SCALE MODEL NEWS

SMN REPORT  It’s that time of the year again, when Airfix introduces its latest Club-only kit edition. And the 2013 Airfix Club kit is called ‘Under the Red Star’ but instead of featuring a single subject, there are three 1:72 scale fighters, all in the same box. The Airfix Club kit includes three familiar World War II combat types, a Supermarine Spitfire Vb, a Hawker Hurricane IIb, and a Curtiss P-40B Warhawk in three unusual Soviet decal schemes. It’s this latter that takes our eye, if only because we don’t see too many white-painted World War II combat types on model shelves. Big cockpit Soviet pilots made good use of all the aircraft supplied to them by the Allied powers, and the P-40 was no exception. Pilots enjoyed its handling, though at first found the big, glasshouse-like cockpit rather unnerving - but soon realised that the all-round visibility in combat more than made up for any personal feelings of being exposed to enemy bullets. Club presentation The kits are all up to...

SMN report: The new Tamiya 1:32 scale P-51D is gathering plaudits all over, and we’re not surprised. It’s easily a match for the firm’s Spitfire models in this scale, and utilises the same super-small magnet technology to keep the ultra-thin engine cowlings in place. Scene from the Red Tails movie, featuring P-40s and P-51Ds. Is it worth buying? Should you pony up the money to buy this Mustang? The answer is quite simple - if you have the slightest interest in this World War II thoroughbred, and enjoy model making, it has to be an unqualified yes. Usual high quality box art from Tamiya. Enjoy the Tamiya pix (don’t forget to click for the full-size images) to see what we mean. Neat wheel-well and drop-tank detail. Merlin engine a miniature marvel. Note red tail markings and (below) neat stand. Magnets allow full engine reveal. Note separate prop spinner. Metal-etch parts for fine details. Finished cockpit assembly, and (below) triple 'whole nine yard' ammo belts. Red Tails movie...