nmayhew

Thank you Petr! Looks excellent!

Malta Spitfire Vs - 1942: Their Colours and Markings by Brian Cauchi £19.90 from MMP Books "Finding the Unicorn" or at least one man's attempts to, is what this book could have been titled. For WWII armour fans, it is the almost mythical African Tigers, and more specifically the Grail-like quest to establish their colour, that generates enough heat and light to power a small modelling convention. Aircraft enthusiasts have their own unicorn: the colour of Spitfire Vs sent to Malta during the relatively brief but frenzied period from March to October 1942. That is the hunted - but what of the 'hunter'? Those new to modelling, and especially those new to construction in the larger scales may not have heard of Brian Cauchi. But for those who modelled 1/32 aircraft in its slightly less fashionable days (which is not that many years ago), the Cauchi name is synonymous with expert scratch building, Malta and Spitfires. The book is 168 pages of A4 format, and looks at whether Spitfires delivered to Malta during 1942 had their factory camouflage schemes and colours altered to better blend in over the deep blue Mediterranean that surrounds Malta. It is an attempt to look not just at the 'whether' - most will agree that some Spitfires on Malta are definitely not in factory schemes - but also at the when, where and with colours. In his quest, Cauchi has drawn together an impressive collection of WWII photos from the period; these are in of themselves fairly few and far between - Malta and its inhabitants were somewhat 'pre-occupied' for a couple of years! Interestingly, all but one of these I think is in black and white, so straight away the interpretation games begin. In addition, he also managed to speak to a large number of combat veterans from the conflict, and looked at official documentation and communiques from the period in question.It is worth pointing out two things here, which I hope will help the reader of this review determine whether this book is for him or not. Firstly, it is definitely not a dry academic text. Whilst it does examine all the evidence in almost forensic detail, it is also quite clearly written with the modeller in mind - indeed, Cauchi admits that a veteran's comments on a Malta Spitfire model proved the very catalyst for the whole project. The main chapters of the book are populated not only with exquisite colour profiles of aircraft pictured, but also with accompanying descriptions and interpretations of the colours used and particular features that plane has etc. I am also a big fan of the format: the profiles are typically on the same or facing page as the photos they represent, rather than the standard presentation (Osprey and pretty much everyone else) of profiles all clumped together, where you then have to ferret around the book trying to find the picture upon which it is based, if indeed it is there at all. Secondly, the author is open and honest about not really arriving at one single concrete assessment, or even interpretation, of how these aircraft were repainted. So, if you are looking for a "they were definitely colour x and y", you might be disappointed, frustrated, or a bit of both. Personally, I find it quite refreshing that a topic which has so divided opinion - especially modelling opinion - can be treated in such an even-handed manner. The reader is treated almost to a pros and cons walkthrough of each possible scenario, and why the author has arrived at the conclusions he has. The book is broken down into seven chapters which include the Methods of Overpainting these Spitfires, Veteran's Testimonials, and an in-depth look at The Mount of an Ace (Spitfire Vc BR498 PPoH). The two most important and interesting chapters for me, and the ones which take up about half the book, are Delivery Operations and Squadron Operations. The former examines in turn the various carrier-borne ferry operations to supply Malta with its lifeblood of Spitfires.The second, as its name implies, looks at things from a squadron perspective. In both of these, numerous aircraft are picked out in photos, examined, discussed and profiled - simply a modeller's dream! Conclusion Whilst I appreciate the subject matter is fairly narrow, the Battle of Malta is certainly significant in WWII. Even if you only had a passing interest in say the Spitfire, or the war in Africa / The Mediterranean, there is certainly enough to prompt further research. On the other hand, if either the aircraft or the campaign is 'your thing', this book is simply a must. The author's credentials to write such a book are second to none in my opinion, and I really find the format refreshing and to my taste. The only thing I could really suggest to improve it would be a selection of decals to model the aircraft picked out in the profiles - there is certainly enough material in here to make at least three sheets in my view. Hopefully Jerry Crandall at Eagle Editions is watching?? Highly recommended. With thanks to MMP Books for the review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. Nicholas Mayhew

Spitfire MK IX Decal Sets in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 EagleCals Today I will look at three decal sets by EagleCals for the Spitfire MK IX. These are available in the three main scale, but were originally inspired by and designed for the Pacific Coast Models version of the iconic British fighter. As we all know the PCM offering was eclipsed by Tamiya's über-kit in 1/32, and there is no reason why these decals should not perfectly well with the latter, especially given there are no wrap around decals in any of these sets. For the smaller scales, I am not that familiar with what is out there, but Hasegawa, ICM, and Occidental are among the base kits recommended. All three sets have a strong Canadian theme - none of them are regular RAF birds, despite the camo - and there is also the almost ubiquitous Polish Fighting Team representative. All but two of the aircraft depicted are MK IXc - there are two IXe. As we have come to expect from EagleCals, the decals themselves are of high quality. But for me where they really stand out is the quality of their research. I have confidence in their profile artwork and technical information in a way that I just don't have with most other manufacturers. The profile depictions in these sets comprises coloured line drawings rather than digital airbrush effect 'paintings', but given there are no complicated Luftwaffe mottle schemes here, I am not sure it matters much. The first two samples were provided in 1/48 scale, where national insignia are provided for two aircraft, whereas in 1/32 full insignia are provide for only one. In each of the sets, there are full stencils for one subject. EagleCals #114 MA585 KH-B 403 Sqn RCAF P/O Buzz Beurling But for the kill markings, an ordinary enough looking aircraft but an extraordinary pilot - Beurling was Canada's leading ace of WWII with 31 victories; probably more famous for flying the MK Vb over Malta earlier in the war. EN354 WD-W "Doris June II" 52nd FG Lt Leonard V. Helton Originally a MK V and rebuilt into a IX, this aircraft flew out of La Sebala, Tunisia. Field applied Dark Earth and Middlestone upper surfaces, whilst retaining original Medium Sea Grey undersides; also brown used to overpaint original British insignia and markings. Distinctive '8 ball' motif. MH454 FU-N 453 Sqn RAAF F/O J.Boulton Full D-Day stripes This aircraft is listed as "provisional "E" wing". Full Invasion or 'D-Day Stripes', crudely applied and not touching codes. The IXe can be modelled in 1/32 by either using parts from Tamiya's XVIe kit or using Alley Cat conversion. EagleCals #115 BS104 YO-R 401 Sqn RCAF F/O T.K.Ibbotson 1942 That rarest of commodities on British fighter aircraft - nose art! The instructions acknowledge that the torso is provisional, and was probably obscured in the photo on which the decals are based. MK636 2I-E 443 Sqn RCAF S/L Wally McLeod June 1944 Another "E" wing, and again with full Invasion Stripes. Narrow cannon blisters and an extended carb air intake are noted. EN459 ZX-1 145 Sqn RAF Polish Fighting Team Spring 1943 North Africa Considering there were only a handful of them, the Polish Fighting Team or 'Skalski's Circus' as they are often known, remain extremely popular with modellers. Field applied Dark Earth and Middlestone upper surfaces, but with Azure Blue undersides. EagleCals #116 BS152 AE-W 402 Sqn RCAF S/L L.M.Cameron March 1943 Standard RAF camo, but with distinctive skeleton / hand logo on red background. MK826 GC-K 412 Sqn RCAF W/C George Keefer Highly decorated and high scoring, being a Wing Commander Keefer got to have his initials as the aircraft codes. Interesting for non-standard Invasion Stripes, which do not reach wing leading edge and do not cover landing gear doors. EN398 AE-B 402 Sqn RCAF Ian Keltie. Possibly the most interesting of all the nine subjects? Distinctive Popeye cartoon figure on cowling; no outer .303 guns fitted. EN398 went on to become the mount of Johnnie Johnson, and is likely the single highest scoring Spitfire airframe ever produced. Conclusion If you like Spitfires, Canadian subjects in WWII, or maybe both then these decal sets will be a must. I really like that technical info is called out (where known), and also that they cite the references used. As mentioned earlier, EagleCals pretty much set the bar where accuracy are concerned. Personally, I often chose modelling subjects by the airfield they flew from, even if the subject itself is rather dull and obscure so, if I was being picky, I would like the date and location of each subject formally listed. But that's pretty much all I can find fault with. One final thing, the bags these sets come in are slightly larger than both the decal sheet and the instructions - thank you EagleCals; why manufacturers persist in using bags which require Houdini-like extraction skills is beyond me! Recommended without reservation - excellent With thanks to Jerry and Judy Crandall at EagleCals for the review samples. To purchase directly, click THIS link. Nicholas Mayhew

1:32 Junkers Ju88: A, C, D and G variants AIMS Available directly from AIMS Models Although they make resin upgrades and decal for a variety of Luftwaffe subjects in all three of the main scales, AIMS are really synonymous the Junkers Ju88 in 1/32 scale. With the arrival of Revell's ground breaking Ju88 A-1, AIMS were able to bring to the market not only decal sheets for this most versatile of Luftwaffe bombers, but also a series of ever more ambitious resin conversions. They cover many different variants, from the relatively simple C-6 conversion, through a whole raft of G series nightfighters, to seemingly crazy projects like the Ju88 Mistel. Interestingly, the one conversion they didn't offer was the A-4, which is surely the most common variant and offers the most possibilities. For that, you would have had to pay more than the price of the kit again for the L'Arsenal resin conversion - which crucially offered a replacement canopy in clear resin rather than the dreaded vacform (!). This conversion, although excellent in quality, is thankfully about to be made redundant with the imminent appearance of Revell's Ju88 A-4 kit. The advantage of such a mainstream release is also that it should help to bring a whole raft of additional aftermarket out of the woodwork. So with that especially in mind, let's take a look at these decal sheets. The quality of all three is excellent. In general, no fuselage or wing crosses are supplied, unless they are non-standard; however, swastikas are provided in whatever format is required (Revell do not provide them due to German law). One feature I particularly like is that references are cited, so if you want to hunt out the picture of your modelling subject, you can do so. This is especially useful if you want to draw your own conclusions about camouflage or markings. The only thing I would have liked to see was a word on each aircraft (where applicable) about bomb racks and ordnance - if this was visible in some photos it should ideally have been mentioned. AIMS 32D008 Junkers Ju88 A-4 / C-6 / D-1 C-6 <-+- Stab ZG 1 Geschwaderkommodore Erich von Selle, Lorient March 1944 Standard splinter scheme, although possibly RLM72/73 instead of 70/71 is mentioned. von Selle was a Battle of Britain fighter ace with seven kills. Early armoured windshield noted, middle two panes only. Both AIMS and CMK offer C-6 nose conversions, but these only work on an A-4 airframe if I am right, so you would still need L'Arsenal's conversion, or the forthcoming Revell kit. A-4 5K+BP of 6./KG 3, Ukraine 1942 Standard splinter, yellow fuselage band and underwing tips, yellow spinners. Interesting for text (engine number) with 'V' underneath on outside of engine nacelles - exceptionally rare. C-6 5K+ET of 9./(Eis.)/KG 3 Lt. Udo Cordes, Poltava 1943 Renowned 'locomotive experte' - that's train buster to you and I - Cordes' aircraft displays 81 victories on the tail fin. Unknown armoured windshield, yellow theatre markings plus winged wheel logo next to KG 3 Blitz emblem. A-4 7T+FH of 1./KG 77, September 1942 Ship killer this time, with eight ships on tail fin. Standard splinter scheme, white fuselage band; shown with cannon (MGFF?) in front of gondola. A-4 F1+DP of 6./KG 76, Russia 1943 Full whitewash with yellow theatre markings, but described as having engine change so green nacelle - unclear whether this refers to both engines or not? D-1 7A+LH of 1.(F)/121, Libya 1943 All over RLM79, white theatre markings. Reconnaissance D conversions available from both AIMS and L'Arsenal. Distinctive white bird (goose?) of the Aufklr units below cockpit. AIMS 32D009 Junkers Ju 88A-4 / A-6 / A-17 /C-6 / D-1 This decal set is very much for the 'modelling experten': AIMS' G-series conversion is not for beginners, and the majority of the paint schemes will take some considerable airbrush skills to pull off. D-1 T5+GL of 3 (F) Aufkl.GrObdL, Luga 1942 Full whitewash with yellow theatre markings; unusual Japanese 'rising sun' unit insignia which should really stand out against white fuselage. FuB12 antenna moved further aft due to cameras fitted aft of the bomb bay. A-6/U PN+MT of KG 54, Mediterranean, 1943 Black undersides apart from engine cowlings (possibly reflection?), standard splinter topside with RLM02 or 76 Wellenmuster (elaborate squiggles). Late style rear canopy, possibly with MG131. Radar antennae arrays in front observation window and on fuselage spine - you really will need to consult the refs for this plane unless you already possess a number of similar photographs. A-4 B3+AM of 4./KG 54, Catania 1943 Possible A-14 variant given MGFF in front gondola. Standard RLM79 topside, but with sparse RLM80 and unknown light colour wavy lines; underside full RLM80 Wellenmuster. C-6 F8+RY 14./KG 40, flow by Oblt Kurt Necesany, Bordeaux 1942 New style camouflage of RLM 76 and an unknown light grey cover fuselage, only partially covering topside with old splinter still prominent - should make for a striking aircraft. Rack antenna fared over with perspex. Necesany was killed in combat 14th February 1944. A-17 3Z+JT 9./KG 77, Southern Europe 1943 Splinter camouflage virtually invisible under very heavy Wellenmuster topside; RLM80 used on undersides. You will need RATO underwing rocket packs for this torpedo bomber, but no FuG200. C-6 4R+AS 8./NJG 2 Hptm. Fredrich Tober, January 1944 FuG220 in nose, with schrage musik MG151s located mid fuselage. Depicted with two tone mottle, colours not listed. AIMS 32D010 Junkers Ju 88A-4 / C-6 / D-5 A-4 9K+AS 8./KG 51, NikolajewCrimea 1942 Fairly standard A-4 in splinter with yellow theatre markings, but with red spinner and yellow nacelle rims. Large KG 51 Edelweiss emblems either side below cockpit. D-5 T5+BU Wekusta ObdL 1, Bad Zwischenahn, 1942 Interesting variant: metal VDM props, early shapes spinners and Jumo 211 J1 / J2 engines. No ventral gondola fitted, and MGFF cannon fitted in front glazing. Instructions mention extra windows were added in cockpit floor (where gondola was), and that some D-5s were fitted with original rudder of A-1 / A-5 series, but no indication whether the information applies to this aircraft. A-4 3Z+AC Stab.II/.KG77 Hauptmann Heinrich Paepcke, Malta 1942 Standard splinter but with what looks like RLM79 and RLM76 in large blotches on fuselage; unclear as to exact coverage due to only partial photographic reference. Paepcke was Gruppenkommandeur of II./KG 77, and was KIA over Malta on 17th October 1942. C-6 R4+BH 1./NJG 2, El Quasaba 1943 The first of two all black NJG 2 aircraft , this one operating out of El Quasaba, North Africa. A-4 R4+CK I./NJG 2 Oblt Jakob, Catania 1942 All black aircraft; of note is fact that the eagle in the NJG 2 badge faces forward on both sides. C-6 D5+AV II./NJG 3 Oblt Gunther Koberich, Grove 1943 RLM65 or 76 base, with light mottle. Single B stand and late style armoured windshield, with FuG202 Lichtenstein radar. Unit badge in unusual outline only style. Conclusion There is great variety in these decal sets, and the quality is very high. The information provided for each aircraft is useful, but perhaps not as complete as it could be. However, this is because the variations and permutations for the Ju88 are simply more numerous than for say a particular type of Bf109. That AIMS have provided the references used in each case makes up for this in my opinion - you can get the books, see the photos and decide for yourself. The G-series conversions are not for beginners, but with the arrival of Revell's A-4, a good proportion of the aircraft in these sets should be much more easily attainable. Highly recommended. With thanks to AIMS for the review set. To purchase directly, click THIS link. Nicholas Mayhew

Can you post a link pls Ade?

Nice one I gather the catapult needs quite a lot of extra detail added by way of railings etc but that basically it is an excellent piece of kit The Revell kit minus the canopy is one of their best Will you be using a replacement canopy or polishing out the seam line yourself? (I am not even sure it possible tbh) And exactly what colour is the plane? Any photos? Since you are obviously investing a lot of time (and cash!) in this build, my suggestion is try to dig out the pic that profile was based on maybe? I will have a look at my (limited) refs and see what I can find Cheers Nick

Not exactly sure what you're trying to post Mike The link works but doesn't mean a .whole lot I'm afraid

St.G 2 "Immelmann" Marek J Murawski Kagero Units #3 Available from Kagero for €16.71 This is the third in Kagero's Units series, and the second one that I have had the chance to look at. The series is still very much a fledgling compared to say the Monographs, and so far they have covered the fighter squadrons JG51, JG52, JG54. The premise is simple: rather than focus on a particular aircraft or campaign, we now see things at unit level, and in this case, the subject is St.G 2 or, to give them their full name, Sturzkampfgeschwader "Immelmann" 2. The book is 32 pages long, in soft back landscape format, so as a unit history it is nothing if not brief. Some of the most well known battles of the Second World War are distilled into a few paragraphs, even if the perspective is always a very narrow unit level one. This is not a criticism - if you want serious historical research or day by day accounts of the say, the Fall of France, there is plenty of material a available. The narrative that is here provides useful colour and background. The book starts with the embryonic Stukagruppe 162 way back in 1934, when equipped with the Heinkel He50. Named after Max Immelmann in 1935, what was then I./Stukagruppe 162 did not receive its first Junkers Ju87s (of A-0 variety) until 1937. The first 'action' the unit saw, if it can be called that, was the annexation of parts of western Czechoslovakia or Sudetenland as the Germans called it. The unit, and indeed the Stuka, really cut its teeth in Poland: the Luftwaffe's first aerial victory was by a Ju87 of I./St.G 2. The next few pages cover further glory in France, and then ignominy in the Battle of Britain. The Ju87s faired better in the Balkans, North Africa and in Russia (Operation Barbarossa), at least for the next year or so, before the tide began to turn against Germany. As the war in the East progressed, so too did St.G 2's operations: Stalingrad - where Stukas continued to operate within the encirclement until as late as January 1943; the key city of Kharkov; the mammoth Kursk offensive of Operation Zitadelle and so on. In October 1943, the unit was renamed Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", or SG2, and there, rather abruptly, the book ends. The final pages list commanding officers of the various St.G 2 Gruppen, and also an inventory of serviceable aircraft from March 1942 until September 1943. Throughout the book there are numerous black and white photographs of St.G 2 aircraft in action or being serviced on the ground; none are in colour, and many are of not so great quality, but that is the nature of the beast I guess. What sets Kagero apart from their competitors is the addition of decals with pretty many of their books in this field. There are decals for four aircraft - all Ju87 Bs- in the three main scales of 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72; each of the aircraft have either two sided or four way colour profiles, plus accompanying notes. The subjects covered are: Ju87 B-2 Trop T6+DP 6./St.G 2 "Immelmann" Tmimi airfield, Libya, Summer 1941 Splinter scheme with extensive tan overspray, creating a blotchy effect. This must be one of the most famous and iconic airframes of the whole Second World War, and yet there are still no pictures of the starboard side, and we still can't decide it seems on what colour 'the snake' was - red spots, or tan? The latter is provided here, in keeping with recent thinking. No photo of this aircraft in the book. Ju87 B-2 WNr 313 T6+IH I./St.G 2 "Immelmann" Krainici airfield, Bulgaria, March 1941 Standard splinter scheme. Actually rather dull, save for the large 'Scotty' dog emblem on either side. No photo of this aircraft in the book. Ju87 B-2 T6+HL 3./St.G 2 "Immelmann" Tyrkovo airfield, Russia, Autumn 1941 Splinter scheme with yellow theatre markings - fuselage band and underside wing tips. Scotty dog on yellow background this time. Once again, no photo of this aircraft in the book. Ju87 B-2 +G Probably 3./St.G 2 "Immelmann" Gortskovo airfield, Russia, December 1941 Heavy winter whitewash obscures nearly all the splinter underneath. Brushed whitewash produces an apparent 'shark mouth' on the radiator fairing - whether intended or not, I am not decided. This aircraft is pictured on p21, so see what you think? Some observations on the decals and their subjects. First, they are printed by Cartograf, and therefore will be of excellent quality. However, the whitewashed aircraft aside, the other subjects for which decals are provided are not shown in any photos. I would much prefer to have photographic confirmation of what I am modelling - so why not show these pictures, or chose different but similar subjects? And whilst our snake-adorned friend is an obvious choice, the two middle subjects are a trifle drab in my opinion. Conclusion Overall I think these books are a good combination of elements of a regular decal set, together with an abbreviated unit history. As I said in my previous review, this series is like a blend of an Osprey Aircraft of the Aces book and an EagleCals decal sheet - not the worst combination in the world. Price also needs to be mentioned here: I think it's a fairly good value proposition. Recommended With thanks to Kagero for the review sample. To purchase directly, click HERE. Nicholas Mayhew

if you need me, you can reach me at "believe it when I see it"

Hi Johann thanks for the update (wow that il-4 is big isnt it?!) there are many talented modellers on here who will happily make vacform kits, but sadly I do not have those skills i realise you probably know this, but from a commercial point of view, vacform will really limit your audience or am i misunderstanding you? still, please do keep the news coming, it is certainly an interesting project many thanks again Nick

the La5 has soooo many colourful options i can't wait to see more the il-4 bomber is a much "braver" choice - for that the choice of medium (injection mould / short run / resin???) may play an even more significant role: personally, i might take a chance on a short run Lavochkin, but probably not on the bomber please do let us have more information as soon as you have - cant wait to see more thanks again Nick

Hi Petr yes, thanks for the information definietly going to be HiTech for me I reckon this one is going to be VERY popular!

@Grant sorry for your financial pain ... ... once again an example of why LuckyModel, Seal Model and co are getting business: I will avoid tax if I can, but I don't necessarily disagree in principle with paying it in this case, but what i really object to is the thievery going on with that "handling charge", and i will do everything in my power to avoid it rant mode now switched *off*

ooh, you sneak that one in there although this is now common (rumour mill) knowledge is it, that WNW is doing 'the dromedary'?!

Steve G by his own admission was battling severe depression (had some conversations with him probably a couple of years ago) so I wouldn't hold your breath if any form of new tooling was required...

So is this a case of they make everyone wait for the two / three kits which everyone REALLY wants?

Yes! Lavochkins make the most intersting fighter for me I would LOVE a *good* Pe-2 though in 1/32 Yes please do post any pictures / in progress shots etc Many thanks Nick

A benchmark standard build - I really mean that - which does justice to a benchmark standard aircraft Wonderful to have your work here

Good book, but as I mention, I disagree with the author's assessment of the DML kit vs the Eduard one, as there were some curious omissions. Having said that, it is a good 'all-rounder', and to put it in perspective, I would shell out my own cash for a copy if I had not had a review sample; I do think it is very good value. Glad you liked the review N

The Messerschmitt Bf109 Early Series (V1 to E-9 including the T-Series) A Complete Guide To The Luftwaffe's Famous Fighter Richard A. Franks Airframe and Miniature Series No.5 RRP £19.95 from Valiant Wings Publishing Introduction This is now the fifth title by Richard A. Franks in Valiant Wings' "Airframe and Miniature Series", which have previously covered the Me262, Fw190 D / Ta152, Hawker Typhoon and most recently Hawker Tempest. The format throughout has remained pretty constant, and is continued in this volume. The content covers firstly the history and development of the airframes, and then looks at the modelling options for these aircraft in various scales, ending with sets of scale plans. The only real difference with this one is that at nearly 210 pages, it is significantly larger than its predecessors (although only £2 more). This book is divided in to eleven chapters, the first seven of which are grouped under "Airframe". Once again, the comparison can be made to Squadron's 'Walkaround' series for those familiar with them. The second section is "Miniature" and deals with kits and aftermarket available for the 109, as well as builds. This section is similar to the Osprey 'Modelling Manuals' series. The book ends with appendices listing kits and modelling accessories. Right at the end, we have the largest set of pull-out plans to date - six sided views of the following variants, all in 1/48 scale: Bf109 V-1, B-0, D-1, E-1, E-7 Trop and T-2. Although one could quite reasonably ask, 'what has not already been written about 109, arguably the most famous plane ever?', the Preface does provide a neat little history of the 109 project, from initial development and competition with the He112, world speed record attempts, through to combat in the Spanish Civil War and the early years of WWII. If you are not familiar with these early 109 types and the differences between them, I would suggest having a look through Chapter 10 before doing anything, as this will help familiarise you with what the various marks and sub-types looked like. Airframe Chapters 1. Evolution – The Versuch (V) Series The format is a familiar one carried over from previous volumes in this series: each significant prototype and production variant is dealt with in turn, noting engine type, weaponry and indeed any other distinguishing features or characteristics; camouflage and markings are also described (but no profiles in this section - they come later). This first chapter really focusses on just three airframes - the Versuchs V1, V2 and V3. 2. Bf109 B Series As stated at the beginning of this chapter, production started with the B series because the A was superseded so quickly (armament deemed inadequate). Included here are the first three B pre-production series which were really As - WNrn 808, 809 and 810. We then cover the next ten Versuchs B series machines, so you can see that if modelling particular prototypes is your thing, this is an ideal book. The chapter ends with the B-1 and B-2, and looks at the different features relative to manufacturer (Fieseler vs Erla). 3. Bf109 C & D Series These are dealt with together given the very small numbers produced: the C having the Jumo 201G engine, and the D having the Jumo210D. Two different Swiss D airframes are included here. 4. Bf109 E Prototypes We now start to edge closer to what many people think of as the definitive 109. Although pilots may have loved the Friedrich (once the tail stopped dropping off!), I am definitely in the camp that considers the Battle of Britain era 109s as the epitome of Messerschmitt's most famous fighter. Eight Versuchs machines are covered here, including WNr 1050 used for a world speed record attempt. The chapter finishes with the E-0 pre-production prototypes. 5. Bf109 E Production This is the chapter that I think many people will jump straight to when they first pick up the book. The variants are dealt with sequentially E-1 through to E-9. It should be borne in mind that modifications such as the fitting of ETC racks for either fuel tank or bomb are included sequentially as well, even though many of these were retro-fitted eg the E-1/B did not precede the E-4/B, and so on. Pretty much all the permutations are covered, from changes in gun sights, which type of MG FF cannon, through to engine types and associated octane levels. It does take quite a bit of reading and re-reading, however, and the biggest let down is there is no indication of numbers produced of each sub-type. I realise that with many of the modifications being retro-fits it might be nigh on impossible, but otherwise you might go away thinking that the E -1/B was just as common as the E-4/B, when this was not the case. Despite this, I really do like the progression through the variants, with each successive description stating "same as xyz previous variant, except..." - it's quite a clean way to keep track of everything. 6. Bf109 T Series, Projects and One-off Conversions Most of this section is concerned with 109s adapted for carrier operations, and the prototypes that preceded the T series in getting to that stage. There were quite a few types here that I had never seen before, and some nice detail touches regarding the regular T as well. At the end there is a most peculiar looking bird: a 109 airframe but with a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engine, and bubble top canopy; this was truly a one-off! 7. Camouflage and Markings The rather honest disclaimer that nothing is certain when trying to interpret colours from black and white photos starts this chapter. That being said, I think that pre- and early WWII colours are generally a rather more certain field than in say 1945. Spanish Civil War aircraft are the first covered, then the C and D in Luftwaffe service, and finally 109s in foreign service. There are colour templates showing the progression in splinter camouflage, stencil placement, and then 35 side -on colour profiles. There also close-ups of various unit badges, although these are all fairly well-known already I think. The usual profile disclaimer applies here (I am such a cynic!): although I rate this book quite highly, I would always suggest doing your own research before blindly following a profile for a modelling project. In the Tempest book there was a small section outlining types and dimensions of roundels, squadron codes and serial numbers. Here too we have a look at the types of cross (or Balkenkreuz); dimensions are given, but you have to hunt around a bit in the text, which is disappointing; I would have much preferred to see the dimensions printed with the diagrams. Although there is mention of the 'super-size' wing crosses which were seen on some early war 109s, sadly there are no pictures of these, despite them being on one or two very well-known airframes eg Illner's JG51 bird with the 'smoking lips'. Finally, I am not sure whether interior colours are included here (or anywhere in the book), but there is no mention of the variation / changeover in cockpit colour from RLM02 to RLM66 which appears to have taken place somewhere in the E-4 (I am still not sure this has ever been nailed down...). Miniature Chapters 8. Bf109 V1 to E-9 and T-Series Kits A round-up of the 109 kits available in the main scales of 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24. If you are a relative newcomer to modelling, this will tell you most of what you need to know in a few minutes, and allow your internet research to be a lot more focussed. I am at best ambivalent towards this section because, although very well written and presented, by its very nature it will date so quickly. Perhaps at my suggestion (?) in previous reviews, Valiang Wings will now make downloadable pdf covering many of the older and less relevant kits; I also hope this section will be updated as and when new releases are made. I build exclusively in 1/32, so I cannot comment on the reviews of the 1/72 and 1/48 kits, but I do know "my" scale fairly well where 109s are concerned I think. I was therefore rather surprised when reading the Eduard kit review to see no mention of the fact that the slats are significantly over-sized in chord - so much so that you cannot position the upper wing crosses correctly without the cross overlapping the slat (how do I know this I wonder?!). The seat is also rather poor and definitely needs aftermarket attention, and I would have mentioned this too. Just my opinion, but I am afraid I cannot disagree more with the author's conclusions where the Eduard vs DML / Cyberhobby kits are concerned: for me the Cyberhobby ones are markedly superior in almost every respect. 7. Building a Selection The chapter provides builds of 109s in 1/72, 1/48, 1/32 and 1/24 scale. The standard of finish is excellent, and the various builders published here are clearly talented modellers. The builds are not full step-by-step walk-throughs, but similar in nature to the chapters you get in the Osprey Modelling Manual series. Four kits are built in 1/72, but only one in 1/48; neither the Tamiya nor Hasegawa kits are tackled in 1/48 which even I know is a significant omission. In 1/32 scale there are only two builds, and they are both Eduard, although the first uses Alley Cat's D-1 conversion. Unless you read the small print you will not appreciate that the engine is in no way built out of the box - the builder has added a lot of extra detail here and it looks impressive. The lack of a DML / Cyberhobby comparison build is a serious omission in my view, and the fact that a number of key detail weaknesses / inaccuracies of the Eduard kit are not mentioned by either the main author or the builder means personally I can't take this or the preceding section too seriously I'm afraid. 10. Building a Collection This chapter provides excellent three quarter angle CAD image of all the variants, from the various prototypes through to production models. Drawing board projects are not covered, but pretty much everything else is. This is an excellent visual checklist and a useful 'go-to' reference if trying to look at period photographs to determine exactly what variant etc. 11. In Detail As the title implies, this is a large selection of technical diagrams, cut-away line drawings, b&w period photos and colour photos of museum restored aircraft or sections thereof. If you are serious about super detailing your kit in 1/48 or 1/32, the information here will be particularly useful. The cockpit is particularly well covered, with some eleven pages devoted to this area. After that, we have sub-sections devoted to landing gear, engine, different types of armament and so on. I wish I had had this book when I was trying to super-detail my Emil a couple of years ago - this chapter would have helped a lot. Appendices I-III: Modelling Summary A comprehensive list of kits (I), aftermarket Accessories (II), and Decals (III). The quantity of material out there for the early 109s is pretty vast as you can imagine, but just listing things doesn't tell you whether an upgrade is any good or not, of course. Appendix IV – Bibliography Full 1/48 Scale Plans (pull-out) As mentioned at the top of the review, the book ends with six sets of pull-out plans, all in 1/48 scale: Bf109 V-1, B-0, D-1, E-1, E-7 Trop and T-2. So What Do We Think? I am still not convinced about the modelling section, but on the whole I do really like this series of books, and this latest instalment. It doesn't cover everything in great detail, and there are a few things missing that would be handy, but it is excellent value, and on balance a very good all-round quick reference. Recommended With thanks to the team at Valiant Wings Publishing for the review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link. Nicholas Mayhew

Finally, some G-10 and K-4 wheels I will be speaking to Roy later so hopefully we can bring these to you for review in the near future Thanks again for posting

1/32 Me262 Main and Nose Wheels BarracudaCast #BR32066 & BR32067 For Trumpeter and all other Me262 kits Available from Barracuda Studios for$12.95 each Introduction A while back I wrote a review comparing what were, at the time, the only two aftermarket options for Me262 wheels in 1/32 scale - these belonged to Signifer and MasterCasters. Neither set were up to much if I am honest, but thankfully Roy Sutherland at BarracudaCast has come to the rescue with his new offerings. For the purposes of comparison, I have included much of the original review. BarracudaCast - contents and instructions Comparing 1/32 Me262 Wheels: BarracudaCast vs Signifer vs MasterCasters vs Trumpeter (kit) The main focus of this review is the 1/32 BarracudaCast set, and I will compare them to Me262 originals. But in order to provide a bit more context, I will also take a look at the wheels supplied in the Trumpeter kit, and those by aftermarket manufacturers MasterCasters and Signifer. Trumpeter have released a number of different versions / boxings of the Me262, and the aftermarket sets in this review will be suitable for any of them, as well as the older Revell / Hasegawa offerings. BarracudaCast - main wheels side on BarracudaCast The two sets from BarracudaCast are actually very similar - the only difference being the rim detail on the nose wheel. Each set comprises two main wheels, and two different nosewheels - one with regular / ribbed and one with smooth tread. There is an additional sprue of resin with four tiny pressure fittings, a length of wire to simulate the brake lines, and a small instruction pamphlet printed in colour. BarracudaCast - tread pattern is bang on The quality of casting is excellent, and each part is attached to its casting block by a fairly small nub. The additional flanges you can see on either side of the nubs on the wheels are not really attached to the wheels - the join is either wafer thin or non-existent. The nose wheels do not appear 'weighted' at all, whilst the main wheels are only marginally so - you really have to sit and stare at them head-on to see it. I like this - correctly inflated, Me262 tyres did not exhibit any noticeable bulge, and certainly not in 1/32 scale. BarracudaCast - correct number of fins, subtle stencilling The main wheels on the Me262 were 840mm x 300mm. That I am currently aware of, there were both treaded and smooth tyres used, although the majority of the pictures I have seen show the treaded version. Regarding the tread itself, I had originally thought it comprised hexagon shapes in seven off-set lines. Only recently was it pointed out to me that the middle row is really more diamond-shaped, although still a hexagon (just). The hub has 24 fins in the recess around its edge on both sides, as well brake line attachment points, also on both sides of the hub. The two pictures below are of Me262 A-1a W.Nr.500071 at the Deutsches Museum, Munich. Close-up of tread pattern; also note brake line on oleo side of hub [Picture courtesy Burkhard Domke and Aviation Images] The other side showing brake line on outward face of hub, and 840x300 moulded in to the tyre wall. [burkhard Domke / Aviation Images] BarracudaCast have really got these wheels spot on. The dimensions match up, which is expected, but the details in both tread and rims is an exceptional replication. The tread pattern is as dead-on as it could ever be; correct number of fins in hub recess; very feint 'spoke' lines on tyre wall, and correct size stencilling. The pressure fittings are miniscule, but look accurate - you really will need magnification to handle these I think. The only downside I can see is that these are so delicate, risk of damage to the parts once you start handling them is quite high - be careful! BarracudaCast - pressure fittings BarracudaCast - two nosewheels provided in each set On to the nose wheels...Firstly, to clear up any confusion over small / regular vs large nose wheels, only one size of nose wheel was used on production aircraft during the war, and the tyre on this wheel was 660x160. A larger 660x190 was proposed indeed proposed (the same wheel as used in Me109 G-10 and K-4), but it was too big to fit in the 262's wheel well; it was trialled on one aircraft, but likely only taxied and did not fly. The nose wheel from the Deutsches Museum Me262: smooth tyre, hub with small ribs around rim [burkhard Domke / Aviation Images] The other side of the same wheel showing brake line attachment [burkhard Domke / Aviation Images] There were, however, two quite distinct treads – one with large segments running across the face of tyre, the other essentially smooth, with some very subtle raised lines visible when close up. In addition, there were also two hub designs used, with one having a smooth outer face, the other having small ribs around its edge; but again these were the same size. Ribbed tyre, with ribbed hub, and are from Me262 A-1a W.Nr.500491,NASM Washington DC [Aircraft Walkaround Center] Ribbed tyre, smooth hub And from the other side In each BarracudaCast set you get two exquisite nosewheels - one in each tread pattern. #BR32066 has the ribbed hub, whilst #BR32067 has the smooth hub. These wheels are the correct 'production' size of 660x160. The hole for the landing gear axle is well defined, but rather shallow, and will need to be drilled out. Having said that, the same probably applies to the main wheels, even though the hole is somewhat deeper. Both the treads (or lack of) are excellent reproductions, and the bolt detail on the hub faces is very small, but very sharp. BarracudaCast - comparison between hub types BarracudaCast - comparison between hub types BarracudaCast - close-up of stencilling on nose wheel Signifer So let's see what's in the Signifer set: packaged in a re-sealable clear plastic bag, we have two main wheels, two types of nose wheel, two gauges of lead wire, and a small picture showing where the wires attach. The picture below shows all four wheels with the simulated brake lines attached, although you would need additional reference / walkaround shots to know where these lines disappear off to. The Signifer wheels with break lines attached [signifer] And now the Sgnifer main wheels: the casting is very good, but there are some minor imperfections (nothing that a quick pass with an old toothbrush wouldn't sort out). The tyre is not really 'weighted' that I can see, and certainly not in the exaggerated fashion of some aftermarket wheels, but then wartime shots don't show a large bulge either. The mould stub is fairly large however, so there will be a natural bottom; this area could have been cast better I think – you will to do some careful clean-up in order to remove a seam line that extends some 5mm either side of the stub. There is no moulding on the wall indicating the tyre's dimensions, but just "C90" and "28N" on the inside, and what looks like "COP9" or "COPS" on the outside – I am not familiar with either of these. Unless I find evidence these are correct, I would be inclined to remove them (sanding should be fiddly but not too hard). Signifer main wheels; left shows the inside / oleo side, right shows outside. There is generally very good hub detail on both sides, including the correct number of fins on the recess. Brake line attachment points are cast on both sides, but my references show that on the outside, there should only be one attachment point on the hub, and not two: I think the line should go from one 'nub' into the hole in the centre of the hub (see MasterCasters wheel further down), whereas the Signifer picture shows a line going from one nub to the other. Some delicate work will be required to fix these brake lines, but that is to be expected. The tread is not really that close at all when you consider what BarracudaCast have produced The tread uses the correct irregular hexagons, but they are far too large. As a result, there are only five off set lines instead of the correct seven. Whether this matters is up to you. The bottom line is these wheels show a tread pattern that I cannot find in any reference or photo, even if at first glance they do look rather convincing. At 840mm these wheels should be 26.5mm in 1/32, and when measured they seem just about spot on. I have also done an 'eyeball test fit' and with only minimal drilling you should have no problem fitting these wheels with either the metal landing gear supplied in the kit, or the G-Factor sets. The Signifer set comes with two nose wheels: one has smooth tread paired with ribbed hub, the other with ribbed tread paired with smooth hub, per our museum combinations. Casting is generally good, but could be cleaner around the mould stub. Signifer nose wheels - outside The smooth tyre is divided by very faint recessed lines, rather than raised ribs as in the real thing. Just like panel lines on aircraft models, using recesses probably works here. I do not that the tyre is divided into five segments, whereas my references show six. There is a large "Continental" logo on the outside wall, and what I think says "66S" on the inside – not sure what that is. The hub looks very good, and comes with brake line nub on the oleo side. The oleo side of the Signifer nose wheels The ribbed tread of the other tyre could perhaps be a little sharper and more refined – note the space between treads on the real thing in the picture earlier, and also compare below. The smooth hub again has the brake line nub on the oleo side, and generally looks an accurate representation. Signifer - same size? 660mm works out to just over 20.5mm in 1/32. Staring at the two Signifer wheels, the smooth one looks smaller, but I was not sure if this was an optical illusion, but on measuring it was indeed so, but only fractionally: ~20mm vs ~21mm for the ribbed tyre. MasterCasters MasterCasters make two sets of Me262 wheels, the only difference being the tread / hub combination: #32005 has smooth hub / ribbed tread; #32006 has ribbed hub and smooth tread, and is the set reviewed here. The main difference in contents is obviously you only get one nose wheel here, and there is no wire for the brake lines. MasterCasters - contents It is immediately apparent that the main wheels are cast copies of the kit wheels, with the addition of brake line nub and the brake line itself on the outside of the hub. I noted some minor imperfections where the rim meets the tyre – exactly where the kit wheels have 'issues' (see earlier). There was a tiny amount of flash around the brake line on one of my wheels, but a delicate prod and this can easily be removed; this area is very well done, and will save modellers having to fiddle around with lead wire etc. A number of the fins were miscast and looked almost blobbed together – I did not count them. Now there is nothing wrong with casting kit parts in resin, especially if you do not like the medium of the kit parts. However, when the kit parts have serious flaws, copying those flaws is all that can result. Brake line detail aside, these wheels have the same tread as the Trumpeter ones, and are also too small by the same roughly the same margin. This is either laziness, poor research or both – I cannot be more blunt than that. MasterCasters - copies of the Trumpeter wheels – incorrect tread pattern and all The nose wheel looks a lot better from the outside face, and the small ribs of the smooth treaded tyre are nicely reproduced. However, on the oleo side there was a vagueness about the casting where the rim meets the tyre in one area, but I am not sure this would be too noticeable on a finished kit. What is noticeable is the size – it is definitely too small at barely 19mm. MasterCasters - detail on this side looks ok, but is not correct MasterCasters - nose wheel is looks crude here MasterCasters - and even more so here Trumpeter The Trumpeter kit comes with multi part plastic hubs and 'rubber' tyres. These can often look very convincing I think, but at other times pretty mediocre, and there are perhaps question marks over their longevity. I have two Trumpeter kits, and both only came with the smooth nose wheel tyre (which they confusingly call "large"...), so I cannot comment on the ribbed version. Trumpeter - rubber tyres are not everyone's favourite, but viewed side on these actually look ok The hubs are pretty good, especially the nose wheel, but do not come with any detail for the brake line attachments. The main wheels have the correct number of fins around the recess. The tyres are a mixed bag: the nose wheel looks perfectly adequate, and the raised lines (six segments), look excellent. The main tyres' tread though is pure fantasy – it's clearly been made up, and bears no relation to real thing. Trumpeter - attracts the dust like nobody's business! In assembling the Trumpeter wheels, especially the main ones, I did notice that you really have to work at getting the rubber part to seal round the plastic hub in a uniform fashion – this is relevant to the MasterCasters wheels, which we shall look at next. The treads are a very mixed bag: smooth nose wheel excellent, main wheels nonsense.The nose wheel measured up very well – I made it about 20.5mm, but the main wheels 'looked' small against the Signifer ones, and this was confirmed; I made them 25mm or just under. Conclusion The Trumpeter wheels have their limitations partly because of the media used, but if you are not fussed about the tread of the main wheels and build mainly 'out of the box', then they will 'do', just. If you are concerned about accuracy, they will not. I am particularly disappointed in the MasterCasters set: direct copies of errors in the kit parts, as well as dimensional issues. The brake line detail is their only positive feature, and may well lure the unsuspecting modeller into using them (lesson / note to self: do your research before parting with cash). I had originally considered the Signifer wheels just about ok, but mainly because they lacked any credible competition; indeed I even said I would probably use them only "because there is nothing else on the market from the likes of Eagle Editions or Barracuda"! The tread on the main wheels is a very frustrating 'almost' – shapes almost there, size way off; five lines of tread instead of seven is out by a significant margin. Some of the other details are good, but why the discrepancy in size between the two nose wheels offered? The BarracudaCast offering is so far out ahead of the competition it's almost embarrassing. If you like your 262s you simply MUST use these wheels - I really can't say any more than that. BarracudaCast: only game in town Signifer: avoid MasterCasters: avoid Trumpeter: ok if building straight from the box, not much else With special thanks to Matt Low, Burkhard Domke and Peter Buckingham for their assistance. With thanks to Roy Sutherland for his review samples (Signifer, MasterCasters purchased by myself). To purchase directly, click THIS link. Nicholas Mayhew

What you can't do: An Erla G-10 or so-called '110 cowling' - there was a conversion around yonks ago but it has disappeared. Come on people - why someone hasn't stepped up and made this available as an aftermarket conversion is beyond me. I feel it woul sell way more than some Spanish or pre-war conversion (Luftwaffe sells!!!) *sigh* Back to your original question, I would always suggest a good trawl of Wikipedia first up: it gives you an overall view, even if the detail is lacking / incorrect some times. And then the Hannants website to see what's around. And then your question. That way you should have the experts (not me, but Matt Low is certainly one of them ) giving you the expert info. All the best Nick

Hi and welcome Bf / Me Wouldn't get too hung up on it Bf = Bayerische Flugzeug and was I think the original designation but you will find both in Luftwaffe / RLM docs and pilots / personnel certainly said "m e 109" etc Kits: Lots! E DML and Eduard; DML is the best kit of the two hands down Trumpeter - cheap but not as accurate; 'looks like a 109' but purists will avoid them (I personally wouldn't touch it) F Hasegawa and Trumpeter Hassy is best kit but expensive; has lots of aftermarket available Trumpy F-4 is more a G-2; looks nice but lots of detail errors; cheap G Hasegawa owned this market - mostly accurate and lots of aftermarket about; expensive Trumpeter - as above: cheaper but with more detail inaccuracies Revell new tool: not to be confused with Hassy reboxings; will be G-6 I think; high hopes but seems has slightly different set of inaccuracies to the Hasegawa kit; will be cheap in UK / Europe K Hasegawa only As above - only game in town but quite good; lots of a m available; pricey; look for Revell reboxings Avoid anything I have not mentioned above eg Hasegawa E etc

@Martin Will probably do this one gear up, in flight pose using the stand; as such maybe a Barracuda seat and an Eduard IP but that's probably it I think. The mrs has chosen the scheme - it'll be a Czech pilot - so will actually get some modelling as soon as I break the back of my review stuff. @Ade Correct - Seal is same guy as EricYY, just new name, revamped website. He has shipping calculator which is good, and takes PayPal. Once you order, he will send email asking your customs declaration wishes etc, and then email a PayPal invoice I think. My transaction went v smooth and a Spit IXc for £71 is awesome value. They have the Tamiya Zero for like £50 inc airmail shipping... Parcel arrived with no price info on the front at all so the thieving scumbags at the Post Office don't get to stick their beaks in! Deal with confidence. Hth Nick