Reviews

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
MikroMir
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$32.00

Mikro-Mir is one of the Ukraine’s smaller model manufacturers, specializing in submarines and odd-off aircraft in various scales. As a limited-run company, their models require a certain amount of TLC to achieve optimal results, but their kit selection holds so many strange and otherwise never-modeled items that they’re definitely worth a look. The Soviet-era Triton-1M is one such unique kit.

Looking very much like something out of a James Bond movie, The Soviet Triton-1M, developed in the 1960’s, was a two-man midget submarine intended to be deployed off surface warships for covert reconnaissance missions and sabotage. According to official documents, only 32 were made and they have now been largely decommissioned. It had a “wet” cockpit (non-pressurized) and the crew wore diving gear during missions.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$17.99

No one can slight Master Box Models for a lack of both imagination and daring. Their figures have set the bar for the entire injection molding industry in terms of concepts and boldness, and this new addition to their 1/24th scale stable is no exception. Set in a sort of “Star Wars” cantina, this is the first of an eight-figure set which includes saucy ladies, robots, strange elfin characters and burly mercenaries.

Book Author(s)
Mick Davis, Managing Editor
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$36.00

C&C Spring 2018 Vol 49/1 is now available. For those not familiar with Cross & Cockade International, it is the journal of “The First World War Aviation Historical Society”. As such, the publication focuses on aviation topics associated with World War 1, and an in-depth study of the historical aspects of aviation in World War 1. Those historians with an interest in the history of World War 1, especially related to aviation, will find C&C to be a gold mine of information. For modelers who enjoy building aircraft of World War 1, C&C is packed with excellent photographs, full color illustrations, and detailed information about the aircraft used.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Videoaviation
MSRP
$20.00

Videoaviation is an Italian manufacturer of superb aircraft accessories, ground support equipment and figures in all three popular scales. I have had the luck to review a few of these and have always been impressed by the excellent casting and design of their kits. This newest set, a 1/32nd scale US Navy MHU-191 Missile cart and two ordnance man is excellent. The set consists of parts for a MHU-191 cart set up for missile transport. There are two ordnance men in different poses. All parts are cast in light tan resin with crisp details and minimal seams. Parts breakdown is as follow:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
PJ Production
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.30

PJ Productions from Belgium is well known for their wonderful resin figures and accessories. This instance is a RAF pilot in flight suit from the 1960’s in 1/32nd scale. The kit includes four resin pieces with the body being one-piece cast and the arms and head separate. Casting is good with a slight amount of flash and is all done in cream colored resin. The box is your instructions as far as color for the pilot and his uniform.

Assembly is first with the casting lines being removed from the arms and these were attached to the body. The head can remain separate for painting if desired. Fit is good, so it can be added later. There were slight seams at the arm and I used glazing putty smoothed with lacquer thinner to eliminate the seams.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
PJ Production
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.30

PJ Productions from Belgium is well known for their wonderful resin figures and accessories. This latest kit is a RAF pilot in tropical flight clothes from the WWII era and is made in 1/32nd scale. The kit includes five resin pieces with the body being one-piece cast and the arms and head separate. Note that there is a separate piece for the oxygen hose and it is small and between the head and left arm. Don’t mistakenly throw it away. Casting is good with a slight amount of flash and is all done in cream colored resin. The box is your instructions as far as color for the pilot and his uniform.

Assembly is straightforward. Get rid of the casting blocks and seams by gently scraping. Glue the arms onto the body. I used glazing putty smoothed with lacquer thinner to eliminate the seams. I added the oxygen hose which fits into the hose molded into the body and runs to the side of the mask on the face.

Review Author
Tim Wilding
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$11.00

Ammo by Mig Jimenez is expanding their line of acrylic diorama products with these products; Dry Earth Ground #2101, Dark Mud Ground #2104 and Slow River Waters #2204. These products come in a large mouth, 250ml plastic bottle. The Dry Earth Ground is a tan, gritty paste like it has fine sand in it. The Dark Mud Ground is a dark brown, smooth paste. The Slow River Waters is a slimy green gel. The bottle says you can pour this, but it seems way too thick to do that. Here are the descriptions from Ammo’s website to explain each product better:

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$19.00

Tamiya has recently released their own boxing of the diminutive Goliath tracked mine. The kit comes complete with two mines and control boxes, tethered by steel wire to one of three highly detailed figures. Molded in crisp, yellow plastic, the contents of the box are typical of Tamiya kits, and the three figures are just about as good as it gets in terms of detail and craftsmanship.

History

The Goliath tracked mine – (Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath or Goliath Light Charge Carrier) was a name given to two German unmanned, disposable demolition vehicles used during World War II. These were the electrically powered Sd.Kfz. 302 and the petrol-engine powered Sd.Kfz. 303a and 303b. The -302 is the version represented in the Tamiya kit.

Review Author
Ron Bell
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$23.95

The Kit

The Eliminator was built for the rock band ZZ Top and has been featured in many of the band’s videos. It’s a sleek hot rod made from a ’33 Ford Coupe in bright red with the ZZ Top logo on the side. The Revell kit of this car is faithful to the original with decals for the side logos and logos even molded into the valve covers and air cleaner on the engine, which is nicely detailed and with the addition of an ignition system would display very well with those logos highlighted in red. The interior consists of a seat, nicely detailed dash and steering column with the floor pedals molded into the floor pan part. Details of the upholstery are given in decals, which adds a nice touch. There are 70 parts in total molded in red, clear and chromed and four nicely detailed rubber tires. A younger modeler could build this kit without paint as it is molded in the prototype’s color with the chrome accents, but the advanced modeler will want to add a higher gloss finish.

Review Author
Blaine Singleton
Published on
Company
MikroMir
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$26.95

History

The Skipjack was a class of United States Navy nuclear submarines. This class was named after its lead ship, the USS Skipjack. The Skipjack’s design was based on the USS Albacore design. This new design was maximized for underwater speed by shaping the hull like a blimp. The bow panes were moved to the massive sail to cut down on the flow-induced noise near the bow sonar array.

The Kit

Opening the box: When I opened the box, the model was packaged with three sprues one for the hull halves, one for the parts to go on the model and a sprue containing the stand the model will be displayed on. Also included was a clear plastic envelope containing the photo etch propeller and the decal sheet.