AFV Modeller

Air Modeller Magazine #23 April/May 2009 Air Modeller Magazine #24 June/July 2009

Reviewed By  Phil Peterson, IPMS# 8739

MSRP: $12.00 (approx)/Issue Website: www.airmodeller.com Air Modeller is for aircraft modelers what AFV Modeler is for armor builders, a bi-monthly publication that is lavishly illustrated with many great color photos. When I opened the envelope I thought I had been sent a couple of softbound books. Each issue has 65 pages filled with large, color pictures and text that describe what each builder did to finish their kits. The magazine is published in England and the authors appear to be European but that is just a guess on my part. Issue 23 Supermarine Southhampton Mk 1 Part Two - This is the final part of a detailed 1/48th scale scratch build of this twin engined, biplane, flying boat. Me 262 'White 4' - A nice, super detailed build of the Trumpeter 1/32nd scale kit. The Me 262 - A nice history about this fighter. It includes a good selection of pictures. I am not sure if any of these are new photos as I did recognize several. Xtreme Detail - Color photos of a Me 262 museum bird showing enough detail to help you trick out your kit. However, they don't mention which museum the plane is located at. AH-1 Skyraider - The Tamiya 48th scale kit gets a little added detail and a USAF SEA paint job. F9-F2 Panther - A colorful build of the 1/32nd scale resin kit from Fisher. Regianne Re 2000 - A sharp diorama featuring the SMER kit in 1/48th. This is detailed inside and out to portray a Hanger Queen. Air Born - This article is in both issues and covers New Releases in kits, tools, aftermarket items and books. Issue 24 Kawasaki Ki-61 Hein - Another 32nd scale resin kit, this time from MDC. It is detailed to the max and marked as the plane flown by Teruhiko Kobayashi from the 244.Sentai. Fokker D VII - A slight modification of the Eduard 48th scale kit to depict a bird flown by the Czechoslovakian Air Force in 1919. Desert Falcon - A 1/48th scale F-16F Block 60 flown by the UAE Air Force. This conversion of the Hasagawa F-16 DJ kit makes use of the Isracast and Cutting Edge resin parts along with several other detail sets. Horse of Iron Part One - The Academy 1/48th Sikorsky CH53 gets lots of extra details although I don't know what was left for Part Two as he pretty much covers it all. Maybe he builds a second version? Bloch MB 152 - The author says none of the 48th scale kits of this plane are truly accurate but the Classic Airframes kit requires the least structural modifications so that is where he starts. It is a good walk through of what you need to do to make an accurate version. Sea Fury - The Hobbycraft 1/32nd scale kit of this Hawker fighter gets some added details and is marked as a plane serving during the Korean War. My only real issue with these issues (ha, punny) is that none of the builds are in my favorite scale of 1/72nd. I am not sure if they focus on the larger scales but there are several 72nd scale kits in the review section. Thanks to Air/AFV Modeller for the review samples.