Fi-103, Special Hobby has recently released another kit with some welcome extras to allow the builder to display the V-1 on its handling dolly. This configuration would make for a really cool little vignette or diorama if the builder so desired. Rest assured, the kit can also be built in the flight configuration as well. J

Special Hobby has added 12 additional resin parts along with a few photoetch details. The resin parts are used to build the exposed Argus Pulsejet engine as well as one of three options for the nose of the airframe. The three nose options include a ground cover that was used to protect the nose of the aircraft, the normal nose, or what I believe to be some sort of guidance or detonation control or possibly other instrumentation mounted in the nose. As I planned to have the Fi-103 on the ground dolly I thought the cover made the most sense.

The Fuji Heavy Industries T-1 series of aircraft was the first aircraft entirely designed and built in Japan following World War II. The T-1B has a Japanese-designed and built engine, which is the only change from its predecessor, the T-1A. Externally, there is no difference between the two models. The T-1A first flew on January 19th, 1958. A total of 66 aircraft (of both types) were produced, and the type was retired in March of 2006.

Platz's T-1B kit faithfully reproduces Fuji's T-1B and is molded in light grey plastic. There was no flash on my sample, and the panel lines are crisp and recessed into the plastic. One downfall of the kit is the instructions, which are in Japanese save for the aircraft information and step titles. However, you can easily follow them with the clear assembly drawings.

Brengun has released a few different kits of the OKB Chelomey 16KhA Priboy in several scales. This is the latest version which is in 1/72 scale. This was a Winged missile based on the V-1 German flying bomb. Russia build various designs based on the V-1 from 1945. In 1947 the Russian government ordered this version to be used as air launched missiles and as target drones.

In the box is:

• 1 light grey sprue
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 instruction booklet

The sprue is well molded with very little flash and great detail.

Construction

First is the construction of the pulse engines, these did not align very well.

The next stage is the fuselage joins need a little filing and you need to be careful lining it up correctly as there are no alignment pins.

Next it's on to the attaching the wings, the attachment pins are too large so the holes need to be opened out. The wings also need a little filling once assembled.

Now the tail is assembled, you have a choice to make here depending on which version you want to build as there are four options.

Now you mount the engines.

The Northrop F-5 was designed by Edgar Schmued, who had previously been at North American, and was responsible for the P-51 and F-86. The idea for the F-5 was to produce a lighter, less expensive and more maneuverable fighter, going against the 1960s trend of bigger, heavier fighters. The F-5 has been successful, used by more than 20 foreign operators, as well as the US Navy, as an F-5N aggressor aircraft.

The Model

Platz produces model kits, but they also sell a large number of "foreign" kits, ie not from Japan in their store. The web site says this kit is produced by Platz. The box says F Toys/Platz.

You get two aircraft in the box, and decals for 3 planes.

Assembly

Assembly was fairly simple. Everything slid into place and stayed there. I did have some problems with some of the parts, as there was some flash on the holes or the insert parts, and it required some filing or scraping to get the parts to fit nicely. On the other hand, I used no putty on this model. Once I got the parts in place, everything lined up.

So often we see warbird models built to represent the battle-tested mounts of our aviation heroes. The subject of this review, the B-25 is certainly no stranger to famous pilots and war theaters. Underrepresented are the aircraft chosen for less glamorous tasks like domestic patrol, supply runs and training. With the help of Airfix and Iliad Designs, I have attempted to address that.

Airfix's rendition of the Mitchell has been around for a bit so I won't give you a parts tour. Suffice to say, it lives up to the standard of the new generation Airfix kits. Recessed panel lines, detailed interiors, poseable control surfaces and hatches are features of this release. Fit and finish is almost too good in that a coat of paint seems to interfere with it. The bottom line, with proper care you can build a great model out of the box.

Airfix provides two marking options, both shown in full color, four-view drawings with color references. One is a war veteran on a war bond tour in a desert scheme and the other is an antisubmarine patrol aircraft operating out of Tampa Florida. The decals include stencils that I did use along with the aftermarket sheet.