Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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MiniArt Releases New P-47M Thunderbolt Advanced Kit With PE, Three Liveries

MiniArt has released their new P-47M Thunderbolt Advanced Kit in 1/48 scale.

As previously reported, the P-47M varint was a late-war, high-speed Thunderbolt built for fast interception, using an uprated Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine and featuring the dorsal fin on the rear fuselage to improve directional stability with the bubble canopy. It was the quickest production P-47, but engine teething troubles limited its combat use, and it saw service only briefly with the 56th Fighter Group in Europe.

The new kit (48042) is described as “highly detailed” with realistic representations of the metal surfaces, rivets and panel lines. PE parts and three marking options are also included. The company previously released a Basic version with two marking options.

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B-24 Liberator “Rupert the Roo II” Gets New Paint During Restoration [Video]

The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, GA has posted a new timelapse video showing the ongoing restoration of their B-24 Liberator Project – specifically the application of new paint.

For everyone who had something to say about the pink… we have an update. It’s gone. This timelapse offers a fascinating look as the old finish disappears and another major step in the restoration takes shape.The transformation continues for the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force’s B-24 Liberator. Now at LandLocked Aviation, the aircraft has moved into the paint and restoration phase, and this timelapse gives you a front-row seat as years of weathering begin to give way to a new finish.

As previously reported, the B-24J-20-FO Liberator (S/N 44-487821) was originally built by the Ford Motor Company at Willow Run, Michigan 1944. It has been on outdoor display for decades, most recently at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. Over that time it has worn several liveries, including Laiden Maiden, Louisiana Belle II (seen above), and Rupert the Roo II.

In June 2025 plans were announced for the aircraft to relocate to The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, a process that includes painting and restoration. The aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Phase I was completed in May with the ailerons, flaps, horizontal stabilizers, turrets, propeller assemblies, and all four engines being cataloged and removed for transport and restoration. The completion of Phase II saw the wing assembly, fuselage, and remaining major components leave Barksdale for restoration at offsite locations.

The aircraft will be installed within the museum’s expanded galleries for public exhibition with the projected date being sometime in the spring of 2027. Check out newly released repainting video below.

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Catalina Flying Boat Captain: A Pilot’s War from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean

Coming soon from Air World and author Denis Saunders is Catalina Flying Boat Captain: A Pilot’s War from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. The book is a survivor’s wartime voyage, chronicling long, perilous Catalina flights / missions, and steadfast leadership amid oceanic dangers and relentless duty.

Aged 21, Bruce Daymond enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941. He had joined to serve the British Empire, as it then was, knowing he would serve thousands of miles from Australia.

Sixteen days into my flying training, Bruce went solo for the first time. Having trained as pilot and navigator under the Empire Air Training Scheme, in both Australia and Canada, he went on to serve in the RAF throughout the Second World War. As a pilot of a Consolidated Catalina flying boat, he flew with a number of Coastal Command units, namely Nos. 209, 357, 628, and 240 squadrons. Throughout his service, Bruce maintained a huge, detailed, candid, and personal daily diary; it is that which forms the basis of this insightful account of one flying boat captain’s service. The result is a revealing account of one man’s dedication to service and leadership, endurance of hundreds of hours of monotonous flying interspersed with periods of terror and courage in the face of great danger. Continue reading Catalina Flying Boat Captain: A Pilot’s War from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean

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MiniArt Releases New, Highly Detailed Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-11 Model Kit

MiniArt has released their new Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-11 “Basic” model kit in 1/48 scale.

As previously reported, the Fw 190D-11 was a late-war variant, part of the “Dora” series and powered by the Junkers Jumo 213F engine with MW 50 boost. It was a heavily armed variant with two 20 mm MG 151 cannon in the wing roots and two 30 mm MK 108 cannon in the outer wings, but it was produced only in very small numbers.

The new release (48072) is described as highly detailed with realistic metal surfaces and panel details and three marking options.

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Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s 60th Anniversary Celebrated With Updated Pictorial History

Coming soon from Pen & Sword Aviation and author Jarrod Cotter is The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: A History in Pictures, an updated new edition to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

In 2007 the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary and Jarrod Cotter was chosen to write a book charting the Flight’s history which began with the formation of the Historic Aircraft Flight in July 1957. This volume brings the story fully up-to-date to mark the BBMF s 60th anniversary. It still includes the in-depth story of the formation of the Flight, for which the author uniquely traced the families of those involved to reveal a host of illuminating insights. However, while the 50th anniversary book went on to tell the rest of the story in an in-depth fashion, this volume utilises high quality colour digital photographs taken in recent years to show the aircraft in flight and so acts as the perfect companion to the first volume. This will be the ultimate souvenir of the celebration of the BBMF s 60th anniversary.

The 304 page, hardcover book is currently available for pre-order with release set for October 30.

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Airscale’s New Renders Show All Plastic Airframe Parts for Upcoming 1/32 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV

Airscale has provided an update on the development of their 1/32 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV kit.

As previously reported, the Mk IV was the principal later version of the Blenheim light bomber, entering production in 1938 with a longer, redesigned glazed nose that gave the bombardier more room and visibility, plus added armor and more powerful 920-hp Bristol Mercury XV radial engines. Flown by a crew of three, it could carry roughly 1,000 lb of bombs and served widely with the RAF during WW2 in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Far East. Although fast by mid-1930s standards, it was increasingly vulnerable to modern fighters and anti-aircraft fire as the war progressed.

There will reportedly be an early version with the single VGO drum fed gun and no canopy blisters, and the later one with twin Brownings and blisters. Airscale’s latest update consists of an updated series of renderings as well as a report that states, “these are all the plastic parts, with the exception of the engines. Hopefully I can get this into mouldmaking soon and focus on all the pretty bits in 3D.”

Release is planned for mid 2027. Check out additional renders below.

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Okinawa 1945 Examined in Fully Illustrated, Expertly Researched New Study

Coming soon from Osprey Publishing and author James S. Corum is Okinawa 1945: The epitome of joint US airpower in the Pacific, described as the first book to examine US Pacific War tactical airpower at its peak, in the last and greatest island campaign.

The battle for Okinawa turned out to be the last major campaign of World War II, and the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific War. After years of improvement, Okinawa saw American tactical aviation at its most effective, yet little has been written about how the huge and complex air operation here was organized and fought.

In this book, airpower scholar James S. Corum presents a full portrait of US Navy, Marine and Army Air Force aviation in the battle for Okinawa. Unique to the campaign was the formation of a Marine-commanded Tactical Air Force to support the Army-Marine Tenth Army, which provided the ground forces battling for the island with unparalleled close air support, with only ten recorded instances of friendly fire from 14,000 sorties. He also examines air operations flown from Okinawa after the surrender, and provides an overview of the planned air support for the invasion of the Home Islands from Okinawa.

Fully illustrated with superb original artwork, 3D diagrams and maps, this is an expertly researched study of the ultimate tactical air campaign of the Pacific.

The 96 page, paperback book is currently available for pre-order with release set for November 17.

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USAF Museum Shares Interactive, 360 Degree Video of Aircraft in Storage

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio has released a new, 360 degree video of their storage facility, which consists of restricted hangars and secure annexes at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

Among the aircraft seen in the video are a Junkers Ju 52, a General Dynamics EF-111A Raven, Stearman PT-17, Douglas B-23 Dragon, McDonnell Douglas YF-4E Phantom II and an ultra rare North American F-107A, an experimental Mach 2 fighter-bomber that is easily recognizable by its unusual top-mounted intake over the cockpit.

Check it out below.

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Helmut Lent’s Logbook: The Combat Service of One of the Top-Scoring Night Fighter Aces of All Time

Coming soon from Air World and author Chris Goss is Helmut Lent’s Logbook: The Combat Service of One of the Top-Scoring Night Fighter Aces of All Time, which chronicles his rise from day fighter to radar-guided interception while detailing pivotal battles over Europe and his leadership in nocturnal air combat.

Credited with 110 aerial victories, Helmut Lent was one of the most successful German night-fighter aces of the Second World War. Born on 13 June 1918, he initially served as a day fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe, flying Messerschmitt Bf 110s during the early campaigns of the war.

Lent’s combat career began over the North Sea, Norway and the early stages of the Battle of Britain but in September 1940 his unit transitioned to night fighting. As part of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, after initial self-doubts as to his ability, he established himself as a formidable night-fighter pilot, adapting to the emerging technology of radar-guided interception. His aircraft of choice was the Messerschmitt Bf 110 but in 1944 he flew the Junkers Ju 88, both of which he used to devastating effect against Allied bombers conducting night attacks over German territory; of his 110 victories, 102 had taken place at night.

By 1943, Lent had risen through the ranks, eventually taking command of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3, and would receive numerous decorations, including the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, Germany’s highest military honour. He was the first night fighter pilot to receive this award, defining his status as a leading figure in aerial combat at night.

Lent’s career was cut short on 5 October 1944, when his Ju 88 crashed on landing in an accident. He succumbed to his injuries two days later at the age of 26. Such was his standing in the eyes of the Luftwaffe, that Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring spoke at his funeral. Continue reading Helmut Lent’s Logbook: The Combat Service of One of the Top-Scoring Night Fighter Aces of All Time

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First Look: Border Model to Release New Tool, Pre-Painted, 1/35 SBD 3/4 Dauntless Kit

Border Model is set to release a new tool SBD 3/4 Dauntless model kit in 1/35 scale.

The SBD-3 and SBD-4 were the U.S. Navy’s primary early–World War II carrier dive-bombers, rugged two-seat monoplanes powered by a Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial and renowned for accurate near-vertical dives. The SBD-3 (from 1941) added combat essentials such as armor, self-sealing fuel tanks, and a standard armament of two forward .50-cal and twin rear .30-cal machine guns, typically carrying a 1,000 lb bomb. The SBD-4 (from late 1942) was mechanically similar but upgraded to a 24-volt electrical system, a constant-speed propeller, and improved fuel and radio/radar provisions, enhancing reliability and avionics integration. These variants equipped Navy and Marine squadrons through the pivotal 1942–43 campaigns, including Midway, where Dauntlesses sank four Japanese carriers.

The kit (BG-003) comes pre-painted and includes PE parts, two types of drop tanks, a full interior and decals with three marking options. As of this writing it appears that a final release date has not been announced. Check out additional images below.

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