caughtinthemiddle

Out of the box build review: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-48-mi-24v-vp-zvezda-budowa/

Comprehensive inbox review: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-32-dewoitine-d-500-dora-wings/

Yes, there are two photos and a side profile of it. It appears that the 3 tone camouflage was applied after the final assembly, or perhaps even after the first flight, though there are a few examples of aircraft that left factory without camouflage such as I-252 and I-251.

There was no need for this - CR.714 had lower engine power and smaller prop diameter than the other fighters you mention. The tailfin was symmetrical and not posed offset.

Ditto - I've just published my view on it:

This book was published by Stratus/MMP in the autumn of 2019, but I only recently got my copy. The title ‘Caudron Renault CR.714 Cyclone. The Ultimate Story’ may sound ambitious, but the expectations it raises are certainly fulfilled. Chapter 1 consists of 70 pages devoted to the origins and development of Caudron’s sport, trainer and fighter aircraft, with several photos and 1/72 scale drawings documenting various designs of Marcel Riffard and his staff. The Caudron factory airfield at Guyancourt, where the CR.714s were assembled, is also described. However, the most interesting part of this chapter deals with the Soviet interest in Caudron aircraft and their subsequent purchases and tests in the USSR, of which I was completely unaware. Chapter 2 is a one hundred pages long technical description of the Cyclone, which includes numerous drawings, dozens of photos taken during the restoration of the two surviving examples (more precisely, one complete airframe and one fuselage) and several 3D renderings created by Marek Rys. The whole material is very impressive and you won’t find many aircraft monographs covering these aspects in such detail. Chapter 3 is dedicated to the service of the ‘Cyclone’ with the Polish Air Force, which was the only one to actually fly this aircraft in combat. In result of several years of research conducted by Bartlomiej Belcarz, we get a detailed study of the operations performed by Polish pilots, listings of aircraft flown by them, readiness and combat reports, and amazing photo studies of all documented examples, which are supplemented by accurate colour profiles (in many cases, in multiple views) mostly created by Karolina Holda. Some other aircraft used by GC 1/145 or just captured together with the Caudrons are also shown on photos and profiles. Then comes a short chapter authored by Kari Stenman, who described the short Finnish episode of the CR.714. The last chapter deals with the camouflage and markings of the ‘Cyclone’. This subject is interesting on its own and well covered here, but the part of this chapter discussing the camouflage colours, along with the presented results of examination of the preserved CR.714 c/n 8538 during its restoration in Cracow, are particularly worth attention of anyone interested in the subject of the French pre-WW2/early WW2 aircraft colours, which unfortunately has rather been neglected and poorly served by the authors thus far. The colour measurements taken and described by Marek Rogusz may not be the last word on this theme and are affected by some limitations (paint degradation, the specific construction and resulting painting system of the CR.714, the equipment used), but they certainly give more accurate information on the colours than the few other sources available thus far. In this regard, let’s hope that the original paint sample chart (at least one example is known to survive) will someday be made available for a study of a serious paint researcher, or the original paint formulas are discovered. All in all, this 456 page book is undoubtedly a labour of love, and I wish that more aircraft receive such treatment by the historians and researchers. Kudos to Bartlomiej Belcarz, Marek Rys, Kari Stenman, Franciszek Strzelczyk, Karolina Holda and all other people involved in creating this excellent publication. Video preview courtesy of the publisher: Some sample photos I've taken:

Yes, it is a modified Extratech kit. Inbox review: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-72-so-1221-djinn-brengun/

Review of a must have for this kit - a resin wheel set from Brengun: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-72-p-47n-wheels-brengun/

Box design + plastic for the A2N2 kit Resin engine sets soon available (not included in the kits): Source: info received from the manufacturer

According to the boss himself, Eduard intends to release the following kits in the 2020-2022 period: 1/48: Spitfire MkI/II, Camel, Zlin Trenérs in 12 variants (from Z-126 to Z-526), S-199, Bf 109K-4, Spitfire Mk.V, CS-199, Bf 109G-12, MiG-21F/F-13 1/72: Čmelak, MiG-21R/bis/SMT, Bf 109F/G/K various variants, S/CS-199 Source: https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?p=2325392#p2325392

In the 2020-2022, you may expect the following 1/72 MiGs from Eduard: MiG-21R, bis, SMT. They are also going to release MiG-21F/F-13 in 1/48 during this period, so one may expect it in 1/72 sometime in 2024 or so Source: The Boss himself at: https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?p=2325392#p2325392

This book was on the top of my wanted list since its announcement, and I must admit that it didn't disappoint me. Au contraire, Mr. Geust did a tremendous job, putting together a well-organized and very comprehensive resource on the air forces involved in the Winter War - most (i.e. more than 280 pages) of this 352 pages long book is devoted to the 'Red Wings', but a chapter dedicated to their Finnish opponents is also included. From the Soviet side, both the VVS (Red Army Air Force) and VVS VMF (Naval Air Forces) units are covered in great detail: from the air forces through the brigades and regiments, to the detached units and even liaison flights level, we learn about their organization, equipment, commanding officers, performed actions, claims/victories and losses. All of this is illustrated with dozens of rare archive photos showing the men and machines involved. The book ends with a nice colour profile section, which features side views of 36 Soviet and 11 Finnish aircraft. All this makes 'Red Wings in the Winter War 1939-1940' a very impressive publication, for the creation of which the author and editorial team must be congratulated.

That's probably because the 1/48 scale Indian Service boxing was one of the longest selling out limited editions that Eduard has ever released. I also got one when it had hit the market in 2012, and I recall that when I decided to sell it around 2017 or 2018, it was still available in their webshop, so it certainly wasn't a killer...

Simple. 497th BS had a talented nose art artist, 322nd and 323rd BG didn't.

Bear in mind that the kit is already almost sold out at Eduard, so once they arrive to the resellers there will be one chance to get them as there won't be any restock.

Build review of MB.152: https://www.kfs-miniatures.com/1-48-bloch-mb-152-late-dora-wings-budowa/

I recall that Mike Starmer once wrote that Vallejo 70975 Military Green is just slightly lighter than the BS.381 standard.

The latest addition to the MMP/Stratus 'Yellow Series' is devoted to the Polish PZL P.11c fighter. On 152 pages, renowned historians Bartłomiej Belcarz and Tomasz J. Kopański describe its development, pre-war and wartime service in Poland, technical features and camouflage and markings - especially the latter chapter was of my interest and I must admit that I'm not disappointed, as it includes a lot of useful information supplemented with photos and an extensive colour profile section with 24 aircraft shown, some of them in 3 views (plus underwing scrap views). P.11's service with other nations is also briefly mentioned and illustrated with photos of Romanian machines. Speaking about photos, the reproduction of black and white archive images is superb and the authors must be congratulated for the selection of over 100 photos they had made. The modellers will warmly welcome the 7 pages of 1/48 scale drawings and especially the 47-page chapter dedicated to the airframe details, which contains numerous photos of the only preserved example as well as images sourced from the aircraft's manual and spare parts catalogue. These should be very useful when working with the recent kits from Arma Hobby and IBG. Some readers might be aware of the previous book on the P.11c released by MMP in 2003. The most notable advantages of the new edition are a larger format, allowing for better presentation of images, inclusion of additional archive photos, extension of the walkaround chapter, fully new colour profile section and addition of the P.11c technical description and camouflage and marking chapter. For me the new edition is a definitive improvement over the previous one and I recommend obtaining it even if you already have the older book. Video preview courtesy of the publisher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crvcUuLMKLo Some sample photos I've taken:

If you look through the Hobby 2000 range, you will notice they rebox Hasegawa and Fujimi exclusively. Plus remember about one thing: the most accurate kit is not necessarily the best one from the casual customer POV.

As you can see from the linked thread, it seems we will never know for sure whether the crosses on these D.520 were red or blue. On the available photos of this machine, one could confirm the red option, the remaining ones are not definitive in any way. As for the colour of this aircraft, I personally thought they could be light blue-grey overall, but then found this information: Many Souffan vient de me confirmer la couleur chamois de ces D520 qui lui aurait été inidiquée par un des mécaniciens de l'époque Denis Larrivet. Selon ce monsieur encore vivant en 2001 Littolf aurait eu l'intention à cette époque d'emmener ces avions dans le désert Lybien.

Marking options: 72025: 72026:

Marking options: 72024: 72023:

Just discovered this on Scalemates - H version is in preparation: Question is what H they intend to represent...

These should be available in the coming days. Each features a masking sheet and Cartograf-printed decals for 3 marking options

Each features a masking sheet and Cartograf-printed decals for 3 marking options