I got a surprise at my local IPMS chapter meeting last night. One of the discount vendors that always attend the meetings had the new P-40B and MiG-3 kits for sample and I just couldn't help myself. They both look pretty decent, though I've only given them a quick look so far.
The P-40B seems to have a lot of recessed rivet holes. Perhaps they're OK but to me they give the impression of being a bit overdone. The cockpit is OK but could use the aftermarketer's touch. It has the obligatory Trumpeter movable control surfaces/flaps, and reasonably well detailed wheel wells (a nice tail wheel bay). The engine is a beauty of a model in and of itself (though, to me, the valve covers appear that they should stand slightly more proud than they do). I didn't count all the parts that make up the engine assembly but there are a bunch, including a lot of the plumbing, the oil and glycol coolant radiators (with etched metal faces) and separate exhaust stacks. Each stack is split l-r with a hollowed out end so that, when they're glued together, you get the impression of hollow tubing. Decals are for a Brit and a Pearl Harbor (I'm sure they mean Hickam Field) bird. Armament includes the two nose-mounted .50 cals and the four .30 cal wing guns (though if you want to display the wing guns, you'll have to cut the access panels open).
The MiG-3 is a typical molding for Trumpeter with one exception. It has the standard movable control surfaces and leading edge slats, reasonably crisp molding, the same sort of split exhaust stacks (except there are only 2 parts [l-r] for each side). The surprise is that there's no engine to glue the stacks to. That's right, this is the first one of the 1/32 scale warbirds that doesn't come with an engine. I guess they're truing to save a couple bucks. The cockpit looks slightly sparse but I believe the original was a bit sparse. It does have the tube separate from the sidewalls, a decent seat, rudder pedals and a multi-piece control stick. Normally it probably wouldn't be a big deal except that I looked at this one after looking at the P-40B with that really nice and complete-looking engine and it made its absence from the MiG a bit more glaring.
I certainly didn't measure either of them with a set of calipers or a modeler's scale ruler but both look like the aircraft they are supposed to represent to me. They'll both build into respectable models out of the box but I'm sure the aftermarket guys will step up to the plate with cockpit and other detail accessories.
"The world would be a much simpler place if every one could pick and choose their obligations, but we can't and we shouldn't." Major Charles W. Whittlesey