AFV Modeller Ltd

AIR Modeller Magazine #12, June/July 2007

Reviewed By  Mike Howard, IPMS# 30741

MSRP: £6.00 GPB (approx $12 USD) www.airmodeller.com Review copy provided by AIR Modeller Air Modeller magazine continues to offer the aircraft model builder a balanced combination of kit builds/reviews and references within the pages of each new volume.

This issue continues that tradition beginning with a very article on the 1/48th Trumpeter RA-5C Vigilante. The article opens with some very nicely composed photos of the completed kit that will have you thinking it's the actual aircraft! Author Albert Tureczek starts with a brief history of the Viggie and progresses into a review of the kit's pluses and minuses. He notes the major issues and briefly how they were addressed. Lots of nice in process and completed pictures go a long way to illustrate all of the effort put into this big model. The build article is followed with 2 full pages of color profiles showing 12 different Vigilante marking schemes. Finally, to close out the section on the RA-5C, an 8 page historical section, nicely interspersed with both color and B/W period pictures, gives the modeler some nice reference material for their own build. Christian Kirchhoff presents a very well done 1/32nd Hasegawa Bf-109K4 "Nachtjager" in the next article. Again, a nice mix of in-process (many of the excellent cockpit) and completed photos showcase the author's great talents. Throughout the build write-up, Christian indicates what aftermarket parts were used and modifications were done to bring the beautiful end results The 1/32nd Trumpeter SBD-3 is the subject of the next big write-up. This is a two-part article, with the majority of this first portion defining the cockpit and interior assembly and painting. The level of detail that the author imparts on this kit is amazing. Using kit, PE and scratchbuilt parts, the results are illustrated in both pre and post paint pictures. Nice descriptions of his paint and weathering techniques are contained in the body of the text and may be very useful to newer modelers wishing to try replicating these results.

The follow-on to part 1 of the Dauntless build is the "Xtreme Detail" section. Eight pages of modeler-focused color photos will be quite useful to anyone wishing to add detail to an SBD in any scale. The subject is a restored museum example and the photographer was able to get both interior and exterior shots. Great stuff! Listing and pictures of some of the latest and greatest kits, books and accessories are contained in this issues "Air Born - New releases" section. Lots of mouthwatering items for all of us resin and plastic airplane junkies! Finally, the issue closes out with yet another big Trumpeter kit: the 1/32nd Yak-18 trainer. The builder has chosen to build his Yak as an abandoned trainer in a dirt and grass field. The weathering effects are briefly described and do have the desired results. A nice diversion from an operational aircraft display. I'd like to thank Air Modeller and IPMS for the review sample.

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