Paul R. Brown
Reviews By Author
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MiG-21MF Interceptor CockpitPublished:
Last summer Eduard released its much anticipated MiG-21MF kit in 1/72 scale. The initial release represents aircraft manufactured at the Gorky factory. In conjunction with the release of this kit, Eduard also released a separate resin cockpit set for these late model MiG-21MFs. The set includes nine resin parts, a color photo-etch fret and an acetate sheet with 2 heads-up screens and is intended as a complete replacement for the kit cockpit and ejection seat. As you would expect with Eduard, the resin parts are beautifully cast with exquisite detail and the detail on the photo-etch set is crisp and sharp. Construction starts with painting the ejection seat and the separate headrest. Eduard’s color key references Mr. Hobby/Mr. Color paints, but as these are not common… more |
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MiG-21MF Interceptor Weapons OvertreePublished:
In conjunction with the release of its new 1/72 MiG-21 series, Eduard has released an Overtree set of the weapons sprue that is included with its new MiG-21MF kits. In looking at the weapons included on the sprue, I expect that this sprue has been designed to be a common sprue through-out all its planned MiG-21 kits. The set includes two 490 liter tanks which are either mounted on the outer wing pylons or a single tank on the centerline and one 800 liter centerline tank. There are four types of air-to-air missiles – two RS-2US (AA-1 Alkali), two R-3S (AA-2 Atoll), two R-13 (AA-2 Improved Atoll) and two R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) air-to-air missiles. For ground attack load outs there two types of rocket pods (UB-16 and WB-32), two S24 unguided air-to-surface missiles, two FAB 250 kg… more |
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Su-34 Fullback Landing GearPublished:
This set is designed to fit Trumpeter’s new Su-34 kit. The set consists of 9 parts, a nose gear with a separate lower axle, two main gear legs, two part scissors links for each main gear, and retraction struts for each leg. The castings are nicely done and require just a little clean up on the casting seams. I cleaned the seams up using a Xacto knife and sandpaper. I then used a brass wire wheel in my battery operated Dremel tool at slow speed to polish up the struts and finish smoothing out the casting seams. In order to assemble the nose strut I had to drill out the end of the axle part as it was partially filled in during the casting process. Before assembling the two parts, double check their orientation with the kit instructions to ensure they are correctly oriented.… more |
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MiG-21MF Canopy Masking SetPublished:
This set is designed for Eduard’s new MiG-21MF kits. The set provides masks not only for the canopy and the windscreen, but also for the HUD, the underwing landing lights, and the antenna panels on the vertical tail, the ventral fin, the wing leading edges and a number of smaller ones under the wings and fuselage. Unlike many of Eduard’s other masking sets, this one does not include masks for the tires or wheel hubs. The inclusion of the masks for the antennas is a great idea as the MiG-21 has a lot of antennas. Most visible are the large panels on the vertical tail and the front of the ventral fin, but there are a lot of smaller ones on vertical tail, on the leading edges of the wing and on the underside of the jet. The panels are crisply molded on the kit and after painting… more |
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MiG-21MF TFace Canopy Masking SetPublished:
This is the second masking set designed for Eduard’s new MiG-21MF kits. The first set, CX511, provides masks not only for the canopy and the windscreen, but also for the HUD, the underwing landing lights, and the antenna panels on the vertical tail, the ventral fin, the wing leading edges and a number of smaller ones under the wings and fuselage. This set, CX512, adds additional masks allowing you to paint the interior color on the inside of the canopy instead of just on the outside. This will result in a much more realistic finish for the canopy, especially if you are going to pose it open. Like CX511, but unlike many of Eduard’s other masking sets, this one does not include masks for the tires or wheel hubs. The inclusion of the masks for the antennas is a great idea as the… more |
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SR-71/YF-12 Blackbird Landing GearPublished:
The SR-71/YF-12 Blackbird needs no introduction and has been produced by a number of manufacturers over the years in both 1/72 and 1/48. Testors produced both a YF-12 kit and an SR-71 kit in 1/72 scale a number of years ago, which was also released under the Italeri label. Earlier this year Scale Aircraft Conversions released a replacement set for kit landing gear for the 1/72 scale kits. The set is comprised of five parts: two main landing gear struts, two main gear retraction actuators, and the nose gear strut. As with Scale Aircraft’s other sets, the parts are a drop in replacements for the kit parts. As each of the Blackbird’s main gear has three wheels, like the kit parts, SAC’s main gear struts include the center wheel for each side. The main gear struts also mimic the… more |
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F-16 C Alaska Splinters (Part II)Published:
The Air Force’s 18th Aggressor Squadron is based at Eielson AFB in Alaska and flies specially painted F-16s in fulfilling its role of simulating opposing air forces. Over the years its F-16s have worn a wide variety of paint schemes mimicking those used by potential opponents. Recently, the Squadron painted some of its F-16s in several variations of the “Splinter” scheme recently observed on Russian Su-34s and the Sukhoi T-50. Two Bobs have now issued decal sheets in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scales to allow modelers to depict these schemes. Sheet 72-107 provides markings for 3 aircraft in the “Splinter" scheme. All three aircraft are Block 30 jets, so the instructions recommend using the new Tamiya F-16C kit. One jet is painted in a “BDU Splinter” scheme which consists of… more |
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AGM-154C Block II "JSOW"Published:
The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is manufactured by Raytheon Company and gives a precision strike, launch and leave capability. The JSOW has a stand-off range of around 12 miles when launched at low altitude and around 70 miles when launched at altitude. The weapon weighs around 1,000 lbs. and has different payloads depending on which variant it is. The AGM-154A carries 145 BLU-97 sub-munitions and is used to attack fixed and moveable soft targets such as parked aircraft, trucks, APCs and surface to air missile sites. The AGM-154C is equipped with a 500 lb. blast/fragmentation/penetrator warhead and is used to attack fixed point targets such as buildings and hardened tactical targets. The JSOW uses a global position/inertial navigation system for guidance and the C model has a… more |
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AGM-154A/C Block I "JSOW"Published:
The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) is manufactured by Raytheon Company and gives a precision strike, launch and leave capability. The JSOW has a stand-off range of around 12 miles when launched at low altitude and around 70 miles when launched at altitude. The weapon weighs around 1,000 lbs. and has different payloads depending on which variant it is. The AGM-154A carries 145 BLU-97 sub-munitions and is used to attack fixed and moveable soft targets such as parked aircraft, trucks, APCs and surface to air missile sites. The AGM-154C is equipped with a 500 lb. blast/fragmentation/penetrator warhead and is used to attack fixed point targets such as buildings and hardened tactical targets. The JSOW uses a global position/inertial navigation system for guidance and the C model has a… more |
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Spitfire Mk. VIII/IX/Xvi Radiator FairingsPublished:
This set is designed to replace the underwing radiator fairings on Eduard’s 1/72 scale Spitfires. The set consists of two single piece fairings with separate exhaust flaps and a small photo-etch fret of actuators. The kit supplied fairings are constructed from three pieces, two sides and a top (bottom?) which actually fit together very nicely thanks to Eduard’s outstanding engineering. This set provides the entire fairing cast as a single unit and thus is a drop in replacement for the kit’s three part arrangement. As the left and right fairings are different, Eduard has thoughtfully cast “L” and “R’ on the insides of the fairings to assist the builder in keeping them straight when it is time to attach them. Now to just figure out if the L/R applies when the wing is upside down or when… more |