The brain child of three of aviations true immortals, Donald Douglas, Sr., Ed Heinemann and Jack Northrop – the A-20 arrived at a time of rapid growth and change in the late 1930’s as the world prepared for war. Here I look at the out of production AMT 1/48 scale “G” model which was the final, heavily armed version used extensively for ground attack. Here it is, the AMT A-20G "HAVOC"
12/29/03 Construction Completed 10/1/06


During the early years of the First World War the Germans held the advantage in the air with the infamous Fokker Scourge but in 1916 the tables began to turn due to the introduction of the Airco DH-2. The DH-2 was of a pusher design which allowed for the weapons to be mounted in front without concern for a propeller. The aircraft was very maneuverable and relatively easy to fly but technological advances only gave it about 8 months on the front line before becoming obsolete. Here is the Eduard 1/48 release of the Airco DH-2.
5/4/08

The Messerschmitt Bf-109 and the Heinkel He-111 both wreaked havoc over the cities of England during the Second World War but ironically these two fabled Axis combatants would join in the most unusual manner to help the newly established Israeli nation survive its tumultuous birth. Manufactured by Avia in Czechoslovakia and sold to Israeli agents this problematic aircraft was immediately put into combat. Difficult to handle on the ground and not much better in the air it nonetheless provided the weapon dearly needed to stave off Egyptian attack until something better could be acquired. From Hobby Craft, here is the 1/48 scale Avia S-199 “Mule”. 10/8/04 - Construction completed 11/21/04

Originally intended as a small passenger aircraft and mail transport this twin engined aircraft was quickly adapted for military service. Unfortunately the type was too slow and too weakly armed to survive well in a combat environment. However this did not hinder its ability to contribute to the war effort. Over 11,000 units were produced in Britain and Canada to perform as training aircraft. Used to instruct navigators, bombers and gunnery crews she continued in regular service until 1952. From Classic Airframes this is the 1/48 Avro Anson Mk. 1 early version. 8/20/06

1978 was the year, disco and polyester leisure suits were the rage and in the model shops appeared a box that fired the imagination of generations. Revell had released their 1/48 scale B-17F Memphis Belle and the modeling world would never be the same. Often maligned for raised panel lines and rivets it was and still is a sought after kit by modelers around the world. For a preview of this classic kit, click here…B-17F Preview
Lot's of B-17F models have been built, how about an "E" by Paragon?.... B-17E Conversion
Now let's put all this together with the B-17E Construction. Project completed on 12/24/03

It has been more than thirty years since two competing companies released 1/48 scale models of the B-17 Flying Fortress. A lot has happened over that time, nations have gone to war, companies have risen and fallen but the 1/48 scale B-17 has been there through it all. Some changes were made and many accessories were turned out by aftermarket suppliers and through it all the 1/48 B-17 had become an icon of a modeling generation. Come with me on a journey through the History of the 1/48 B-17. 5/27/06 Updated 1/4/08

At first glance it looks like a B-17, just like all the rest flying over Europe in formation but as an enemy fighter moves in for the kill it suddenly becomes clear that this is no normal B-17, this is a meat grinder. In 1942 Boeing converted 20 B-17Fs into long range escort fighters with bomb bays filled to capacity with ammunition and extra armor plate on the fuselage. While a good idea on paper this never moved past the service test phase however I feel compelled to build a 1/48 Boeing YB-40 Escort Fighter. 03/24/09 Construction Complete 06/14/2010

I love building heavy bombers and jump at the chance to acquire any new kits or conversions when they become available. In the summer of 2003 Cutting Edge Modelworks released their resin conversion set for the 1/48 scale Monogram B-24J. This conversion allows the modeler to reproduce the distinctive “S” fairing on the nose and accurately model alternative “J” aircraft along with the “H”, “L” and “M” versions of the B-24. For a review of this conversion set, click here…B-24 Ford Nose Conversion 10/5/03

Chosen by Jimmy Doolittle to take the fight directly to the Japanese and used in every theater of combat. Initially proposed in 1939, first flown in 1940 and first blooded in 1942 over Japan. It was used for ground support and attack, low level bombing and anti-shipping, here is the 1/48 scale Accurate Miniature B-25C/D Mitchell medium bomber.
1/12/04


With a design that was perhaps one of the sleekest shapes of the Second World War, the Martin Marauder rode out a stormy passage at the beginning of its career. With the short wingspan some pilots quipped that she had ‘no visible means of support’ which ultimately resulted in the moniker ‘The Baltimore Whore’. Many of you may not be aware of the fact that this aircraft was modeled in 1/48 scale by two independent manufactures. It has been released many times by Revell-Monogram but also by ESCI and here we will look at both kits. Here is a pair of B-26B Marauders 4/3/04

Late in 2002 I committed to build a B-29 for the 504/509 Bomb Group reunion in Annapolis for May 2003. Of course I forgot all about this until April 2003 when they called me and asked how that project was coming along. Of course I said “Just fine” and dug into the kit with a passion that night. For gallery pictures and some ramblings about the kit, click here…B-29 Dragon Lady
10/4/03


This little bi-fuel rocket fighter was designed in 1941 and once Stalin gave the project his approval it only took 35 days to produce the first prototype. Seven of these hot little numbers were manufactured but the type never came into production. Flight tested until 1945 it was destined to become nothing more than a footnote in rocket history. Let’s take a look at the only 1/48 kit of this Russian project plane, the Bereznyak-Ishaev B1 Rocket Interceptor from Sierra Scale. 12/10/05 Construction Completed 8/27/06

In 1936 the French Air Force went looking for a new fast bomber to update their inventory. Bloch Aircraft stepped up to the plate with their three seat, twin engined Mb 174. Powered by two Gnome-Rhone 14 cylinder radial engines and displaying exceptional handling characteristics the aircraft was quite capable of taking care of itself. Put into production just two years after the initial prototype flew it was still in short supply by May of 1940 when the German war machine rolled into France. This is the 1/48 scale resin kit from Pend O’Rielle models of the Bloch Mb 174 A3 . 9/17/05

By the time the Blenheim Mk V entered service in mid 1942 it was hopelessly underpowered and outclassed compared to its adversaries in the Mediterranean and Far East theatres. It was originally built in England in 1934 as one of the first executive planes for the proprietor of the Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere. At the time it was 30 mph faster than the RAF's new biplane fighter, the Gloster Gauntlet. Bristol designed a military version of their new aircraft, the Type 142M, which became the Blenheim Mk. 1. Here we look at the end result of that line of aircraft, from Classic Airframes, the 1/48 scale multi-media Bristol Blenheim Mk. V 12/24/04

The P-40 Warhawk/Tomahawk/Kittyhawk family of fighters evolved from the Curtiss P-36 Hawk series with a better engine and all round better performance. The export equivalent of the P-40B was the Tomahawk IIA. They differed from the American version by having the wing guns replaced by four 0.303-inch Brownings. The only American fighter aircraft built in larger numbers than the P-40 were the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. Let’s take a look at the new 1/48 scale Trumpeter Curtiss P-40B “Warhawk” 11/19/04

America's foremost fighter in service when WWII began was the Curtiss-Wright P-40. As early reports of the war filtered back to Curtiss they increased the armament package to six fifty-caliber guns and added a slightly more powerful engine to become the E model. Though often outclassed by its adversaries in speed, maneuverability and rate of climb, the P-40 earned a reputation in battle for extreme ruggedness. Warhawk was the name the USAAF adopted thus it is the official name of the airplane series as a whole. For a low cost model of this historic aircraft here is the Arii kit of the Curtiss P-40E Warhawk. 7/16/05 Construction completed 12/31/05

Approximately 1300 P-40K aircraft were manufactured at the Curtiss plant in Buffalo New York during the latter half of 1942. At the time it was thought these would be the last P-40s made but delays in the P-60 program forced the continued development of the type. Most of the K models went to China and India but a few ended up in Africa and England to tangle with the Messerschmitt Bf-109 while a few others went to Brazil and Russia. Let’s check out the latest offering from Hasegawa of what looks to be a series of P-40 models, the Curtiss P-40K. 4/4/06

The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was obsolete on the day it was introduced, at least by European standards that is. Even so the type was used as a stop-gap measure in all theaters but by 1943 the technological gap was widening. Curtiss made a valiant attempt to fix the issues with the Warhawk putting it into a stringent weight reduction program which resulted in the fastest version of the aircraft yet. AMT/ERTL provided the modeling community with a fine example of this variant several years ago and it is still readily available. Let’s take a look at the final production version of the Warhawk, the Curtiss P-40N. 2/26/06 Second kit construction completed 12/30/06

It’s the last of the line, the final version destined to never see production of an aircraft that fired the imagination of generations. The P-40 Warhawk, or better known as the Flying Tiger, the type was not able to keep up with new designs being produced during the war. Curtiss-Wright Corporation made one last effort to upgrade the aircraft and keep it competitive but it just wasn’t enough. This is the Planet Models 1/48 scale full resin version of that last effort, the Curtiss XP-40Q-2. 2/19/06 Construction Completed 1/7/07

This is a difficult aircraft to categorize, is it civilian or military? Nearly half of all produced went to military service for utility and Search and Rescue operations. In service around the world since 1952 and still highly sought after today due to it’s ruggedness and reliability. Originally designated the ‘King Beaver’, from Hobbycraft, this is the 1/48 scale De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter
3/24/04


The DC-3 set a new standard for air travel and made it possible for airlines to make a profit in passenger service without government subsidies. Once the military got their hands on it, it became the C-47, which handled troops and equipment throughout the war. It continued in service right into the 21st century in both civilian and military arenas. For your consideration, this is the Monogram 1/48 scale Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
11/12/04


Cargo hauler, soldier, movie star, this aircraft has certainly played a lot of roles during its lifespan. Developed by Fairchild in 1947 to replace the aging C-82 Packet this new hauler was known as the Flying Boxcar in it’s civilian guise but was also known as “Spooky”, “Puff” or “Dragon Ship” while in military dress. Here we take a look at the Italeri boxing of this 1/72 scale aircraft, the Fairchild AC-119K “Stinger” gun ship.
11/13/05


The original design was a biplane but after several design modifications it ultimately became know as the F4F “Wildcat”. As World War 2 raged the Wildcat's reputation and utilization grew immensely. The aircraft was seeing active service with the U.S. Navy and the Marines in not only the Pacific Theater but in North Africa as well. Grumman's stubby, rugged fighter held the line against the Zeros in the early air battles of the war. Tamiya offers a great foundation kit in 1/48 plus there is aftermarket stuff galore. Here she is, the Tamiya Grumman F4F Wildcat.
4/24/05 Construction completed 9/22/05

Designed in 1936 and manufactured from 1937 until 1945 this amazing little amphibious seaplane acted as the primary utility plane for the Navy and provided a rugged and dependable means for many private airlines to service out-of-the-way areas around the world. Still in service in the twenty-first century, here is the new Czech Model 1/48 scale Grumman JRF Goose; 1/21/04
Construction completed 3/22/04


A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster bomber and the Short Stirling, the Handley Page Halifax was one of three primary front line heavy bombers used by the British during the Second World War. Initially used as a day bomber the Halifax was found to be vulnerable to Luftwaffe fighters and was then restricted to night operations. The first new four engine bomber kit that the 1/48 modeling community has seen in quite some years this is the Fonderie Miniatures Handley Page Halifax Mk. III.
2/4/06

Design work on the Hawker Sea Fury began during the Second World War and built upon proven design features found in the Typhoon and the Tempest. The Sea Fury did not fly until Feb. 21st, 1945 and production development would not allow the type to see action in the Second World War however it did see action during the Korean War. While not completely accurate Hobby Craft did manufacture a basic kit that could easily be built into a fine example of the Hawker Sea Fury F.B. Mk. II.
6/16/07

The Hawker Typhoon was simply put the most effective ground attack aircraft used by the Western Allies in WW2. For the Allies “Typhoon” was synonymous with ground attack. Designed by Hawker’s Sir Sidney Camm as a Hurricane/Spitfire replacement just before WW2 the Typhoon was a large single seat fighter meant to be faster and more heavily armed than anything that was in service with the RAF or any competing power. The Typhoon was lacking at heights over 15,000 feet, where most combat was fought but below that level it could soundly beat the FW 190. From Hasegawa here is the 1/48 scale Hawker Typhoon Mk. 1B. 2/3/05

She was a tank with wings. It was not uncommon to have reports of heavy rounds bouncing off the armored shell. She was an Ilyushin IL-2. Designed in 1938 by Sergey Ilyushin all this aircraft’s vital components including pilot were contained in an armored shell that comprised nearly 15% of the aircraft’s gross weight. She was slow but she was tough, so tough that Germans on the ground called her “Flying Concrete”. Let’s take a look at the Accurate Miniatures offering of the 1/48 Ilyushin IL-2M3 Flying Tank. 6/2/06

When the Russian Navy went looking to replace their outmoded recon aircraft they went looking to T. M. Beriev and his design team. They produced a classically designed seaplane that featured dual controls and folding wings for shipboard storage. Intended to be launched by catapult from battle ships and cruisers by time the war broke out they were recalled from the navy, refitted with wheels and used as coastal spotters and light strike aircraft under the new designation BE-2. Step into the world of esoteric aircraft and look at the MPM vacuformed KOR.1 reconnaissance float plane. 10/29/05

The Lavochkin La-5F was a development of the earlier La-5 which was based on the Lagg-3. Improvements incorporated into the F were better aerodynamic efficiency and improved flight controls. The La-5F lost some of its punch in that one of the 20mm cannons was dropped in a weight saving effort. Developmentally it was only an interim aircraft but had a great effect in the air during the Great Patriotic War. Vector, who is known for their excellent resin detail sets, now offers this complete resin kit of the Lavochkin La-5F. 1/11/09 Construction Completed 5/09/09

The Lavochkin La-7 was considered one of the last "Grand Pianos" of combat aircraft, it was evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The use of metals lightened the aircraft considerably and combined with various other streamlining changes resulted in an aircraft faster than the La-5 and more than a match for the Luftwaffe’s Fw-190. The fifth offering from Gavia of the Czech Republic, this is the 1/48 Lavochkin La-7.
2/25/05


Design work began in 1936 on this butt-ugly dive bomber. It was intended to be a single seat aircraft with semi-retractable landing gear with the primary user being the French Navy and the French Air Force. Once it took flight in 1938 it was found to be wanting in several areas. With limited production and brief wartime service this is the 1/48 limited run Loire-Nieuport LN.411 from Azur.
1/1/06


It seems slightly odd that we would have an American built reconnaissance bomber manufactured during the war years that was not used by the United States Army Air Force but it’s true. This is the Martin Maryland 167 that lost out in competition to the Douglas A-20 Havoc but was picked up by the French and the British. Used as a reconnaissance bomber and high altitude spy plane take a look at the most recent release from Koster Aero Enterprises, the Martin Maryland 167.
1/29/06

When Luftwaffe pilots first sighted this sleek, high-speed aircraft in the skies over Russia they were not concerned. They thought that they were German aircraft While the truth of the matter rapidly became apparent to the Luftwaffe pilots, the German High Command refused to believe the initial reports coming from the Eastern Front. Now the Luftwaffe would have to contend with the high-speed, high-altitude MiG-3
11/24/03


The Flying Wing has such an aeronautically clean design that it gives it a big advantage over conventional aircraft designs. The N-1M “Jeep” was truly the first American flying wing aircraft. From its inception, it was plagued by poor performance because it was both overweight and chronically underpowered. Despite these problems it was successful enough to serve as the forerunner of more advanced concepts such as the XB-35, YB-49 and the B-2 Stealth Bomber. From Sword this is the 1/48 multi-media Northrop N-1M “Jeep”. 9/17/04

The OS2U Kingfisher came about as a result of a 1937 US Navy specification for a new ‘Observer-Scout’ aircraft for use on battleships. Three companies offered up designs for the specification. The Vought airframe was selected and began a long service history in the position. Monogram kitted this kit back in 1967 and it is the only 1/48 Kingfisher kit available. Come with me and see what can be done to bring this venerable old kit into the 21st Century, here a facelift is given to the OS2U Kingfisher. 11/8/09 Construction completed 11/23/09

The P-39 Airacobra had an unusual configuration by installing the engine behind the pilot, as close as possible to the aircraft’s center of gravity. The Airacobra airframe was streamlined and extremely aerodynamic but it did have a few unpleasant flight characteristics. Hadley M. Dixon, WWII veteran and P-39 pilot remembers thinking after he was introduced to the P-39: “Its gender was feminine. Something that pretty just had to be a she.” Let’s have a look at the Hasegawa rendering of the P-39D/P-400 Airacobra. 9/15/07

In the entire history of military aviation, there has never been an airplane that could match the P-47 Thunderbolt for ruggedness and dependability. The pilots who flew it into combat called it "The Unbreakable" and "The plane that can do anything." The Thunderbolt was surprisingly agile at high altitude but could also drop like a brick, which was an advantage in air battles. Luftwaffe pilots would find out that trying to break off combat and dive away was sheer suicide when fighting a “Jug”. Here is the Tamiya P-47D Bubble Top. 7/21/04

Scorching along at 467 mph at 32,000 ft., the P-47N could not be caught by any fighter in regular service with any air force on earth with the single exception of its "M" model sibling. The largest, heaviest and most powerful production version of the Republic P-47, this birds innovative ‘wet wing’ gave it an incredible 2,350 mile range and the ability to escort B-29 bombers all the way to Japan on a daily basis. Here is the Academy P-47N clipped wing long range Thunderbolt.
8/21/04. Construction completed 10/5/04

The design was for a low drag airframe and laminar flow wings, which allowed for some truly staggering, at the time, top end speeds. When involved in aerial combat a P-51 in almost all circumstances had one option his enemy did not - he could leave. Here we take a look at Tamiya’s North American P-51D Mustang dressed up for the 8th Air Force.
3/3/04
Construction completed 5/15/04

“The Yellow Jackets” flew P-51 Mustangs from bases in England, Belgium and France between 1943 and 1945 as part of the 8th Air Force. By Victory in Europe Day, the 361st Fighter Group stood down having flown a total of 441 combat missions in fifteen months of operations. Hasegawa has issued a 1/48 scale P-51D Mustang devoted to the 361st FG and here we take a look at that fine model kit and also make some comparisons with the Tamiya P-51 kit. Let’s go now to the Hasegawa P-51D ‘Yellow Nose’ 1/14/07 Construction completed 1/14/07

America’s first jet fighter’s performance was not spectacular and it never got into combat but the P-59 provided training for AAF personnel and invaluable data for subsequent development of higher performance jet airplanes. The P-59A project was conducted under the utmost secrecy, with Bell building the airplane and General Electric the engine. In the end, only 66 Airacomets were constructed. Let’s take a look at the Hobbycraft offering of the Bell P-59A Airacomet.
4/3/05

In response to basic requirements and specifications handed down by the Emmons Board, Northrop developed a large twin engine, twin boomed aircraft to house the British developed Airborne Interception RADAR unit in the nose. This was the birth of the ‘Black Widow’. The P-61 ‘Black Widow’ operated with distinction in both the Pacific and the European theaters. Today there are four surviving P-61s, none of which are in flyable condition. Here we can take a look at the classic 1/48 Monogram P-61 ‘Black Widow’.
6/3/07

The PB2Y was the end result of a contract placed by the Navy in July of 1936 for a large four-engined maritime reconnaissance bomber flying boat. Named the Coronado the PB2Y-2 carried a crew of nine and had a defensive armament of six 50-caliber machine guns. Several of the -3 models were converted to low-altitude engines under the designation PB2Y-5. Join us in looking at this 1/72 scale Coronado from Mach-2, the PB2-Y Coronado.
1/7/07

This is a Monogram 1/48 scale B-24J that has been modified with Bill Koster’s vacuform nose to represent a PB4Y-1 Navy bomber. The decals are custom made by Mike Grant Designs in Canada to represent the "Impatient Virgin".
For a complete construction review of the model click here...PB4Y-1 Impatient Virgin
And for those of you that just need to see that artwork up close....Impatient Virgin Close Up
1/8/03

Affectionately called ‘Dumbos’ the Catalina was developed as a result of a 1933 Naval Contract intended to replace the Consolidated P2Y or Martin P3M that were in service at the time. Originally seeing service in 1936, the PBY was used extensively for aerial scouting, search and rescue as well as submarine interdiction during the war. Here we take a look at Revell-Monograms large 1/48 scale PBY-5A Catalina.
4/16/05


The Russian heavy bomber program began life in 1934 as the ANT-42 and by December of 1936 a prototype was flying. It was renamed the Pe-8 and was of equal performance and capacity to the American B-17 bomber. It had an operational ceiling in excess of 30,000 feet, a maximum speed of about 276 mph and could carry 8,800 pound of bombs. Russian manufacture kits are growing in both quality and popularity recently and this Amodel kit is a good example of what is coming from the East. Let’s take a look at this 1/72 scale Petlyakov Pe-8.
10/7/07

The concept of the I-16 began in the very early 1930s when Nikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov was working on the I-15 Bi-plane. The Type 29 was the final incarnation of the aircraft design with a Shvetsov M-63 engine and a single 12.7mm machine gun. Eduard has been producing fine 1/48 scale kits of several of the I-16 family and here we can see the final evolution of the type, the Polikarpov I-16 Type 29.
12/16/07

Here is Mirage's 1/48 scale PZL 37 Los' B. What a nightmare this kit turned out to be. One of the first bombers used against the Germans you may enjoy a complete construction review here ...PZL 37 Los’ B
6/29/03



There is something about a Ryan ST and the military PT-20 that brings whistles and a Wow! from the mouths of airplane lovers everywhere. This Ryan series of aircraft began as a look that came out of the wondrously creative world of 1930’s aviation design. For inexpensive modeling fun, from Testors, this is the 1/48 scale Ryan PT-20/STM-S2
3/29/04


This kit is a slight diversion from what I normally work on as it is 1/72 scale. This is the Sword release of the Sikorsky S-43 Flying Boat and this is definitely a kit worth looking into. For a complete "in box" preview of this model click here...Sikorsky S-43 Preview
5/23/03
Construction completed 2/21/05


Designed to replace the SBD Dauntless this aircraft was manufactured by Curtiss with a rough start. First flown in 1940 it did not actually enter into service until 1943 and was to be the last naval dive bomber to see active service. Originally kitted by Pro Modeler then leased to Hasegawa briefly it is now coming out under the Accurate Miniatures logo. With new markings for NAS Atlantic City New Jersey let’s take a look at the 2005 production of the SB2C-4 Helldiver. 12/18/05

One of the most widely recognizable aircraft from World War Two has got to be the Supermarine Spitfire. This aircraft experienced a long evolution resulting in many refinements and variations. Here I present to you an In-Box Preview of the 1996 release by Airfix of the final evolution of this legendary steed. In 1/48 scale, here is the navalised version of the Spitfire, the Supermarine Seafire FR.46/47
11/14/03


It’s the last of the line, the final development of a true thoroughbred. First conceived as a seaplane racer in 1931, later adopted by the RAF as its front line defense fighter, developed and modified over several years it was more than a legend, it was the Spitfire. By the end of the war it was up to the Mk.16 but development continued to the ultimate Mk.22/24 Spitfire before it was put out to pasture by the introduction of the jet fighter. Originally kitted by Airfix, now Eduard has taken this and upgraded it to a “full meal deal” with resin and pe parts. Check out this exceptional boxing of the Spitfire Mk.22/24. 10/1/06

The Walrus was rather rectangular in outline and it was difficult to believe that it came from the same stables as the elegant Spitfire. Initially ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force in 1935 as the Seagull V it entered service with Britain's Fleet Air Arm in 1936 as the Walrus. To its crews, however, it was widely known as the Shagbat. Despite its appearance it established a solid reputation for reliability and ability to withstand damage. From Classic Airframes here is the multi-media 1/48 scale Supermarine Walrus  7/3/04

Chuff? Turkey? Pregnant Beast? Tarpon? Any of these names ring a bell? How about the biggest, heaviest single engine aircraft to grace the decks of U.S. aircraft carriers during the Second World War. That’s right, it’s the Grumman TBM/TBF Avenger! This is the 1/48 scale offering that came from Accurate Miniatures just before their demise in the late 1990’s. Reissued by the new Accurate Miniatures in it’s original low cost packaging, here for your review is the TBM-3D Radar Equipped #506 Avenger.
1/16/04


Here is an aircraft that had the dubious reputation of being the aircraft that suffered the greatest losses of all during the Great Patriotic War. Designed by A. A. Arkhangelski under the direction of Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev and first flown in 1933, this is the 1/48 scale vacuform multi-media kit of the Tupolev SB-2M BIS “Little Katie”
11/28/03
Construction completed 8/2/04

Often referred to as England’s most important bomber the Vickers Wellington held the line for the first few years of the war. Constructed using a geodetic design commonly found in lighter than air ships assembly took an excessive amount of time but gave the aircraft the ability to absorb huge amounts of battle damage. Obsolete by 1943 she continued as a coastal command aircraft and support type. From Trumpeter models this is the 1/48 Vickers Wellington Mk. 1. 9/10/06

This last fixed wing aircraft to roll off the Westland assembly lines took nearly ten years to develop yet only had an operational service life of five years. This last propeller driven fighter aircraft hold a near cult status among modelers. Today I look at the Trumpeter version which is the forth time this aircraft has been modeled in 1/48 scale and may be the best rendition to hit the model store shelves, without further ado here is the Trumpeter Westland Wyvern S.4 multi role carrier based fighter/bomber.
10/29/06

One of the most unusual Army Air Forces research projects to be revealed to the public by the Air Technical Service Command is the XP-55 Ascender, a tail-first, pusher fighter. The performance of the XP-55 was not very impressive and was in fact inferior to that of the more conventional fighters already in service. Had the aircraft been fitted with the originally intended engine and had fly-by-wire systems been available at the time, it most likely would have been a successful design. Ultimately, it simply became another aerial oddity. Here is the Curtiss XP-55 Ascender. 4/28/04

Definitely a futuristic looking aircraft, the Northrop XP-56 “black Bullet” was evolved as a response to Circular Proposal R-40C. The XP-56 was the first USAAF fighter aircraft to be built by Jack Northrop’s third attempt at an independent aircraft company, Northrop Aircraft Inc. of Hawthorne, California, the forerunner of today's Northrop Corporation. Ultimately it failed to perform anywhere near the desired level but did provide data that contributed to the B-2 bomber and the development of new construction processes. Let’s take a look at Czech Model’s 1/48 multi-media Northrop XP-56 “Black Bullet”. 1/21/05

The first Yak aircraft saw initial development in 1939 as a two-seat, unarmed and underpowered trainer. The designed showed good promise and was developed into the armed advanced trainer version, Yak-7A. Improvements continued, leading to the introduction of the "Yak-7B" in the spring of 1942 with improved armament and engine. The Yak-7B was used with great effectiveness by several accomplished Russian pilots both men and women. For your review this is the ICM 1/48 scale Yak 7-B “Aces” series with ground crew.
10/15/04 ... Construction completed 10/18/04