Six releases from Italeri this month – some awesome artwork & varied kit choices. Check them out in art, plastic, colours, decals & info in our preview...Read on... »

The 48th-scale Standard N tractor with a bomb trolley from MiniArt has just been announced. CADs, sprues, colours & the real subjects in our preview...Read on... »

When the reviewer corps received Squadrons B-24J “Dragon and His Tail” kit, I said heck yeah, I’ll do it. By the way, I actually used my training and worked a bunch of sheet metal and other stuff on a B-24 over the years when I was the MX rep for a Museum; Specifically, the Willow run Ford-built “J” model Serial Number 44-48781that was, until recently, at Barksdale AFB and is now at Savannah. I also have Bert Kinsey and Rock Roszak’s B-24 Liberator collaboration with Detail and Scale sitting next to me as I write this.

The 48th scale F4U-5N Corsair (late version) is on the way from Hobbyboss in October. We look at the colours, decals & built-up kit in our preview...Read on... »

The recent Eduard P-51B in 1/32 was quite the hit at the recent IPMS Nats in Fort Wayne. A 1/32 P-51B is rare, and this is only the second kit in this scale (the other is Trumpeter’s 2009 release). Eduard’s new release is billed as their first Royal Hybrid kit (which represents a premium extension of the standard Eduard Hybrid line), consisting of injected molded plastic, 3D printing, and cast resin parts, decals, canopy masks and wheel well masking plugs.

From the Eduard website:

The Royal Hybrid edition kit of the famous US fighter aircraft P-51B Mustang in 1/32 scale.

The kit offers markings for 8 aircraft of 8th and 9th Air Force

The iconic Messerschmitt Bf 109 almost doesn’t need an introduction as it is ubiquitous with the WWII German Luftwaffe. The E "Emil" variant was the standard Luftwaffe fighter at the start of the Second World War, and it was also the only single-engined Luftwaffe fighter in use during the Battle of Britain. The “Emil” variant was short-lived as improvements were constant, being replaced by the 109F in 1941.

Scale Aircraft Conversion has produced its famous white metal landing gear for the Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1/E-3/E-4/E-7 in 1/48 scale. As aircraft modelers well know, aircraft models displayed on their landing gear are susceptible to damage from the weight of the model, especially on styrene landing gear.

This book contains 88 pages, 62 b/w photos, 39 color photos, 16 color profiles, 1 color map, 4 diagrams, and 12 tables. It covers the war plans, policy, manufacturers, and SAC from 1945 to 1990. This is done in two chapters.

The world post WWII presented many challenges for the USAAC/USAF. The need to carry atomic weapons and to deliver them deep into the Soviet Union in time of war was paramount! This book is broken down into two chapters. The first takes up 22 pages and covers and covers how aircraft increased in size and complexity with focus on the development of more powerful engines, both jet and piston to power these aircraft.

Aires has provided the Reviewer Corps with a resin replacement of the Fine Molds Mitsubishi F-2A/B Exhaust Nozzle in the closed position. The sample review item comes in a cardboard backed plastic blister package. There are no instructions, but it does reference this is a replacement part for A48.

This is a traditional pour into a mold resin part, not 3D printed. The detail in 1/72 scale is small, yet very fine. The scribed exterior exhaust petal detail is thin and scale appropriate and the internal petals have detailed horizontal ribbing to allow a dark wash to give it more depth.

Conclusions

This is a great traditional resin part if you want to replace the Fine Molds Mitsubishi F-2A/B exhaust nozzle in 1/72nd scale. Just wash and add paint. Highly Recommend to everyone who wants to add more accurate detail to their J.A.S.D.F Mitsubishi F-2A/B!

Aries has provided this very nice resin upgrade for the Trumpeter Kit for the weapons pylons on the early version of the A-1 Skyraider.

The set includes 50 resin parts and a single sided instruction sheet.

All the parts are very detailed and will add a lot of details to the current kit details.

The parts are produced with no flash or material to remove.

In conclusion these parts will add so much more details to the standard kit.

Thanks go to Aries for providing this kit to review and IPMS/USA for allowing me to review it for them.

As we slide into fall show season mode. The weather is turning, the hobby calendar is filling up.  We’re talking about where we’ve been and where we’re going next including a recap of the Military Modelers Club of Louisville show in Shepherdsville and plans for the Cincinnati show at the Tri-State Warbirds Museum. We also share why vendor tables are part of the fun, even when we absolutely do not need more stuff (and still find something we “need”).

We preview what’s coming on the podcast feed too: a feature chat with John Ferdico of Hawaiian Air Depot, focused on aircraft markings files for the DIY masking community and Silhouette mask cutting, plus a 1/72 scale extravaganza we’re already excited about. We also tease our next model show spotlight with a new expo style figure show in Orlando and a veterans-focused model making workshop in College Station, Texas.

Finally, we give a quick update on the Plastic Model Mojo Dojo as it closes in on 5,900 members and we spotlight the jaw-dropping miniature painting posts that are inspiring our own use of color, highlights, and shadows. Subscribe, share this with a modeling friend, and leave a rating or review so more builders can find the show.

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Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler.

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ICM has been producing a series of high-quality twin-engine bombers on a 1/48 scale, like the Ju-88, He-111, Ki-21, Beaufort, just to name a few. Now the Handley Page HP.52 “Hampden” has joined the club!

This boxing is for the Hampden TB.Mk.1 (TB stands for Torpedo Bomber) and has markings for 4 different Hampden airframes, likely covering all the different camouflage schemes used by the Torpedo Bomber variant of the Hampden.

The kit arrives in a sturdy white box (no markings in the box) with a separate lid providing the cover art and details of what is inside the white box. There is a total of 12 sprues with 301 parts, plus a decal sheet and an instruction book which also provides you with mask templates for the complex nose, canopy and defensive gun turrets.

One thing you can give credit to George Lucas for – he sure knows how to market his products. First seen in the Empire Strikes Back (if the box art is to be believed), the TIE bomber was a fascinating variant of the Twin Ion Engine spacecraft of the empire, designed to launch weapons against capital ships. Featuring a twin pod system, the right pod featured a cockpit (with either one or two pilots, depending on the blueprints you look at) while the left pod featured rotating weapon dispensers. Each pod had it own twin ion engines, but the ship featured no defensive armament to speak of, needing TIE fighters to protect them during their bombing runs.

AMT’s new kit is in the popular 1/48th scale, which matches other AMT products in this line, and the detail is quite good.

MiniArt has another kit loaded with ammo & crates for your Allied armour. 1/35th scale 7.5 cm shells with "lobster" ammo crates to complement your dioramas in our preview...Read on... »

Model contests can be a blast, but they can also mess with your head if winning becomes the point. We dig into a listener question that hits a nerve for a lot of scale modelers: do you need to compete to be recognized, and what happens when you start building with “beating other builders” as the goal? We share our own experiences with competition, dopamine hits, and disappointment, plus the guardrails we think keep plastic modeling fun and personally rewarding.

Then we shift into the nuts and bolts of staying grounded in the modern golden age of modeling. We talk about why kits have improved so much since the 1990s and early 2000s, from 3D CAD and CNC tooling to instruction sheets that finally make sense. We also address modeler burnout and bench motivation: how work stress and mental fatigue knock you out of routine, and how simple off-bench habits like reading, focused videos, and low-stakes tasks can pull you back in without forcing it.

Shop talk goes deep on two creative topics: in-flight aircraft displays and genre changes. We cover “plane on a pole” basics, judging reality (pilot included), and smarter presentation ideas like box dioramas, controlled viewing angles, blurred backdrops, and hidden supports. We wrap with why switching genres, from armor to cars to Gundam to figures, can add new tools to your skill set fast, from gloss finishes to metallic effects to decals.

If you enjoy honest hobby talk with practical takeaways, subscribe, share this with a modeling friend, and leave a review so more builders can find us.

Model Paint Solutions
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SQUADRON
Adding to the stash since 1968

Model Podcasts
Please check out the other pods in the modelsphere!

KitMasx
Custom Canopy Masks for the Scale Modeler.

Bases By Bill
Your source for custom display bases, laser engraved airfield and carrier decks.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Bump Riffs Graciously Provided by Ed Baroth
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The standard & premium sets from RocKit Studios for your 35th scale M24 (Tamiya kit). See how the sets are similar & what's added in the premium set in our preview...Read on... »

From the Air War Publications website:

The story of Luftwaffe night fighter airmen and their operations on the Eastern Front is one that defies the traditional stereotype of the Germans as well-organised and meticulous planners. Instead, it emphasises their successful improvisation in the face of unanticipated problems and a very tough Soviet opponent.

From Italeri's website:

Produced by Piaggio from the late 1970s, the Vespa PX is one of the most iconic models of the Italian motorcycling tradition and a true two-wheeled legend, known all overthe world and capable of captivating generations of enthusiasts. With a unique and instantly recognizable design, it is characterized by its metal body and handlebar-mounted manual gear shift. Easy to ride, the Vespa PX was designed as the ideal solution for city commuting as well as for short leisure trips. It is the most produced and best-selling Vespa model of all time, with over 3 million units. The Vespa PX was not just a scooter, but a cultural icon of the 1980s. Its presence in films, music, and fashion turned it into a symbol of lifestyle and an icon of "Made in Italy".

Quickboost has provided the Reviewer Corps with drop-in resin replacement ejection seats for the Kinetic Gold F-16I Sufa in 1/48th scale.

In the Package and Product Notes

The sample review came in a plastic bag with cardboard backing. There are instructions included and they show how to assemble the seats.

There are four pieces from traditional resin pour moldings and one 3D generated for the finer details of the grab-handle and canopy breakers. The quality is excellent with incredible fine detail.

Conclusions

Highly Recommended! This is wonderful resin replacement ejection seat. Very fine details and all you really need to do is assemble and paint. It will add more interest to the cockpit of your 1/48th scale F-16I Sufa.

I want to thank Aires and Quickboost for providing the resin set and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Quickboost has provided the Reviewer Corps with resin upgrade replacement detail for Academy’s PBY-5 Catalina Correct Cowlings with closed flaps in 1/72nd scale.

In the Package and Product Notes

The sample review came in a plastic bag with cardboard backing. There are instructions for this set, and it will show you how to integrate the new parts along with the kit’s parts.

There are traditional pour moldings for the cowlings, flaps, side air intakes, and 3D printed parts for the engine extension. The quality is excellent with very fine detail.

Please note, since this is a resin part, Superglue (CA) or another bonding agent will be needed to secure the headrest to the kit plastic.

Conclusion

This is a great resin part upgrade if you want to add more detail and correct the Academy PBY-5 Catalina engine cowlings.

Special Hobby has several releases slated for October. Some are new, some (re)newed. See them in our preview...Read on... »