Paul R. Brown
Reviews By Author
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F/A-18 E/F Engine Nozzles SetPublished:
This set is designed to provide replacement engine nozzles for Revell’s 1/72 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Dauntless kits. The package includes two complete nozzle sets consisting of the flameholder section, the exhaust tube and the nozzle. As expected with Brengun, the resin parts are well cast and sharply detailed and are intended to be a complete replacement for the kit’ engines. As with any resin set, the first set is to wash the parts to remove and release agent residue. I then used a razor saw to remove the parts from the casting stubs. I have always struggled with this step as I can never quite seem to keep the blade straight all the way through, so I end up having to do some remedial sanding to even the parts up after removal. I had an old Revell F/A-18E kit in my… more |
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3D Riveter Tool 1/72 "PLH - Black Line" (0.50mm)Published:
This is a new riveting tool from UMM-USA and adds to its growing line of modeling tools. The single wheel tool allows you to emboss fine rivet lines on plastic, resin, soft wood, and thin metal sheets. The black handle, about the thickness of a Bic pen, fit well in my hand and was comfortable to use. I experimented with the tool on several different types of styrene and an old plastic kit. I used a thin plastic ruler on the flat surfaces and found that it was easy to emboss a row of rivets. On some pieces of pieces of styrene I had to put more pressure on the tool due to the hardness of the styrene. On curves surfaces I used a thin metal straightedge from an old drafting class – labeling tape would also work well. I found the tool easy to use and I was impressed by the… more |
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Micro Keyhole Resin Saw w/Push Blade (1 mm)Published:
This is a new tool that was added to UMM-USA’s line of modeling tools this fall. The tool consists of a thin double-edged saw blade and black plastic handle. It is intended to be used with resin parts and thin styrene. The tool is used similar to a full-sized keyhole saw. While it can be used like a standard saw, cutting from the edge in, its principal use is to cut a hole inside a part. I experimented by drawing out a rectangular panel on scrap styrene, drilling pilot holes at each corner and then using the saw to cut from hole to hole, creating a rectangular opening. The corners were then cut out using a sharp Xacto knife. The saw blade has fine sharp teeth on both sides of the blade and cuts extremely well, however, you need to take your time and work carefully as… more |
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Micro Hook Scriber MHS-V1 (SM)Published:
This is a new scribing tool that was added to UMM-USA’s line of modeling tools this fall. The fine chisel point allows the tool to be used either to clean out or sharpen existing panel lines or create new ones. The hook point has a nice sharp triangular point that easily cuts through plastic and allows you to adjust the depth and cutting angle by moving your hand. The textured handle helps you keep a good grip on the scriber and find the position that is most comfortable for you. I used the scriber to re-scribe the panel lines on an old Airfix Vulcan (the original kit, not the new one) as sanding and filling the joints on the upper and lower wing had pretty much obliterated the original raised panel lines. Using the scriber and a small plastic ruler I had no trouble… more |
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Real to Replica: Wild Weasels – Defense Suppression & Electronic Warfare AircraftPublished:
This is the third volume of Phoenix Scale Publications Real to Replica series and focuses on “Wild Weasel” and other air defense suppression and electronic warfare aircraft. While the suppression of enemy air defenses probably started as soon as ground forces realized they could shoot back at the aircraft that were bombing or harassing them, it did not really come into its own until the Vietnam war. In order to combat the ever increasingly sophisticated and deadly air defenses over North Vietnam, the United States Air Force created the “Wild Weasel” program. The United States Navy also realized that there was a need to address this problem but took a slightly different approach initially. As noted by its name, the book focuses on the Air Force’s Wild Weasel aircraft –… more |
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F/A-18 Hornet & Super Hornet in ActionPublished:
Squadron’s in Action series is back! This volume covers the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and the E/A-18G Growler and it was one of the pending titles that had been announced before the Squadron Shop went into bankruptcy and its assets were auctioned off a couple of years ago. The book follows the familiar “In Action” format starting with a brief history of the development of the F/A-18 for the United States Navy and Marine Corps starting with Northup’s YF-17. There are brief discussions of the various versions of the aircraft starting with the F/A-18 A & B models, followed by the F/A-18 C & D models, then the F/A-18 E & F Super Hornets and finally the E/A-18G Growler. Following each section of text are numerous color photographs illustrating airframe details… more |
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F-14 Tomcat in ActionPublished:
This volume covers the F-14 Tomcat and is one of the new books recently released in connection with the return of Squadron Signal Publishing. The book follows the familiar “In Action” format starting with a brief history of the development of the F-14 Tomcat, from the initial prototypes up through the production versions: the F-14A, F-14A+/B, and F-14D. Doyle also includes a brief section on the Tomcat 21 – Grumman’s proposal to bring the F-14 into the 21st Century. Numerous black & white and color photographs depict not only Grumman’s mock-ups and prototype, but also the mock-up of the competing Chance Vought proposal and a mock-up of a proposed version of the Tomcat intended to replace the U S Air Force’s F-106 in the interceptor role. The introduction also includes a… more |
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Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East - Volume 1: Israel and Jordan 1948-1989Published:
The book is volume 39 of Helion & Company’s Middle East @ War series and, as noted in the title, is the first volume of its coverage of Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East. It examines the re-birth of the Czechoslovakian arms production business in the aftermath of World War II and Czechoslovakia’s first attempts to find a market for its products Even prior to World War II, Czechoslovakia had a long tradition of weapons manufacturing stretching back to the late 1800’s. During the German occupation in World War II, Czechoslovakia factories made arms for Germany and her allies. This did not go unnoticed by the Allies and several heavy bombing raids in 1944 and 1945 destroyed a number of the larger weapons producing factories. However, as Czechoslovakia avoided the… more |
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SBD, A-24 Dauntless Landing Gear (Hasegawa)Published:
This set is designed to provide replacement parts for the Hasegawa/Hobby 2000 SBD Dauntless kits. The package includes two complete sets of gear, consisting of the two main gear struts and two options for the tail wheel assembly – one with the small hard rubber tire used for carrier operations and the other a larger pneumatic tail wheel used for shore-based operations by Navy and Marine aircraft and the Army Air Corps A-24. As with most of SAC’s landing gear sets, the metal parts are intended to be one-for-one replacements for the kit parts. The parts are well cast and need just a little clean-up of the casting seams with a sharp Xacto blade. I recommend taking your time removing the tail wheels from the casting tree or you will end up with a very flat looking tire as I did on… more |
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Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East - Volume 2: Syria 1948-1989Published:
The book is volume 34 of Helion & Company’s Middle East @ War series and, as noted in the title, is the second volume of its coverage of Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East focusing on arms exports to Syria between 1948 and 1989. Starting in the mid-1950’s and continuing up to the collapse of the Eastern Bloc in 1989, Syria was one of the prime customers of the Czech arm industries, particularly as successive coups resulting in Syrian politics becoming dominated by leftists and communists over the years. Initial deliveries were Panzer IV’s and StuG III’s manufactured or overhauled in Czechoslovakian factories, but as Soviet influence grew in Syria, Syrian began requesting more modern equipment or equipment of Soviet origin and in ever increasing quantities, often… more |