ON THE SHELF
AIRCRAFT KITS110 View more reviews online:www.airfi xmodelworld.com http://www.airfi xmodelworld.com 111FAR EASTERN TRAINER
Ki-86a/K9W1 ‘Cypress’
By: ICM Item no: 32032
Price: £37.99 Web: hannants.co.ukHaving featured German-built Bü
131s previously, ICM now offers
the Japanese licence-built Ki-86a,
which shares the same parts as
the -B variant (32031) and adds a
brand-new Runner D1 to cater for
differences in the engine cowling
andwheels. Otherwise, everything
is as one would expect from a
modern ICM release, with delicately
moulded detail, restrained scallopingon the wings/fuselage to represent
fabric-covered surfaces, a beautiful
eight-piece engine, and full cockpit
framework. Either a K9W1 or Ki-86a
version can be built, and overall this
represents great value for money.
There are four schemes:- K9W1, B2-20, 381st Kokutai, Malaya,
1945 - Ki-86a, Koku Shikan Gakkō,
Manchukuo, 1945 - Ki-86a, Tachiarai Rikugun Hiko
Gakkō, 1945 - Ki-86a, Koku Shikan Gakkō,
Manchukuo, June 1945
Su-30SM Flanker-C
By: Zvezda Item no: 7314
Price: £22.99 Web: hobbyco.netWhile Zvezda has released Su-30s
in the past, none were based on its
2014 Flanker, and this is actually
the Su-30SM Flanker-H variant
(not the -C as stated on the box). It
comprises 12 styrene runners, plus
separate upper/lower fuselage
halves; the former appears to be
freshly tooled for this release, with
fittings for canards and a two-
place cockpit. There’s a huge array
of weaponry to hang under thewings and fuselage, and options
for a raised/lowered canopy,
airbrake, flaps, slats and engine
nozzles. The five schemes are:- RF-81770/Red 59, 14th IAP,
Russian AF, Kursk, 2018 - Black 55, 4th Combat Training
and Re-training Center, Russian
AF, Lipetsk - Red 04, 604th Aviation Base,
Kazakhstan AF, 2015 - RF-95819/Red 03, 31st IAP,
Russian AF, Millerovo, 2015 - Blue 43 ‘Sevastopol’, 43rd
OMShAP, Russian Naval Aviation,
Saki, Crimea, 2016
SB2C-4 Helldiver
By: Dragon Item no: 5103
Price: £35.99 Web: hobbyco.net
At first glance this kit appears more
expensive than other Dragon/
Cyber-Hobby Helldivers, but that’s
because it contains parts to build
one of three options – an SB2C-3,
SB2C-4 or US Army A-25A-5CS
Shrike. The beautifully moulded
parts are presented on nine styrene
runners, with alternative dive-brakes,
propellers and wheels, and there
are different photo-etched brass
frets for the army and US Navy
aircraft. All this combines to provide
a sumptuous interior, with a highly
detailed cockpit, gunner’s station and
bomb bay. Markings are provided for
the following:- A-25A, 41-18787, 1944
- SB2C-3, 107/112/22, VB-7, USS
Hancock (CV-19), 1944 - SB2C-3, 38, VB-80, USS
Ticonderoga (CV-14), 1944 - SB2C-4, 6, VB-80, USS Hancock
(CV-19), 1945 - SB2C-4, 205/206/210/211, VB-87,
USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), 1945 - SB2C-4, 114, VB-3, CVA-10, USS
Yorktown, 1945
ARMY/NAVY DIVERS
EF-111A Raven ‘Electric Fox’
By: Hasegawa
Item no: 02300 Price: £49.99
Web: http://www.amerang.co.ukHasegawa has taken the retro
approach with its latest EF-111A
Raven release, by depicting the
prototype airframe in its eye-
catching demonstration scheme.
It shares six styrene runners with
Hasegawa’s other F-111s, plus a
tweaked Runner D for the lower
fuselage; other airframe changes
(vertical stabiliser, electronics
‘canoe’ and instrument panel)are supplied on a new Runner L.
This is arguably one Hasegawa’s
better offerings with options for
raised/lowered flaps/slats, and
forward/swept wings. The single
scheme features airframe 66-049
in overall gloss white, while all
trim is supplied in decal form,
including cut-outs for the raised
antenna bulges on the vertical
stabiliser. Modellers wishing to
paint the livery are provided with
separate lightning flashes for the
tail, although the fuselage national
insignia must be removed carefully
from the surrounding markings.STUNNING ‘SPARK-VARK’
RUSSIAN AIR SUPERIORITY
1/321/72 1/721/72