James H

Maybe look at the Airfix part will help? This was no doubt worked from Arthur Bentley's drawing. I have a spare filter if you want me to send it?

Nice review Ben, cheers. I have a set here, and know how good these are.

You have my attention Peter! Ambitious and BIG! Thanks for showing all these individual steps. It's an education.

Looks so good. How many open tank areas along the spine? You made a big improvement on that gun pod area

Just had a parcel from MPM. These included: 1:32 Special Hobby Bristol M.1C 'Wartime' 1:32 Special Hobby Bristol M.1C 'Chequers and Stripes' 1:48 Special Hobby Supermarine Walrus 1:48 Special Hobby Fairey Firefly 1:48 CMK He 177 Wheel bay set 1:48 CMK He 177 engine set Reviews soon!

1:32 Spandau, Lewis , Vickers machine guns Gaspatch Models Catalogue # see article for code and price Available from Gaspatch Models After some simply astounding releases in both kit form and in aftermarket, Gaspatch Models had been relatively quiet for a period of time. Apart from the turnbuckle releases which this company is famed for, over the last year, we've reviewed their 1:48 Salmson kit, and also a suite of their 3D printed Lewis guns. It was this latter product which signalled the start of a new product range for Gaspatch, and the one we were certainly keen to follow up. Today, I'm pleased to be able to bring to you the very latest machine gun releases from this exacting company. The items we've received are: 13-32043, Vickers Colt-Built, €12,50 13-32046, Vickers British Hyland Type B Loading Handle, €12,50 13-32047, Vickers British Hyland Type E Loading Handle, €12,50 13-32056, Lewis Mk.II, €12,50 14-32060, Spandau 08/15 Extended Loading Handle, €12,50 14-32061, Spandau 08/15, €12,50 All gun sets are comprised of TWO machine guns to enable a complete port/starboard installation, and they are packed into attractive blister packs which contain a rendered image of the gun on the back. The delicate parts within are recessed into pieces of soft grey foam which has had the part shapes cut from the foam with heat, ensuring a snug fit and minimum risk of any breakage. To help further, whenever Gaspatch have sent me these sets, they also come packed into a sturdy cardboard box. Buy with confidence. Vickers Guns This machine gun has perhaps one of the longest service records of any machine gun ever invented, being used for almost 60yrs in various countries around the world. Conflicts that it served in range from the Great War through to the Korean War etc. The gun itself was a water-cooled, .303 calibre, medium machine gun which first entered service in 1912. Produced by Vickers, the ground-based version of this required 3 men to operate it in combat, whilst deployed to a team of six to help transport it around the battlefield, and then deploy it. The Vickers also had a good reputation for reliability, and was well liked by those who had to use it. The easy synchronising ability of the gun made it the standard gun to be fitted to both British and French aircraft during WW1, and the resultant airflow over the jacket, rendered the weighty water cooling system redundant. This of course greatly lessened the weight of the weapon too, again making it idea for air combat. Several slots were machined into the external jacket, increasing the effectiveness of air cooling. I have by no means requested every Vickers gun from the new range. There are actually NINE guns in this range, but felt that the ones that we've been sent are going to be very representative of this particular range of weapons. These particular sets are packaged into the smaller blister packs due to the smaller number of component parts per gun; and as stated there are two machine funs per packet. Each of these sets contains FOUR parts each. The Vickers gun itself is a single piece item, and there are of course ammunition feeds for both guns. Differences between the guns are quite subtle in most respects, but still identifiable. The Hyland Type E version has its loading handle pointing slightly downwards, towards the pilot's abdomen, ensuring that cocking the lever looks a little more natural, despite probably needing a little more moment force than the others. Each of the other types has their loading handle pointing slightly skyward, and each type has a different handle grip. It is also noted that the muzzles across these guns are slightly different too, depending on their manufacturer. Gun detail is simply jaw-dropping. Those ex-water cooled jackets have their air-cooled slots beautifully represented, and the loading handles actually look operable. What's more, the jackets on these are hollow, and there is actually the entire barrel length within them. That is just INCREDIBLE! Only 3D printing in ultra-high resolution would allow such a feat of production. The ammunition feed to the breech is also hollow, all the way through. Also visible are the mounting lugs with open bolt holes, and constructional riveting. Gorgeous, is the only word I can use to begin to describe these guns. Production is in light grey plastic. Lewis Gun The Lewis Gun was a light machine gun which entered service at the start of WW1, and continued in operational use until the early 1950s. It was also known as the Lewis Automatic Rifle. A wide cooling tube was usually fitted around the barrel when used on the ground, but this was omitted on aircraft due to natural airflow air-cooling. This gun, American in origin, was also of .303 calibre, and ammunition was fed into the chamber from a cylindrical drum which could be removed and quickly reloaded. Continual operation of the gun relied on the expanding propellant gas from the barrel, driving a piston which drove a cam track to the firing bolt, allowing for continual fire. The Lewis was also the first fixed machine gun to be fired from an aircraft, and was extensively used throughout the Great War, both on forward firing mounts and via cupola-ring mounts for observer/gunners. This release occupies on of the larger blister packs, containing EIGHT parts. These are two guns, two spent cartridge bags and four ammunition drums. The Lewis could take two drums of different capacities, but all four of these look identical. I don't know if the drums themselves looked different externally, but Gaspatch have indeed supplied those extras. Each drum, highly detailed, also has a superb leather strap handle! The guns are again exquisite. They contain what can only be described as filigree detail, including the sighting mechanism, wooden grip, hollow muzzle and textured wooden pistol grip. A mounting pip sits on top, onto which you fit the ammunition drums. A canvas spent shell bag with metal chute, is included as a separate part which just needs affixing to the side of the gun. Spandau 08/15 Without a doubt, THE name in German aircraft-borne weapons, along with Parabellum. The Spandau was probably the most numerous air combat weapon employed by the Germans in the Great War. Known as the MG08 (Maschinengewehr), the type was actually the standard German machine gun in WW1, and a lighter and slightly more compact version, the MG08/15 was deployed in large numbers. This gun had a calibre of 7.92mm, and the aircraft-specific version had a cooling jacket with a large number of slotted perforations, creating an extremely cool-firing weapon, Aircraft versions of both the MG, known as IMG08 and LMG08/15 were also now the standard weapon for German aircraft, as well as infantry, and were usually deployed in pairs, except for some Eindecker machines which carried just one or even three weapons (latter being prototypical). Both Spandau sets are of the 08/15 format, and both occupy the larger blister packs. Each set also comprises EIGHT parts. These are two guns, two barrels, two padded cushions, and two ammunition feeds. The guns themselves are essentially the same except for one type which has an extended loading type handle which was seen on some installations. It's hard to talk about the gun itself, without using many superlatives. Please remember the open, slotted nature of the Spandau cooling, and to see this replicated in the most amazingly fine detail is something I'm still getting used to. The gun jacket incorporates the forward stiffening plate and cross-reticule gun-sight. A hole exists here for you to slot the barrel through, with integral open ended muzzle. Loading handle mechanism again looks as though it would operate, and if this was regular plastic, this would need many separate parts to create the same effect that these guns have. A mounting bracket is also included as part of the gun, and detail, overall, is probably the highest of seen of any contemporary item. All parts across all sets are produced in the same colour plastic, except for the barrel/muzzle assembly in the Spandau sets. These are produced in dark grey plastic, with open, flared muzzle. Threading these into the barrels is very easy too, with just a little fiddling to make it locate into the hole within the rear of the gun. The remaining parts are for the cushioned pads at the rear of the gun, protecting the pilot's head from striking the metal chassis, and also the very detailed ammunition feed belts. Instructions All sets have a simple set of rendered illustrations within, showing assembly and general painting for the guns. Whilst there isn't too much variety in terms of colours to use, always check any online references for minute detail which you can apply with your paints. Conclusion Each time I see Gaspatch's latest releases, I'm bowled over by the finesse and attention to detail that they seem to cram into such small parts. Production of these sets is second to none, and they are probably amongst my favourite aftermarket sets for WW1 aircraft. Just absolutely astounding, in every aspect. These sets cost €12,50 each, so they aren't cheap, relatively, but what they add to a model, with the absolute minimum of fuss, has surely got to be worth a few of your hard-earned coin. Very highly recommended My sincere thanks to Gaspatch Models for these review samples. To purchase directly, click the links in the article. James H

Rotachute Mk.I: Raoul Hafner's aircraft Fly Model Catalogue # 32004 Available from Hannants for £19.30 Raoul Hafner was an Austrian engineer who left his home country in 1933, and continued his developmental works on rotary winged aircraft in Britain. Raoul's work included a system to deliver a combat-ready soldier, accurately to the battlefield. This became known as the Rotachute, and at a time when parachute silk was in short supply, the British establishment took the Rotachute project seriously, and ordered trials of this rather unique rotary kite. Hafner, despite being Austrian and an ex-internee, was allowed to continue this work during wartime, with trials of the Rotachute being undertaken at RAF Ringway (now Manchester International Airport). The Rotorchute Mk.I comprised a tubular steel framework, control frame, skid undercarriage, self-inflating rear fairing, and a mount for a machine gun. Unfortunately, the type never saw any service, and never left the trial stages. Whilst the type was never deployed, this seemingly insignificant aircraft did help to further our knowledge of rotor-driven aircraft, and Raoul Hafner's contribution to this area of aviation research, should never be understated. The most obvious thing I see with this kit is that the box is seriously too big for this diminutive model. A nicely illustrated box artwork depicts the Rotachute flying alongside a Miles Magister aircraft, having been presumably towed by it. This side-opening box has further images of Fly releases on its side (including 2 further Rotachute kits), and the rear of the box serves as your painting guide. Here you can see that the Mk.I P1, and Mk.I P2 can be chosen from for your finish. Inside the box, a single tan/fawn coloured sprue contains THIRTEEN parts, and also a small fret of photo etch, with a further SEVEN parts. Yes, that is it. No decals, but of course, you also get the simple instructions sheet. This is probably the simplest 1:32 kit I've ever had the privilege to see. PLASTIC It really is important with this model , that you begin your paint job almost as soon as you start to build. The nature of the plastic shell fuselage really does dictate this. Externally, the fabric covered framework looks very authentic, and will look excellent with some modulation painting. Internally, there is no detail, but you may wish to add a little of your own, as I'm pretty sure you can peek inside there. A couple of ejector pin marks will need to be removed first. Moulded separately are the stabilising fins, but a delicate engraving on the exterior shows where these must fit. Being a short run kit, it's common to find no locating pins, and that is the case here. All other parts on the sprue are also very nicely moulded, including the forward pilot framework, seat cushion, paddle rotor, skid and supports. In fact, that is it! Flash is very minimal and ejector pin marks don't trouble any of the parts. With the frames, you will need to thin these a little and make them a little less clunky, but that is it. PHOTO ETCH To stop the pilot falling backwards into the shell, he has a fabric strap backrest. You will find that here, on this fret, along with a set of shoulder and lap belts. Detail on these is perfectly adequate for what they represent. Two parts on here are not to be used, and are not shown in the instructions. Looking at the images of the two versions on the rear of the box, there appears to be a part protruding from the upper forward frame, and both machines definitely will use another unidentified part which I think may be something to do with the mount of the machine gun (Barrel?). Etch quality is very good, with small connecting gates that will make it easy to remove the parts. RESIN Only one part is supplied here, and this is the machine gun. Cast in yellow resin, detail is sharp throughout, and contains an amazingly tiny trigger and an open muzzle end. The part is connected to its block via a thin, perforated resin wall, and you'll have no difficulty in removing this. Use of the gun is also optional. INSTRUCTIONS Generally, these are easy to follow, and colours are referenced, although not actual codes. Diagrams are in line drawing format. It's a little disappointing that the location for the last two PE parts is not mentioned, nor is the MG installation image very adequate, but I imagine that a quick trawl of Google will yield the images you need. Conclusion A very simple, neat and attractive kit which could well be one of those 'mojo restoring' projects that we all sometimes yearn for. Construction is simple, and this version doesn't even contain decals, unlike the other releases which we hope to review here in the next month or two. The only tidying up you'll need to do is on the frameworks, and I also suggest you look at the angle of the rotors when stationary. They may actually droop a little, so you would need to factor this into your build. Highly recommended My sincere thanks to Fly Model for this review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. James H

This will be firmly wheels down How would you see those wheel bays in flight?

Hi all, Recent months on LSM haven't been too kind to me with maintaining build logs and having to postpone and in lots of cases, cancel entire projects. If you expected to see that Fokker D.VII, it won't happen yet. If you were waiting for the Me 410, it won't happen yet. If you were waiting for the 1:48 He 219, it won't happen yet. I think you get the idea. My time isn't running in a linear manner, and commitments have often seen things constantly shift. In an attempt to break deadlock, I'm rolling a project I've had in the sidelines for a long time; a Junkers Ju 88D-1. This is essentially an 88A-4, but with a few very minor external changes. The machine's main differences are in areas we simply won't see. Where the real change here is that this machine will carry AMERICAN markings, and odd ones too. Camouflage is actually of the RAF desert type, with an azure blue underside. Check out that US flag too! I'll use the Revell Ju 88A-4 kit, along with Eduard's BIGED set and Brassin resin wheels. Profimodeller will supply the tail wheel and main gear wells. Exposed fuel tank will be from CMK. I'll ask Mal to make masks for this, as 1:32 decals don't exist. I hope you like it.

Now THIS is interesting. I have the 1:16 Albatros, from the same company, in my stash. I watch with interest.

Very cool little kit Petr!

How did you do the white distemper finish?

Very atmospheric. I absolutely love it. Always wanted to do something like this but have no idea where to start. I hope you can educate me a little.

I might be able to help with some images of a Bf 109E I built a long time ago. Perhaps these are the ones? STAGE 1: Paint the interior using the regular base coat colour. In this care, RLM02 STAGE 2: Mix a little black into the base colour and airbrush around the corners and edges of the various parts. Next, add a little white to some new base colour, and airbrush the centres of the open areas. Thin your paints a little more than you would with your first base colour. STAGE 3: Using a more heavily diluted base coat, mist over the parts and subtly blend them together. STAGE 4: Paint and wash your cockpit as normal Does this help?

These belts just look so good. You can scrunch them a little too and open them out again. They look more natural then.

1:35 Rheinmetall-Borsig Flugabwehrrakete Rheintöchter R-III CustomScale Catalogue # 35019 Available from CustomScale for €89.00 Germany produced some of the weirdest and not-so-wonderful weapons of the war, and most certainly some of the most frightening, in terms of possibility. There's truth in the fact that adversity influences innovation, and whilst some nations still operated biplanes in 1939, it's a chapter which ended with jet and rocket flight, and ultimately with the atomic bomb. On the positive side, many of those innovations, borne out of desperation, are still with us today in some form. Technologies which Germany played with in terms of aircraft design can be seen in modern military aircraft, and even in commercial airliners. Looking purely at the military side of things, the surface to air missiles which are a common weapon in today's military arsenals can be traced directly back to their origins in Germany's experimental weapons trials which were conducted throughout the war. Enter the Rheintöchter. Whilst the name 'Rhine Maiden' might have sounded quaint (derived from the Wagner opera), its use was to be far more sinister. Whilst not actually used in anger, the very premise of the weapon would have shaken Allied bomber crews to their core, had they been deployed. The Rheintöchter was a multi-stage, solid fuel rocket which was designed to launch from ramps and gun platforms, and even possibly from a launch plane. Whilst the rocket had many test firings, it was thankfully never used in anger, although its concept heralded in a whole new deadly era in weapons technology. The fact that CustomScale have now released the Rheintöchter as a resin kit goes to prove there's very little that escapes the keen eye of the resin manufacturers in our hobby. I must admit that when I was looking at the German experimental rockets at RAF Cosford, it never dawned on me just how cool these would be if produced in kit form, but now I am about to find out. CustomScale's Rheintöchter R-III kit comes in a sturdy, top-opening corrugated card box, with an attractive colour label on the lid, depicting the finished model. Very attractive it looks too. Inside the box, four zip-lock wallets contain all of the smaller resin parts, whilst there are five larger components, individually protected by a bubble-wrap sleeve. Don't let the relative simplicity of the finished model deceive you. There is a reasonable amount of construction to negotiate here. The first thing I looked at was the set of instructions, which we'll come to later. I found these a little lacking, to be honest, and I do think you need to consult the box imagery in order to clarify proceedings. The first bag I come to contains the Rheintöchter's solid rocket boosters which are attached to the sides of the main rocket body. These are individually cast, with sharp, circumferential rib detail. Several casting blocks contain the booster's rocket nozzles, which are neatly cast with nice thin walls. There are four main fins for the Rheintöchter, and two of these appear to have a streamlining fairing on their tips. I might be wrong about the function of these. Detail, where applicable (fins were wooden on the actual rocket) is good, but my sample suffers from a deep scratch on one fin, and that of course will need to be filled and sanded back. Other parts included in this packet are for the forward stabilising fins, rocket launch arm parts, a couple of unidentified blocks which look like casting blocks without parts, and a number of other small parts; also unidentified. I will need to contact CustomScale to clarify what these are. The remaining packets contain an absolute mass of resin parts which construct the aiming and targeting equipment, as well as the elevating ratchet and hinged brackets which allow the platform stabilising arms to be deployed or folded away. Indeed, you can see. A number of parts on my sample seem to have remnants of rubber mould on them, BUT it also appears that I have been given what appear to be a second set of duplicate parts, and these are debris-free. I can't see any other reason for multiples, and it certainly seems that way, with additional parts being included where I know only a single element will be used. Whether this set is directly from the shelf, or put aside for review, it's good to know that CustomScale accept that some parts might not have been to standard, so included extras in there for you to work with. No such extra parts are given with the larger, bubble-wrapped components, but having said that, there is no casting debris to be been here. You will, however, need a large piece of abrasive paper. The base of the unit, into which the two folding stabiliser arms fit, has a full span casting block on the underside of the part, and this isn't even. With some care, this can be neatly ground back to the nicely defined lower edge ridge. There are a few minor bubbles to fill on this 'trailer' format part, and you'll need to touch them up a little with some filler. The rocket launching arm/ramp is really very good, with domed rivets on the exterior and structural elements within, even though you won't easily see this when built. There is a little damage to one of my parts, with a small section of resin missing, but I can replace this very easily. Both side faces of this arm are held apart by a top cap strip. Casting of these parts is nice and thin, and detail is really very good. Quality of the rotating base which supports the firing ramp, is a little hit and miss. Detail across both parts is very good, with some flash to remove here and there. One external face of one part does have some crazing in it, and it's perhaps a little more than micro-filler/primer would cope with. What makes this a little more difficult is the detail in and around this area. I've mentioned this to CustomScale and they will send a replacement with my next review samples package. No qualms, and very happy to sort it out for me. Onto the last two pieces. One of these forms the pivot base which separates the two arms holding the firing ramp. Detail here is minimal by design, and one of the locking clasps has broken away. The detail there is very fine, so I'm not too surprised. As pivot detail is present on both upper and lower sides, the casting block is connected to the edge of the part via a resin wall which needs cutting away. Finally, we have the main event; the body of the Rheintöchter rocket itself. This is cast as a single part, from the warhead down to the exhaust. The latter is cast hollow, and to a reasonable depth too, and detail over the whole part is very good, with the various hardware attachment parts, lugs and stage section panel lines being very neat. A very reasonable job has also been made of the seams too, with only a small length of the rear seam needing more work that the rest. I have previously said this, but the instructions are the real weak link here. Several sheets of A4 paper are included which contain rough, hand-drawn sketches of part assembly, and don't really seem to take into account the whole parts count. There is also no text notation on them, and the drawings aren't very clear when it comes for accounting for all the resin you get. I would check the box image against any reference photos you may be able to find online. Conclusion Whilst some of my text seems to bemoan the lack of real instruction and some damage to parts, in the whole, this is a very nice kit of a very unusual subject. That in itself makes this one of those models which you simply have to build at some point. CustomScale have been very helpful when it came to the defects I found here, and I imagine they will be equally as helpful with regard to further constructional information. Resin casting quality is above average, and is indicative of smaller resin manufacturers. It's by no means perfect, but if you are tackling something like this, I will assume that your skill level will allow you to overcome any hurdles with relative ease. Recommended My sincere thanks to CustomScale for the review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. ***Keep an eye out on the CustomScale site, as their e-shop will be online soon. Email them for details about purchase*** James H

Looks like the etch parts are some of the better items in that set. Looking sharp so far

Looking sweet Mal. How long before you nail the mask sets? I think I am possibly two weeks from paint on mine. I'll be doing the shark-mouth machine, and it'll be sitting on the Airfix stall at Telford, so it'd be good to have used your set for that build.

Great looking work Frank. With such a complex design, it's amazing that stuff does tend to line up with little effort. I test fitted the fuse to me, and the intake covers. I reckon a 95% success rate. Just a little tweaking before I later glue things up.

Amazing work. You should bring to Telford and put on the competition stalls...

Awesome!

So good it's annoying. Just superb!

1:32 decal sets for WNW 2A2 Salmson kits Pheon Decals Catalogue # see article for code and price Available from Pheon Decals Has there ever been any specific Wingnut Wings kit more underrepresented in the online modelling community, than the excellent 2A2 Salmson? I must admit that whilst I don't regularly visit the various modelling shows around the country, I am told that you really don't see any of these models made up anywhere. I, for one, think that's a crying shame as it really is, for me, one of the real highlights in the WNW catalogue. Having said that, Pheon decals have come to the rescue, and offered not one or two new decal sets for this kit, but THREE. We have been lucky enough to receive all three sets, and thought we'd share our findings with you. 32048, In French Service Vol.1, £12.75 32049, In French Service Vol.2, £12.75 32050, In USAS & Polish Service, £14.00 Before we dive in, I must share with you a little of what Pheon have told me regarding these new sets. We are all used to seeing Limited Edition decal sheets that are sometimes given another print run. Well, these are slightly different. Pheon aren't calling any of these sets 'Limited Edition', but due to the number of processes required for their printing (11 colours plus varnish), when these sets are sold out, that's it.....finito! As only 125 of each have been produced, I really do suggest you get your order in as soon as possible, to avoid inevitable disappointment. Printing is by Fantasy Printshop, and my experiences with their products have been nothing short of excellent. Decals react well to setting solutions (but there is a disclaimer against using them!), and their quality is among the very best in the business. Each set is packaged into a large Zip-lock wallet, and contains (as well as the actual decals) laser-printed colour scheme sheets and a rather neat booklet containing information on the schemes and also the best way to apply your decals. Of course, when it comes to scale models, reference and research is what sets some products apart from others. Rowan Broadbent is pretty picky when it comes to getting things right, and will research his schemes so that as little ambiguity as to these old aircraft, remain. The reference he uses is listed per machine. That is as standard, so now we'll take a look at t he individual sets and see what they offer. 32048, In French Service Vol.1 From this set, no less than NINE machines can be modelled. First of all, where national markings are required, you need to use the kit decals, as these are, being printed by Cartograf, perfectly for the job. A good number of the schemes present here, have the same basic camouflage layout which you will see in the WNW kit, with the exception of one machine that is finished in what might be grey or silver. This machine carries a 'Sun of Rhodes' insignia, due to the unit being commanded by Capitane Derode, who himself was a student of ancient Greece. This particular scheme, like the others, contains a list of optional parts in each aircraft section, which must be used for building that specific machine. These decals are among some of the most varied and colourful that I've see from Pheon. Schemes available with this set are: Serial not known, SPA 102 Serial 520 of SAL 1, Summer 1918 Serial XX(53?)47, SAL 14 Serial "5531" (purely speculative) SAL 17, Mayence-Gonsenheim (Mainz), Germany, 8 May, 1919 Serial 490, SAL 33 Serial 316, SAL 39 Serial 5351, SAL 74 Serial 5033 or 5039, SAL 263 Serial 798, SAL 288 The decals look quite extraordinary, and of course contain all of those amazing logos and serials in their varying styles. Two sets of serial numbers are included for the rudder. The font remains the same, but they are of different sizes. Two sets of each are also included, to give you duplicates, depending on which machine you build, or even if you build more than one from this sheet. In actuality, you could build the whole nine schemes, as the decals, as I have said are reliant on the kit sheet for the main markings. Now, THAT is value for money! I say this for all decal sets in this review. Printing is sharp, superbly thin, and with minimal carrier film. Colours are authentic and solid, and registration is perfect. Please take that for granted in this article. The instruction booklet also explains a little about the possible reasons for the lack of French aircraft on the modelling scene, recounting the horrific casualty statistics that the French endured. Notes are supplied for French Unit Designations too, and a separate page of listed reference material is supplied. 32049, In French Service Vol.2 All machines in this second set carry the same camouflage as was used in 8 of the 9 schemes in the previous set. What sets all of these aircraft apart are the colourful emblems employed by the various units/machines. Again, there are NINE schemes to choose from here, and the decal sheet format is very similar except that these schemes don't use a generic rudder numbering format. This set offers up the following Salmson aircraft: Serial 563 (purely speculative), SAL 10, winter 1918 – 1919 Serial 26(5?), SAL 16, April 1918, flown by Asp. Paul Honnorat, Observer Ltt Martin Serial 945, SAL 18 Serial 5351 (speculative), SAL 32 Serial 539 (possibly 531), SAL 40, flown by Adjutant Marius Roche, October 1918 Serial 479, SAL 58 Serial 359, SAL 70 Serial 504, SAL 259 Serial 4321, SAL 580 32050, In USAS & Polish Service Despite costing a couple of £ more, this set offers only SEVEN schemes, in comparison to the nine in each of the others, but don't let that put you off. What this set does contain is THREE decal sheets, as opposed to the single sheet in the others. There are two A5 size sheets which not only contain the emblems and serials of the Salmson, but also national markings in the form of the cockade and the large red/white Polish chequer squares. A smaller sheet/strip contains serials (with an obliteration), and bands for the lower wing. Cockades are split to accommodate the ailerons, and hinge/rigging locations are also included. The machines which may be built here are: Serial not known, 24th Aero Squadron, November 1918 Serial not known, 88th Aero Squadron, Forces of Occupation, Trier, Germany, December 1918 Serial not known, 90th Aero Squadron, Lt. Harvey Conover and 2nd Lt. Velentine J Burger, October 1918 Serial "986", 99th Aero Squadron, Lt. Llewellyn, September 1918 Serial 5247, Capt. Clearton H Reynolds, 104th Aero Squadron, 11th November 1918 Serial not known, 258th Aero Squadron, Germany, May 1919 Serial not known, "Winius", 1 Eskadra Wywiadowcze, Polish Air Service, ex SAL 582 French Aéronautique Militaire. Conclusion If ever there was a good reason to open your Salmson kit, or indeed order one from Wingnut Wings, this is kit. Whilst the Salmson's camouflage didn't exactly vary much from machine to machine, the personal and unit emblems here are very fetching and certainly evoke thoughts of the struggles of the Great War, and the tragedy for the French nation. As always with Pheon Decals, production and research are exemplary, and the product is of the highest quality. If you want a set of these, I suggest you head over to Pheon and buy them ASAP! Very highly recommended My sincere thanks to Pheon Decals for the review samples. To purchase directly, click THIS link. James H

1:32 and 1:48 Wet Transfer Stencils (Various) HGW Catalogue # see article for code and price Available from HGW This, of course, isn't the first time we've looked at the new series of Wet Transfer from HGW, but this series is now expanding quite rapidly. We have been sent the latest releases in 1:48 and 1:32, so we'll take a look at each set independently, and what they offer the modeller, over the standard, traditional decal. 'But surely, these are decals', I can hear you say. Technically, yes they are, but that's where the comparison ends. These are like a halfway house between the regular decal and the dry-rub down decals that have made appearances over the years. Where these differ is that you get all the benefits of a carrier-filmless decal (as per the rub down stencils), but with all the convenience of the traditional decal that you apply with water and setting solution. Of course, masks are always another option for regular decals, but certainly not for stencils. That solution is totally unworkable. Adding regular stencil decals to a model, means you will always have that excess carrier film present, that you so desperately try to hide with setting solutions, gloss varnish etc. If you use masks for the remainder of your model, then this compromise in realism is something you've had to live with. Well, no longer! When these decals are added, there is NO carrier film whatsoever. All you are left with is the stencil....... The sets we have in 1:32 are: 232001, Spitfire Mk.IX Stencils, 159 Kč 232006, Messerschmitt Bf 109E Stencils, 295 Kč 232008, P-51D,J,K Mustang Stencils, 295 Kč Those in 1:48 248001, Spitfire Mk.IX Stencils, 159 Kč 248008, P-51D,J,K Stencils, 159 Kč 248009, Messerschmitt Bf 109F,G,K, 159 Kč 232001, Spitfire Mk.IX Stencils This set is presented in a slim, re-sealable wallet, with a tough card stiffener to stop it getting bent, and damaging the contents. Like all sets, the basic instructions are shown on the cover. These are: Cut out the required decal Soak in hot water (tepid!!) and wait until the decal loses its base paper Apply as a regular decal Push the water from below the decal Leave to dry for 3 to 4 hours Remove the transfer foil and remove any glue residue with water You will note I inserted the word 'tepid' into there. I would never advise you use hot water for decals, and as I've previously used the rivet decals, which work on the same principle, I know you can use tepid water. Also not mentioned here is the use of a decal setting solution. With the rivets, I do use this, but I don't know what the result would be here. You're best testing a spare decal first. This particular set contains a complete set of stencil decals, including the narrow wing walkway lines. Being fastened to the carrier whilst you apply them does mean that decals such as these are far easier to apply than regular decals. HGW has produced a very comprehensive stencil set here that could completely remove the need to use those in the Tamiya or PCM kits etc, and the result is that when they are applied, they will literally look like they have been painted onto the model. What's more, these decals are so fine and sharp that you can read the test on just about every single one! A decal placement guide is obviously included, and this shows in detail where everything needs to be applied, using a regular numbering system. All very self-explanatory. 232006, Messerschmitt Bf 109E Stencils Now, here we see something very different. First of all, this sleeve is much larger than the Spitfire stencil set, and secondly is that this is far MORE than a stencil set. Yes, the stencils are included here in their entirety, including fuel tank decals and wing walk decals in both black and red, but here we see a radical departure from the 'stencil only' set. The same small, narrow sheet also contains kill tally markings and other items such as the Mickey Mouse that adorned Adolf Galland's JG26 machine. I'm presuming the other markings here are for the same. They certainly look like it to me. Now, there is a second, LARGER sheet. In fact, it's twice the size of the first, and this contains no stencils whatsoever. What it does contain are many common markings and unit emblems. All of these are in the same format as the stencils, meaning the decal should look like the next best thing to applying masks. This is quite an extraordinary set which will no doubt satisfy the requirements of many Luftwaffe builders. There are also kill tallies etc. As with the Spitfire set, drawings are given for the location of the stencils, but NOT for the aircraft markings. You'll have to check your references before you use those, as they are simply designed to replace what you may be using for your scheme anyway. You still won't get away from using regular kit decals for the national markings, but in this case, I would suggest you go for masks for those. 232008, P-51D,J,K Mustang Stencils One thing you can say about the P-51, it was FULL of stencil data! Again, this set comes in the larger size wallet because it also includes more than simple stencils, although only one sheet is used here. About half of the sheet is taken over to stencils (and there appear to be hundreds of them), and there are a few decals that are optional, depending on which variant of Mustang you are building. The remainder of the sheet is taken over again with personal markings and emblems/codes for actual schemes. In this case, I can identify these aircraft: P-51D, 473305, 4th FG, 334th FG, 'Blondie', flown by Lt. Marvin W. Arthur, February 1945 P-51D, 411622, G4-C 'Nooky Booky IV', 362nd FS, 357th FG, Major 'Kit' Carson', Suffolk, England P-51D, HO-M, "Petie 2nd" As with the Me 109E set, you will need to source your own information for the placement of these non-stencil decals. I will only briefly summarise the 1:48 sets, as most has been covered above. All sets are packaged into the narrow wallet, and the Mustang set appears to be identical to the 1:32 version, with everything simply scaled down. What is remarkable is that I can STILL read the stencils, at 1:48 scale!! All the same stencils are included, as well as the scheme markings. As per the 1:32 version, the 1:48 Spitfire set contains stencils only, while the Bf 109F,G,K set contains both Balkenkreuz and specific machine markings, to compliment the comprehensive stencils set. I'd go as far as to say that there are enough stencils for two models here also. Conclusion I very much like the concept of stencils with zero carrier film. I've not actually used any of these in anger yet, but intend to on future builds. What's really pushed these for me is the inclusion of scheme markings too. Perhaps we'll see scheme sets released by HGW in future? I'd like to think so. By themselves, the stencils make a great addition to your Spitfire/Bf 109E and Mustang builds, and I hope HGW extend this to include the Fw 190, and also generic stencils to cater to those kits which simply don't supply them in regular form. Highly recommended My sincere thanks to HGW for these review samples. To purchase directly, click the links in the review. James H

Tom, this is insane, but I love it! The Stirling just looks so awkward, both in the air and on the ground. I'll watch this one with interest.