Model Art Issue 920 is typical of other Model Art magazines in that it is written entirely in Japanese, with occasional English words, usually in article titles or in captions. The Vessel Model Special is a quarterly issue that focuses on naval subjects. Advertising comprises the inside covers (and back cover) along with another 4 pages showing what is available and new, always useful for building up that wish list. I counted 410 photos (mostly in color) along with 21 side view or top view drawings. Additionally there are a lot of scrap drawings highlighting details.

The Feature article is on two builds of a 1/350 IJN Shimakaze that goes for twenty-one pages. After a 1 page build of a 1/20 anime figure, you’ll find eighteen pages of three different build-ups in 1/700 scale. Next up is a six page build of a modern day JMSDF Missile Destroyer, DDG-172 Shimakaze. The Shimakaze section finishes with six pages of period photos, profiles and scrap drawings.

Contents:

Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Airfix 1/72 scale A62M Zero kit. The white metal replacements are an identical fit replacement for the kit plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts and the tail wheel assembly. Some other SAC packages include replacement wheels, as well, but not the case here. You will need to use the Airfix kit wheels for your build.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. However, use some care, as in this scale, even cast metal parts are very fine and fragile. I found it easy to accidently bend them out of shape with my heavy-handedness.

In some cases where original equipment was left in a natural metal finish, painting may not be necessary. As always, check your reference photos.

Highly recommended.

Master Model from Poland continues to expand its 1:48 Air Master line. This time with a detail set covering the weapons for the P-38 in an early configuration.

Master Model does not specify for which P-38 version this set is. The set includes .50 cal Browning machine guns with drilled cooling jackets plus early and late 20 mm cannon. Based on a quick review of my references that is correct for mid-production (-E/-F/-G) and even a few late productions (some –J/-L) still had the drilled cooling jackets too. Check your own references to be sure to which P-38 version is detail set is applicable.

Master Model does not specify for which P-38 kit this set is either. I made a side-by-side comparison with the Academy, Hasegawa and Hobbyboss kits. Below are my conclusions:

Aires has come out with a nice upgrade for the Trumpeter MiG-23 MF / ML kits with their Correct Tail Fin set. This set is specific to early MF / ML variants that did not have the leading edge extension (LEX) added to the front of the ventral fin. There are two parts in all, cast in a durable resin material. The Aires parts provide improved ventral fin detail especially for the pivot point that is exposed when the ventral fin is folded (landing gear extended) There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Aires replacements. I’ve included photos of both the Trumpeter and the Aires ventral fin inserted in the Trumpeter fuselage.

Aires has molded the stabilizer and elevator perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles. The Aires stabilizer and elevator are supplied on a single resin sprue with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup.

Recently Brengun has released a series of interesting accessories in 1/72 scale, most aimed at those looking to add a little something different and to spruce up the display of our recent builds.

This set fits squarely in that category and provides a set of wheel chocks currently used by the US Navy on its carriers and other aviation ships. The chocks are used to supplement the tie down chains used to firmly attach aircraft and helicopters to the flight deck when they stationary. The chocks are usually the last things removed before an aircraft starts taxing across the deck.