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She is finished finally! tried to be ready before the new highly awaited Kinetic wonder! I especially like the AML exhaust! Iwill buy more from them in the future! (they released a pair for the Heller Mirage IV as well recently!!! ) it is looking cool, no? sunset was already some years ago for Brazilian Mirages! first the IIIs and later the stopgap 2000B/C (till what exactly? Gripen E in some years time!!) the in progress can be found here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234966501-mirage-iiiebr-148-aztec-decals-on/?hl=mirage thanks for comments!

Finished today, this is the Tamiya 1/32nd Spitfire VIII kit with extras from Barracuda, Eduard, Master, Quickboost and Radub. Constructed as one of 152 Sqdn's mounts from Burma in late 1944. Painted mainly with Gunze Aqueous paints, and weathered with pastels and oils. Mostly loved this kit, but the Engine cowlings are a pain ( might be due to the AM rocker covers), and some of the swappable parts are basically pointless. Also you are left with holes to fit the slipper tank. I am happy how it's turned out though. Build Thread is available here Peter

The personal mount of Col. Paul Douglas, commander of 388 TFW, "Arkansas Traveller II", complete with his 8 kills from WWII. This is the Tamiya 1/32nd F-4E Early, with Rhinomodel Seamless intakes, Avionix Cockpit, Eduard Placards and Stencil Masks, Master Pitot tubes, Quickboost FOD covers and finally the CAM Decals. Homemade RBF Tags (thanks Mish!) I have to say this is one of the few builds with Aftermarket where everything was worth while - I especially liked the stencil masks rather than using decals for the stencils as they look better, and are way more fun to do than decals. The Avionix pit is also very nice, and unlike a Aires resin actually gives good fitting instructions too. The only negative is the fuselage had a slight twist, probably from the hacking about to get the seamless intakes to fit, but it throws off the stabilators slightly. Painted with Gunze throughout apart from the metalwork which is just about every shade of Alclad. Weathered lightly with oils, as the photo looks pretty clean. Build thread is available here for those who are interested Peter

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

Airborne Torpedoes and Trolleys Master Models 1:350 Having built a large and impressive model, say of an aircraft carrier, it sometimes feels that there is something missing. Yes, you could add some or even a lot of crew, but what about flightdeck equipment, airborne weapons etc. Well Master Models have just released these two sets that will go some way to liven up, or set the scene on the flightdeck or even the hanger. Both sets provide ten Mark 13 torpedoes and more importantly, their transport trolleys. The differences in each set are the change in airborne torpedo tails which is why there are separate early and late type in these sets. The trolleys and torpedo tails are in etch brass, while the torpedo bodies have been produced in turned brass. When combined with suitable crew these will look superb whether arming a Devastator or an Avenger or just parked in the weapons park. Conclusion These are two great little sets that provide that extra life on a flightdeck. The trolleys and torpedo tails look like they will be a little fiddly to make up, but as usual with these types of builds, plenty to care and patience will reap rewards. Then all you have to do is work out what scenario you are going to use them. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Piotr at

Bismarck Barrel Sets Master Barrels 1:200 Just arrived at BM Towers are these three sets for the huge Trumpeter 1:200 Bismarck. As is usual the stand of manufacture is superb with even the smallest barrel detailed with various strengthening rings etc. The sets provide enough barrels to arm the complete model. You get eight 15” in set SM-200-006, twelve 5.9”, sixteen 105mm in set SM-200-007 and sixteen 37mm, twelve 20mm C/30, 8 20mm C/38 in set SM-200-008. Both the 15” and 5.9” barrels are produced in turned aluminium making them surprisingly light which won’t strain the glue attaching them to their respective barrels. The smaller barrels are all done in turned brass and really do bring a finesse that injection moulding cannot hope to reproduce. Conclusion You really can’t go wrong with using these barrels for such a wonderful kit. Although some might say that the kits 15” barrels are already good enough, there is something about have a metal barrel that seems to give a model a lift in the detail stakes. Of course you don’t have to buy all three sets which is why Master Models have released them separately to give the modeller a choice. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of Piotr at

I see that Hannants are stocking 1/700 turned brass gun barrels by Master. They seem to offer a price advantage over equivalents from Aber. Is there anything to choose between them quality-wise please?