James H

You'll apply these straight on top of gloss surface, and then seal in with a little more gloss. There shouldn't be any trouble with then applying your washes to this, as long as your gloss varnish is acrylic. (those washes are enamel based and won't affect the acrylic gloss)

I'm so tardy at updates, but thought I'd post a couple of photos of the undercarriage units. These were a dream to build and install to the nacelles.

Now this looks impressive. This is perhaps the only real racing car that has ever really appealed to me. I'd certainly have a go at one of these. MANY thanks for this review

Is this finished yet? Tell me it is.....

1:48 SAAB JA37 Viggen Tarangus Catalogue # TA4803 Available from Hannants for £64.99 The iconic SAAB 37 Viggen was a Swedish multirole aircraft which was introduced into service in 1971 and finally retired in 2005. It was a short/medium range aircraft that performed with success in a range of roles including reconnaissance, maritime surveillance and of course as a fighter aircraft. The Viggen was designed to replace the SAAB 32 Lansen and the SAAB 35 Draken in their respective roles. The canard configuration used for the Viggen, was designed to increase agility, and the design itself stemmed from an agreement between the US and Sweden, in which they offered to share aeronautical designs and developments. This made sense to the USA at a time when then perhaps feared a Soviet attack against Sweden. Powered by a single Volvo RM8 turbofan engine, the Viggen was capable of a maximum speed of Mach 2.1, and also featured afterburner technology, as well as a reverse thrust capability. As well as various underwing store solutions, it also carried a 30mm Oerlikon cannon, and the JA37D also carried a U95 ECM pod. The version of the Viggen in this kit (JA37) was introduced in 1979, and some were upgraded to JA37D specification. Now, come on. If there was really one subject that you'd expect a Swedish model manufacturer to produce, it surely has to be the most iconic machine that SAAB ever designed; the timeless JA37 Viggen. In 1:48, this is still a reasonably large model, as you'll see, and I'm sure there are Viggen fans rubbing their hands with glee at this release. I will sort of rain on your parade a little as the first think that struck me when flicking through the sprues, was the lack of underwing ordnance. I'm afraid you might have to wait for a company to sort that for you, or find compatible stores. Anyway, let's take a look at this 'clean' Viggen. I quite like Tarangus's box art. It's certainly not of the amazing CAD-render standard that we've come to see from Airfix recently, but it most certainly holds its own in terms of style, even if lacking a little of the inspirational action that some manufacturers employ. Two Viggen are seen just over cloud base, and one of them is peeling away, revealing its underside, sans weapons. This kit it packed into a regular box with an upper lid (no side opening box here!), and there's certainly no shortage of plastic within either. There are NINE sprues in this release, with all of them moulded in mid-grey styrene, with the obvious exception of the canopy sprue. Apart from the latter, all sprues are also packed into the same re-sealable sleeve, and as a result, one part has broken from its sprue, and there are some minor scuffing marks on some exterior parts. This isn't a cheap kit, so separate sprue sleeves would have been a nice touch. SPRUE A One thing I have noticed with Tarangus is that their kits are becoming more refined with every release. In other words, they are learning. First glimpses of this kit show a model whose surface rendering is now way beyond their first attempt, and certainly more than on par with the best of the short-run kit manufacturers. In a lot of respects, I would say that Tarangus is even surpassing a number of its peers. This sprue contains a number of the Viggen's larger parts, namely the vertical fin, a two-part nosecone and also the upper fuselage. Looking at that fuselage section, you'll appreciate the efforts that Tarangus is making in order to up its game in this market. The surfaces are smooth (if not shiny), and the panel lines are evenly and precisely engraved, as are the various access plates. The exterior isn't riveted, although there are a number of fasteners which have been rendered, typically around those access plates. The fuselage is designed so that the lower and rear sections are separate. This is why this part looks a little odd in approach. One thing I do note is that this part, as with others, have locating pins to aid alignment. To fit some external parts, holes will need to be drilled from within. The upper, vertical fin is moulded as a single piece, with no awkward seams to eradicate. The rudder is also integral, but so moulded as to make it actually look like a separate part. Again, panel line engraving is excellent, and rudder hinge detail is fine. There two vertical fins included in this release, although the plan only shows one. One of these actually has a pitot moulded in situ, so be careful when handling this. I'd actually remove it anyway and fit with a length of hollow tube. Nose cone detail is also refined, and this should present no difficulty. I do feel the cockpit tub and instrument panel are perhaps a little rudimentary in their approach, and would benefit from the addition of some of the upgrade sets that we are now starting to see appear. If you're going to spend this amount of money, I would have liked to have seen a cockpit which was befitting the beautiful exterior that Tarangus has designed. Other parts on this sprue include a small number of external parts, such as air inlets, and also a pylon. SPRUE B Sorry, there isn't one in this release! SPRUE C You now get an idea about the size of this model, as the full span lower wing is moulded here. The span is actually around 220mm, and of course, the fuselage it significantly longer too. Elevators are moulded in situ here, but look very reasonable. An extra scribing will add more definition. External detail is superb, with evenly scribed panel lines and port detail, and internally, a recess is moulded for the inclusion of the main gear bays, as with the nose bay on the lower forward fuselage. The canard wing is just gorgeous. On the real aircraft, this mini wing is very thin, with a slightly curled leading edge. This is beautifully portrayed here, and a small number of screw type fasteners are neatly represented. Only one of these is moulded here, with the other being on the next sprue. Tarangus did a pretty reasonable job of the main gear bays, with some nice structural detail and also some hefty plumbing work. I think just a little lead wire in these, and you'll have a pretty convincing representation. Thankfully, this kit provides an internal air ducting tube for the jet intake, moulded as upper and lower halves. I'm sure you'll struggle to remove any internal seams, but I don't know just well you can see within this area. The actual intakes themselves are moulded as separate parts, thanks to slide-mould technology, so no immediate seams to remove in this area. SPRUE D More large parts here, and Tarangus's failure to pack the sprue separately is evident here, as the upper wing panels exhibit a degree of scuffing that will need to be buffed out of the parts. As with the fuselage, no rivets are moulded here, but we do have those excellent panel lines, with some minor access port detail. The elevons are moulded in situ, and I would have perhaps like to have seen some extra depth/definition between these and the regular panel lines. I think an extra scribing would enhance this area perfectly. The lower forward fuselage is moulded on this sprue, with the same definition of detail as we saw on the upper part, and within this, a recess is provided to precisely hold the forward wheel bay. Only one wheel way and one canard wing are to be seen here (with the others being moulded on sprue C). More pylons are included on this sprue, and also a couple of extremely fine and fragile parts for the main undercarriage retraction mechanism. SPRUE E The jet exhaust on the Viggen is enormous. You almost feel that you're looking at something in 1:32 scale here! This part is actually pretty stunning, with the exhaust being seen at the foot of the short tube, which is detailed along the interior wall also. I hope you'll be able to gauge that detail in my photograph. Another rig sits atop this, onto which you'll fit the thrust petals, and then the rear external fuselage cone. Tarangus has split the rear fuselage into two parts, being split vertically. The seams will be totally hidden by the overlapping section of the forward fuse, plus the installation of the fin. Some smart thinking there! This sprue also includes the main gear doors with hollow hinges and some great interior detail, as well as the intake pipe bulkhead, fin fairing, wheels (un-weighted, but I believe this to be correct due to Viggen tyre pressure), and the ventral belly pod (well, half of it anyway). SPRUE F There are a number of repetitions here, with the rear port side fuse and the other half of the ventral fuel tank unit being amongst the other parts. Those parts include the un-weighted main gear wheels (also correct!), small airbrakes, interior nose bulkhead and also the beautifully detailed engine thrust petals I mentioned earlier. The instructions provide information on posing these in either an open or close position, and I presume you can set at any angle in between the two. Other sprue parts include cockpit console detail which is reasonable, and a few parts relating to the undercarriage. SPRUE G Strangely enough, the ventral fuel tank I mentioned was moulded on the previous sprues, isn't shown as for use in this kit, and there are some anomalies with other areas too, such as the two different cockpit tubs (we'll see soon), but Tarangus does clearly show which to be used. I wish they had shadowed out the parts not in use, on their sprue plan. It would certainly make things a little easier for the impatient amongst us. This sprue is quite undercarriage-heavy, containing a multitude of parts for this area, such as the oleo struts and their associated linkages etc. The Viggen has two wheels per main gear leg, in tandem, and the main strut is moulded as two parts which include that main leg, and also the beam which sits across it onto which the wheels mount. This beam incorporates the disc brake too. The oleo scissors are moulded as one part, and I think you might need to drill out the holes on one face of this, as they are moulded solid, presumably due to moulding restrictions. I feel the nose gear bay is a little sparse, but unless you produce this in parts, this will always happen. A little more lead wire, and it's problem solved. There are also a small number of external parts moulded here, and also in the intake fan which sits at the end of the intake trunking. SPRUE H Ah, two seats included! Does this mean we'll eventually see an SK37 two seat variant, or does this relate to the two different cockpit tubs? Well, the answer is that I honestly don't know. I'm thinking there could be a two-seat machine eventually as all the parts on this sprue are duplicated; even the part numbers. Let's hope for that SK37 The seat for this is split into left and right halves, with a separate seat cushion, seat top and blast tube. Also moulded here are the rudder pedals, and the control stick. Again, two of each of these are included I think the seat will make up into quite a nice representation of the real thing, and they are also moulded without belts. Whilst this is good in terms that some of plastic versions can look quite ugly, it does unfortunately mean that you'll have to source your own belts, as none are supplied in the kit. Again, that's a little disappointing, as a small PE fret with them on would have been a nice touch. SPRUE J This is the last of the grey sprues, and contains another cockpit tub and instrument panel (the ones slated for use in this release), which have the same standard of passable detail as the previous pit we looked at. I do think the detail is a little rudimentary, but passable if you add a little extra wiring etc. Other than that, I would look at using an aftermarket set. The only other parts here are the superbly detailed belly weapons pack parts, an interior bulkhead and a small fin which sits to the rear of the rudder. SPRUE K And finally, the clear sprue. The canopy is moulded in two parts, to allow both open and closed poses, and you'll also find the various wingtip navigation lights and the gun sight reflector lens. Clarity is very good, but the canopy is slightly faceted when you view through it, and that of course causes the eye to wander a little. Having said that, when installed, I doubt you'll notice this due to the proximity of the interior detail. One of my canopy parts had come adrift in the packaging. DECALS A single decal sheet contains a set of stencils and individual machine markings for THREE machines. The difference in schemes is quite stark, with one being a simple bare metal finish, and another being in two-tone grey. The third scheme is the most ambitious, being a five colour splinter pattern. This will test your patience (and masking skills) to the max! The decals themselves are beautifully printed, being both thin and in perfect register. The carrier film is also quite minimal. One thing that does concern me is that a couple of the colours are ever-so-slightly patchy when viewed closely. This may or may not be the case when wetted and applied. The schemes on offer aren't identified, but here you can see them for yourself on the glossy scheme insert. This is beautifully printed, containing a full stencils drawing within. INSTRUCTIONS Tarangus have provided this as a small A5 booklet that is printed on quite thick paper. All drawings are simple line format, and appear easy to follow. Text is in English, and simple colour notification is supplied right at the beginning of the book. Your best option is to also check this against online photo reference. Conclusion Whilst not a perfect kit, it certainly is a very good one, with excellent external detail and some great engineering. It screams build me as soon as you flick through the sprues. The lack of weapons is a little disappointing, as is the exclusion of any PE parts for things like the seat belts. If we ignore that, then this is one model which I imagine you'll have immense fun building...especially if you do that splinter pattern scheme! Now, all I want from Tarangus is a SAAB J29 'Tunnan' in 1:48, and I'll be very happy. In summary, the Viggen is a great kit, and you really should think about buying this one if this canard format machine appeals to you even in the slightest. Highly recommended My sincere thanks to Tarangus for this review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. James H

A lovely kit. Just watch out for the wing fit though. I thinned the winter joint so the fairing didn't stick out as much. Eduard do a good set for this, and Aires make a nice resin pit.

Dammit....makes me want to build my B-25.

Just fantastic. One of your best. What needs to be added now?

You have my full attention

Is this finished yet? Ted could build this in a week......

Yes, Lionel Richie!! Great work! When it comes to moving house this year, I'll be using Lionel for workshop and kits:

I was going to add them, but the schemes in the manual are grey-scale and not very good for re-publication. They do exist on the box side in colour, but very small. These are on the Italeri site:

Cheers guys, That's very useful info. Looks like this is a goer!

Hi folks, In the wake of the brutal murder of the Jordanian fighter pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh, I've taken a reinvigorated look at the F-16. This is one of the few modern(ish) jet fighters that I actually quite like. My plan is to either build one of these in the colours al-Kasasbeh's machine, or one of those that are avenging his murder. I don't think there has been a better time to try this and build something in the honour of this fallen airman. My questions are: What is the likely variant of F-16 used? What is the best kit to depict it? are there any decal sets for Jordanian machines? Over to you, and thanks for hearing me out on this one.

1:48 Westland Wessex HAS.1 Italeri Catalogue # 2744 Available from Hannants for £29.99 The Wessex helicopter was built by Westland Aircraft under licence from Sikorsky, being a development of their S-58. Where the Wessex varied though was with its engine installation. Instead of the standard piston engine used on the Sikorsky, Westland modified the Wessex to incorporate two Rolls Royce Gnome turboshaft engines. After first flights on the prototype in 1958, the Wessex was commissioned for service in 1961 and was remained in production up until 1970. It was eventually withdrawn from British service in 2003, when a total of 356 had been built. The Wessex served with distinction in a number of frontline campaigns with both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, seeing service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands campaign, and the Borneo campaign. They were also used in a large variety of roles, such as air-sea rescue, as well as providing flight aircraft for the Royal Family. In their intended military roles, they excelled, providing excellent battlefield support for troop supply. The HAS.1 version which is the subject of this kit, was operated by the Royal Navy, and was designed for anti-submarine warfare. A number of these were later converted to HAS.3 standard advanced avionics. When this one rolled up direct from Italeri, it sort of kindled an interest in Cold War copters that I never really knew I had. I've seen the Wessex in museums, and had always been impressed with it visually, but I never contemplated actually looking at a kit, with a view to building one. I always sort of put it off due to the nature of the rotors, and the space these models can occupy, plus their inherent fragility. Now I had one in my hands, there was no excuse. I could finally take a good look at something without a fixed wing! Italeri pack this into a nice, rigid box with a top lid (take note Revell!), and the artwork shows a couple of these machines flying low over the sea. The side of the box shows the FOUR schemes available for this release, and they do provide a good variety of quite stark differences in colour, so there should be something here to appeal to you. Inside the box, the FIVE sprues aren't individually bagged, except for the clear sprue which is separately packed, and then inserted within a sleeve containing two other sprues. The second bag of sprues contains two identical sprues which include the rotor blades, and also a small piece of plastic mesh. Despite not being individually bagged, the parts themselves seemed not to have suffered, although one part had become detached from its sprue. Apart from the clear parts, the remainder of this kit is moulded in a light grey styrene. SPRUE A This is the largest sprue in the box, and obviously contains the meatier components for the Wessex. In this case, the most obvious are the fuselage halves. The external surface of these parts has a slight texture to them. It's hard to explain. They are smooth to the touch, but most definitely a visible patina. Detail is actually very good, with neatly engraved panel lines, and fine rows of recessed rivets. Notice how the nose, which carries the engines, is moulded as a separate part here, and the inclusion of an integral tail wheel strut. This means you won't have to fit this finicky part, and the moulding itself is detailed and robust. Other detail such as the tail folding hinges are sharp and look very realistic. Internally, there are a number of moulded structures representing the framework, but these are interspersed with a number of prominent ejector pin marks. How easily these will be hidden by the internal floor or other parts, I really can't tell. What is missing here are the various cables which would be clipped around the frames. You'll need some lead wire at the ready to properly detail this. The external lower fuselage is also moulded as a separate part, included on another sprue. A number of holes will need to be drilled from within the fuselage, to allow for the outfitting which is specific to this release. Those hole positions, internally, are moulded for guidance. Despite the forward and upper canopy windows being a single piece which is later fitted, the glazed pilot access side doors are separate, and here, the fragile frameworks are also integrally moulded. Those doors can be posed in either an open or closed position. The question of course is what detail will you see inside this model? Whilst I certainly think that this model can hold its own in most respects, I imagine Eduard will eventually tackle this with their sets. At the moment, the closest they sell is an upgrade for the HAS.3 variant. I can't tell you how compatible that actually is. Still, Italeri do actually provide a reasonable multimedia cockpit of their own here, with a small PE fret inclusion. As for the plastic, let's see. Only a number of cockpit parts exist on this sprue, and those that do, namely the cockpit floor with moulded central console, and the overhead instrument panel (which fits into canopy roof), have some superbly defined and beautifully moulded detail. It really isn't too shabby at all, and will look great with some careful painting and dry-brushing. A blank instrument panel and separate coaming are supplied. Two options are supplied for finishing this. You can either apply a fully printed decal which of course is the easiest route, or you can apply a decal with just the dials, which is then faced with a photo-etch instrument panel. Of course, the latter option is the best, and certainly the most realistic. The instrument decals themselves aren't too bad, but I may use some Airscale decals here for extra authenticity. The main interior bulkheads and floors are included here, and the depiction of both quilted cockpit back bulkhead and upper cargo ceiling, plus the cargo floor with its numerous access panels, are certainly more than passable. The quilting will look good with some randomized highlighting and a subtle wash. Other parts on this sprue include a beautifully moulded exhaust grille for the rear of the turbo/transmission unit. The louvres on this are exceptional, and all moulded 'open', and not solid. You will also find a neatly moulded rear rotor and various parts concerning the turbo and transmission unit. Detail is sharp and very much up to spec with what you would expect from a modern tooling. Italeri have also moulded the main rotor hub as multipart, but one of the vertical pins on mine hasn't been moulded properly, and will require me grafting on either a metal or plastic rod. A very nice touch is the inclusion of the mesh roof which surrounds the point where the rotor drive shaft protrudes. This is moulded as a frame, and onto this fits a photo etch screen. SPRUE B Here you will find the nose of the Wessex, moulded as halves, and including a separate, hinged forward access panel. Into here fits the radiator screen, and the plastic mesh which is included. This needs to be cut to shape before installation, and as it's styrene, regular glue will do the job. Exterior detail on the nose, is excellent, with sharply defined pane lines and access panels. Remember me mentioning the separate fuselage underside? Well, here it is, and this is one seriously detailed part, as the photos here show you. Other sprue parts include the main cargo bay access door (which can be posed open or closed), external plumbing, rail and undercarriage strut parts. SPRUE C This is our clear sprue, and contains all the various canopy and side window transparencies. The internal side glazings are applied from within the fuselage, and you'll need to mask the window off internally in order to hide the bare plastic window rebate. Check out Eduard's masking set for this. The main canopy is excellent, with clearly defined framing and riveting lines. All clear parts have extremely good transparency, and there's nothing here that would unduly worry me. SPRUE D (x2) Unlike some manufacturers, Italeri have realised that modellers hate to have to try and bend the rotors of these machines into a drooped fashion that you see when they are at rest. Here, you'll find the rotors are already moulded with this droop! These parts are also very detailed too; just look at the rotor connection point. One thing I'm unsure of is whether the blades can be fitted in a folded fashion. I imagine it is possible, with a little work. The instructions only show them deployed. As well as some pretty reasonable looking weighted wheels, two rather poor-looking multipart crew seats are included. These will need some prettying up to make them look good, but the inclusion of photo-etch seatbelts will go a long way to helping in this department. The exhausts that protrude from the Wessex's forward side area are moulded as halves, allowing for a nice hollow stack. Of course, you will then have to deal with the internal seams, but this should be relatively easy. The remainder of the sprue is taken over with numerous small parts for both internal and external placement. PLASTIC SUMMARY There really isn't too much to fault with regards to production. A little flash is present here and there, but will be easy to remove. No visible sink marks can be seen either. There are a few niggling ejector pin marks on some key areas, and this is my only real criticism of the overall standard of manufacture. PHOTO ETCH A single fret is supplied, in bare brass. This contains SIXTEEN parts, including the instrument panel, seatbelts, exterior mesh for rotor drive shaft area, and a screen which fits to the external canopy, shielding the rear of the ceiling instrument console. DECALS Just one decal sheet is included with this release, printed by Zanchetti Buccinasco of Italy. These appear to be a little thicker than I am used to seeing, but the printing quality looks great, with minimal carrier film, solid colour and perfect registration. As well as the decals for the four schemes, a full set of very extensive stencils is also included. The four schemes on offer with this release are: H.M.S. Hermes SAR 1970 845 NAS, H.M.S. Bulwark, Borneo, 1962 814 NAS, H.M.S. Victorious, 1961 845 NAS, Asia, 1962 Instructions Italeri's instructions are superbly clear and concise, with all constructional stages being illustrated as easy-on-the-eye line drawings, which incorporate extra views which show you some of the smaller areas of note. Colour codes are given for Italeri's own brand of paint, as well as FS codes, and notation is sprinkled throughout the constructional images. A stencil placement sheet is supplied, as are a page for each of the schemes, although these are printed in greyscale. Colour would have been nice. Conclusion This is actually a very nice kit, and will build into a splendid model of the Wessex without any extra purchases. My reading about the initial 2012 release (under a different marque) shows that the kit is itself thought to be a generally accurate depiction of the Wessex, and from what I've seen with this kit, I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with the levels of detail on offer. I would have liked to have seen an engine with this, and perhaps it is indeed offered by an aftermarket company. I will have to see what's available. It also retails for a very reasonable price, and for what you get in the box, I'd have to say that this is one you really should pick up and try. I think my first helicopter build isn't too far away. Highly recommended My sincere thanks to Italeri for this review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. James H

Just picked up the True Details set. The rest will be OOB, except for lead wiring etc. This one starts soon

Love the modulation there. Certainly no need to be crestfallen.

Absolutely blown away

Damn, that looks good...

1:48 Heinkel He 177A undercarriage set CMK Catalogue # 4176 Available from CMK for €31,80 It's taken me a little time to fathom out this specific detail set. We recently reviewed the He 177 engine set, and of course, this protrudes into the wheel well area of this behemoth. Now we have the undercarriage set itself, with a significant area of overlap. What we'll try to do here is to explain to you this set from two standpoints. The first will be fitting this set without the engine detail set, and then we'll look at what you'll need to do if you wish to install both of these into your MPM 1:48 He 177. As with the engine set we've just looked at, this set in packaged within the same style yellow and black trademark box that we are used to seeing with many of the more intense CMK resin detail sets. This sturdy little box has a top opening flap, and within, there are TWO bags of resin parts, and a single A4 instruction sheet, folded into an A4 size mini booklet. Opening the first, smaller bag, I'm getting a sense of Déjà vu. A quick glance at the instruction booklet does nothing to destroy that impression. The construction of this set starts in the very same way as that of the engine detail set, i.e. in the forward spar area which of course doubles up as the bulkhead section for the engines, but of course.....there are no engines in this set (or so you might think!). Does this make sense so far? The construction of that spar area is about 90% identical to that of the engine set, so you will already appreciate that if you wish to install both sets, you will have a significant number of spare, duplicate parts left over from the first stages of construction. Onto the spare are fitted many of the same parts as the previous sets, including the inner ribs, but now we see a change. Instead of fitting the plastic, outboard ribs that are supplied with the kit, instead a resin rib with an integral gear well roof, is now installed, creating a unit that has both an enclosed inboard and outboard section. Normally, the engines would fit into the centre area. It's at this juncture where you can of course go down two different paths. If you wish to install the engines, then you would fit the engine module to the spar in the same way that you did with the parts in the engine set. However, if you don't want to use the engine set, then the undercarriage set comes complete with a module which represents the rear detail of the engine. It is cheating, but of course, you do need to still see this detail in the wheel well. Unlike the engine set though, no resin exhausts are included here. There is another, larger bag of resin here, and with the exception of a few parts which are used for the 'common' assembly and dummy engine block, the rest are very specific to the undercarriage area itself. The most obvious parts are the replacement wheels. These are 'weighted' and treadles, therefore look correct in that aspect. The hub detail, including the hydraulic line, is perhaps a little rudimentary, but are certainly good enough for this set. I would maybe replace that line with a short length of wire. Replacement undercarriage doors are also included here too, which are thinly cast, with some very nice internal detail. The one issue I have with all of these particular parts is that the casting block connection protrudes onto the exterior face. On the larger door, the inner recess makes the wall so thin that you will need to pay particular care in removing the parts and cleaning them up. Building the kit out of box, the outboard gear doors are moulded closed. Of course, with this set, you can now pose them open, revealing those wheel bays. Parts are also included here for the hot air ducting that fits in these outboard wells. As with the previous set, resin casting is excellent, with everything manufactured in creamy, yellow resin, with the exception of the wheels which are a little darker. Some casting blocks will need careful removal, so take your time. Again, instructions are printed on a single A4 sheet, folded into an A5 booklet. A parts map and colour reference chart (Humbrol), are supplied, and all illustration is given as simple line drawings that are easy to follow. Conclusion With the amount of visual detail generated in the actual wheel bays, I would say that this set is really aimed at those who want to super-detail their model, as the main, outboard gear doors were commonly closed anyway, with the aircraft on the ground. Maybe this set is more applicable if you want to produce a maintenance diorama etc, or if you like to pose your models on mirrors so you can see the detail underneath. The inclusion of the rear engine module is a nice touch though, and the gear doors and wheels to offer something over the standard kit parts. For me, this is still a nice set, and it does make sense for me to add it simply because I'm also going to display the engines. Apart from that, it is a reasonable extra cost to a model that will already cost you €100. If you like the whole enchilada, then go for it! Recommended My sincere thanks to CMK for this review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. James H

1:48 Heinkel He 177A-5 engine set CMK Catalogue # 4174 Available from CMK for €31,80 This is hardly a new set, being almost 10 years old now, but when we get the opportunity to take a look at some of the relatively vintage kits and aftermarket products, then we don't shy away from it. That is certainly true when, a decade later, there is still no other kit or aftermarket solution from any other manufacturer. MPM's 1:48 Heinkel He 177 'Greif' is still the only game in town, and even in quarter-scale, cuts an imposing presence. Thankfully, SP&R have been sent not only the 'Hi-Tech' version of this kit (reviewed next week), but also two resin detail sets. Today, we look at the engine set. CMK's He 177 engine set is packed into one of their familiar top-flap opening cardboard boxes, attractively printed in their yellow and black trademark style, and sporting line drawings of the He 177 and a snapshot of the engine installation. Inside that box, we have a single zip-lock wallet containing over 40 pieces of pale, creamy yellow resin, and of course an instruction sheet. Firstly, you need to know that despite this set having two Daimler Benz DB605 engines, only one engine nacelle is catered for. Of course, the He 177 actually had four engines, but coupled in pairs. Two DB605 engines created a single unit designated as DB610. The two engines here are designed to be displayed in one of either wing, therefore there is no provision for having both engine nacelles opened up. The actual engine nacelle was partially buried within the wing of the He 177, with both coupled engines angled, reducing the overall depth of the nacelle so that if could fit within the wing structure without any deep bulges. Of course, this means that displaying the engines will naturally give away a little of the wing interior detail too, and this is of course included within this set. A certain amount of surgery is also required in order to fit this upgrade, but you'll be thankful to know that that aspect is very simple. Essentially, all you need to do is to cut away the two engine cowls from the plastic upper wing part. That's it! I would maybe consider just thinning the edge of the plastic at this point too, making look a little more scale in appearance. Construction centres around the main, forward spar. Depending on whether you wish to fit the engines into the port or starboard wing, spars are provided for both sides, as of course the shape of them is specific to each wing. Make your choice directly at the outset. Two sets of identical resin inner wing ribs are also included, despite only one set being used. This is puzzling, so perhaps you could display the remaining nacelle with the engines removed too? Onto the spar fits a couple of plastic ribs and gussets which are supplied within the kit. A little pipework finished the spar/engine bulkhead section. The spar itself is highly detailed, with much structural detail being exhibited, and of course some wiring and plumbing. CMK haven't supplied complete engines with this, as the forward hub won't be seen. The remainder of the engine actually looks pretty comprehensive, with excellent detail throughout, including the cylinder head blocks and fine ignition wiring. Fuel injectors can be seen underneath the engine, yet this detail won't easily be seen unless you plan to cutaway panels from the underside of the nacelle. Some detail will be seen though the wheel well, however. One side of each engine (opposites) has a block cast to it with two sockets. These sockets glue into a central former which angles the engines properly. This looks a little odd to be because I've seen one of these engines, and the coupling is direct, and not though a reasonably thick wall. I'm assuming that this is here simply to allow the assembly to fit into the host model. Once installed, you really shouldn't notice this at all. Each engine is cast with a supercharger which are fitted to the outside of the DB610 unit. Exhausts are also supplied for this set, and CMK give sets for both sides, so you can match the external detail. Having removed the engine cowl doors from the plastic, you'll need some resin replacements, and of course, they are supplied in this set. These are suitably thin, with internal structural detail. No detail is present externally, but this mirrors the model itself. All resin is superbly cast, with no visible flaws seen on my sample. Casting block connections are so designed for easy removal. One resin cowl door hinge is missing from my set, having been knocked off the casting block, but this is easily replaced with plasticard or PE. A single A4 instruction sheet is supplied, printed in black and white. This starts with a parts plan for identifying the components, and also information on what part of the kit's plastic needs removing. Construction is shown as a series of line drawings, which are all clear to see and should present no problem in following. Colour call-outs are supplied throughout construction, with Humbrol codes being supplied, and a simple colour description too. Conclusion If you like the detail side of building, then I presume that the Hi-Tech version of the He 177 would be the one you'd choose to buy. This set takes increases the detail levels even further, supplementing the resin already in the host kit, and taking your He 177 to another stage. Ideal for dioramas and of course those of us who have a voyeuristic nature when it comes to wanting to pose various cowls and panels in an open state. Everything here appears to be simple enough to build and implement, and well within the capability of most modellers. Highly recommended My sincere thanks to CMK for sending the review sample shown here. To purchase directly, click THIS link. James H

Wow, that looks a serious kit. I've never actually seen a Kittyhawk kit before, and never thought this would appeal, but it looks pretty damn good. Thanks for the review!

Very cool looking kit, and a great review! LSM's first 1:48 review, and written by your own fair hands and soft skin.

Stunning! What a beast.

This is insane. Inspirational, but insane. I wish I could do this stuff.