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Turned Brass Aircraft Barrels/Probes 1:48 Master Master have an enviable reputation for superb turned metal gun barrels for aircraft, tanks and ships in various scales, but they also create pitot probes, angle-of-attack (AoA) probes, and include Photo-Etch (PE) brass parts with their sets as the need requires. This latest batch of new releases brings a number of new items for kits both new and old. They are all packaged in small flat packs with card headers that also protect the components in transit. The individual parts are often double-bagged in re-sealable packs, and recently the packs have been heat sealed into compartments to stop the parts getting jumbled together and avoid resulting damage. A-10 Thunderbolt II GAU-8 Barrel & Pitot Probe AM-48-081 A comprehensive set of parts to create the visible part of the seven-barrelled Avenger cannon that has been the saviour of many a ground unit, and the nemesis for armour and enemy troops alike. The fine barrel is protected by a small vacuum formed pot during transport to save it from being crushed, as it is rather delicate, having seven rows of four holes drilled into its length. The end-caps are supported by a central column in brass, and should be glued into place before inserting the seven 30mm barrels in from behind, each of which have a lip that prevents them being over-inserted and ensures that the hollow tipped barrels project the correct distance. The pitot probe is a simple replacement for the kit part and is inserted into a 1mm hole that you may have to drill or widen, depending on which manufacturer's kit you are using. Typhoon Mk.1b (Early) AM-48-082 The set includes four turned fairings in aluminium, the shorter two being the inner guns, so that their tips line up from overhead. A PE ring fits at the base of each fairing, and must be curved to fit in place, so annealing them under a flame and air cooling would be a wise step. The hollow tipped barrels then insert into the recesses in the fairings, and have a spiral cut into them to represent the recoil springs. Hurricane Mk.IIc (Flat Recoil Springs) AM-48-084 To install these replacement barrels, simply drill holes in the wing leading edges at 2.7mm for the inner fairings, and 2.9mm for the outer. Then insert the brass fairings, with the hollow tipped barrels fitting into recesses in the fairings. The recoil springs are cut into the barrel sides as a single groove. Hurricane Mk.IIc (Round Recoil Springs) AM-48-085 Essentially the same set, but instead of the engraved recoil springs, a set of very fine real springs are included that fit over a two-part barrel that is thinned to accept the springs that are held in place by the thicker sections of the barrel. The result should be highly realistic once painted. RA-5C Vigilante Pitot Probe & AoA Probe (for Trumpeter) AM-48-080 Two super-fine turned brass probes one long and slender to be mounted in a 0.8mm hole drilled at the tip of the radome, the other a small (and sharp) Angle of Attack probe that is mounted in a 1mm hole on the starboard side of the fuselage by the cockpit. The detail on the pitot is exceptional. Mirage F.1 Pitot Probe & AoA Probe AM-48-076 Two delicate probes for the Mirage, that would look as well on either the old ESCI kit, or the new Kitty Hawk kits that have recently come to market. The pitot probe fits into a 0.5mm hole on the tip of the radome, the other into a tiny 0.3mm hole on the port side of the cockpit. The AoA probe is truly miniscule, so take care during handling as it is likely to ping off and as you can see from the photo, you'll never find it again. The instructions also show which portion of the pitot probe should be metallic, and which part should be radome coloured, which is helpful. Conclusion These additional detail parts are superb, and bring realism to the parts they replace parts that are often oversized or poorly moulded on even modern kits. They also bring extra strength to parts that are easy to knock off, and we all know how easily styrene fatigues once bent. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Piotr at

I read a story on the internet of the rescue of Vega 31. The F-117A which was shutdown over Kosovo in 1999. This was the main inspiration for wanting to make one of those Warthogs. An OA-10A of the 81st Fighter Squadron 'Panthers' on a Combat Search and Rescue mission. That squadron was normally based on Spangdahlem, Germany, and are the ones ever so often practising attack runs on a major bridge in the Netherlands I live close by to. Always a nice sound and sight to see! Decals I have ordered from Afterburner and are on their way. I have all the different boxings of the A-10 but I will be using the Hobby Boss one because it looks to be the most detailed. I also have the Aires sets for cockpit and wheel bays. And an Eduard exterior set as well. Lovely Royale Resins wheel will be following shortly as well. And of course the bible by Jake Melampy. So far the Aires pit needed some updating for a LASTE version, an scratchbuild Option Select Panel on top of the IP and a Data Transfer Unit on the left side of the seat just aft of the ejection 'rails'? Easily made but it adds a lot. Also new side wall insulation because the pattern was wrong and the airco vents were no longer there because the LASTE update changed that to just below of the IP. Made from wine lead. Also the airco pipes on both sides needed therefore be removed. I couldn't find any specific FS number for the cockpit grey, which I finally eyeballed to be Mr.Color 306 Gray FS36270. So I just airbrushed that. Also the HB kit has got some exhausts/vents covered on the aft part of the fuselage. They are now opened up and have a small metal tube inside to create depth. So pictures say more than a thousand words I am told.. Aires is 1,5 mm too short and 1 mm too small.. won't be using that despite the small bump being correct (toothpick).. OSP.. DTU and some oxygen hoses.. other site.. http://www.sidneydekoning.nl/upload/thunderbolt/Hawg036.jpg opening those holes.. Mr.Color 306 is on..

QB 72 411 A-10 Thunderbolt II Correct Fan Blades 1:72 Quickboost by Aires One thing modellers are always looking for are increased detail in engine faces and exhausts. With the A-10 and its podded engines the Engine fan face is not buried deep in the airframe but visible on top. Quickboost has come up with a replacement for these to make them look correct. Conclusion Great parts to add realism and a good look to your finished model, and very well cast. These fan fronts will look excellent with the correct finishing. Recommended for the Hobbyboss Kit. Highly recommended. Review samples courtesy of distributed in the UK by Hannants Ltd.

Here are the final pictures.. hope you enjoy them. For the build look here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234931114-148-oa-10a-thunderbolt-ii-callsign-sandy/ And for all your comments, good or bad.. Shoot! Guess this on is really my favourite..

SU-25K Wing Pylons 1:48 Eduard Brassin (648054) The SU-25 modeller has had two choices of kit in 1:48 for a long while now, both of which are quite aged and simplistic by current standards. The Revell/Monogram issue is more representative of the prototype, while the Kopro/OEZ kit has its own flaws with simplistic detail and blank areas where there should be detail. Of the two, the new KP Models kit, which is an update of the Kopro model is probably your best bet as it includes a new resin cockpit and some Photo-Etch (PE) detail. It is also easily available again now that KP Models have taken up the batton. This set arrives in Eduard's familiar clamshell box, and aims to upgrade the pylons of either kit to a high standard, which it achieves well. A complete replacement set of resin pylons are included, totalling 14 pylons in all, with optional components for the outermost station on the wings. Further munitions adapter rails are provided for four pylons, on the outermost and innerpost stations on each wing. A set of sway braces make up the final resin parts of the set – eight of each fore and aft. Six tiny PE detail parts are required for the longer adapter rails, and these will be found on the postage-stamp sized fret that is trapped behind the black card on the upper part of the package. Two spares are included in case of mishap, but care will still be the order of the day for both removing the parts from the fret, and handling them prior to attachment to the rails. Conclusion The smaller details are what adds a significant degree of realism to a model, and the resin pylons perform that task well. They improve on the comparatively featureless kit parts, and if you choose to leave some pylons un-laden, the detail of the mounting surface will impress. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

A couple more too add. Both fun to build, with their individual frustrations, not least the canopy shape of the F-16 and the undercarriage length of the A-10. Never mind, there are more important things to be concerned about. Firstly the A-10 Revell A-10 Thuderbolt II 4 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Revell A-10 Thuderbolt II 2 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Revell A-10 Thuderbolt II 1 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Then the F-16 Academy F-16 Fighting Falcon 4 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Academy F-16 Fighting Falcon 3 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Academy F-16 Fighting Falcon 2 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Academy F-16 Fighting Falcon 1 by jonbru0903, on Flickr Best wishes all. Quite like the new look of the Forum.