Review Topic: Aircraft
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Zvezda’s Petlyakov Pe-2
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/48 scale plastic model aircraft kit. The moment I opened the box, I fell in love with Zvezda’s 1/48 scale Pe-2. It was also obvious it was going to be a project, not because Zvezda’s kit is bad but because it has 435 parts. The major parts show amazing surface detail,…
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Trumpeter Su-24MR “Fencer-E”
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Trumpeter’s “Fencer-E” features an astounding amount of plastic: 370 parts on 28 sprues. Everything is packed separately in a partitioned box, with the clear sprue in its own padded polybag. The parts have outstanding recessed detail except, curiously, the external fuel tanks, which show raised…
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Merit International Fokker Dr.1 with WIP images
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/24 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Famous as Snoopy’s nemesis, the Fokker triplane gets much more press than its importance should warrant. Designed in response to Sopwith’s three-winged fighter, the Dr.1 was not produced in large numbers. But it’s notorious as the mount of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen.
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Kitty Hawk OV-10A/C Bronco
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/32 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Odd looking but capable, the North American OV-10 has been used by the U.S. military as a counter-insurgency and forward air control aircraft. Kitty Hawk is the first company to produce the Bronco in 1/32 scale.
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HobbyBoss A-6E Intruder
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/48 scale plastic model aircraft kit. HobbyBoss’ detailed A-6E kit is packed with features and options, including: posable canopy, radome, tail hook, ram air turbine (RAT), wingtip speed brakes, slats, flaps, rudder, and crew ladders.
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Kitty Hawk P-39 Airacobra
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/32 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Centered around a nose-mounted 37mm cannon firing through the propeller hub and powered by an Allison engine behind the cockpit, Bell’s P-39 was unique. Although outclassed by the Zero and Bf 109, the Airacobra helped hold the line early in World War II until new…
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Italeri Dassault Mirage IIIC
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/32 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Despite its size Italeri’s big-scale Mirage will fit snugly on a 12″ shelf, thanks to the delta fighter’s narrow wingspan. Opening the box presents you with a bunch of gray sprues, a thick instruction book with color four-view drawings for the six marking options, a…
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Airfix Heinkel He 111P-2
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Airfix’s new He 111 features fine recessed surface engraving, nice interior detail, and includes lots of additional parts for the cockpit, wheel wells, bomb bay, and the gunner’s cradle for the dorsal gun position.
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Airfix Wildcat
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft kit. Don’t confuse this Wildcat with Airfix’s ancient mold from the 1960s. This new Wildcat has beautifully executed recessed panel detail, a good cockpit, complex landing-gear structure with separate parts if you want to pose the gear retracted, a well-formed engine and prop, fine decals, and…
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Eduard Fw 190A-8
FineScale Modeler reviews the 1/72 scale plastic model aircraft kit. This is one beautiful offering from Eduard! The surface detail on the injection-molded parts rates as some of the nicest I’ve ever seen. A fret of 36 optional pre-colored photo-etched (PE) parts can be used to enhance the model. There’s also a set of 13…