The Revell F/A-18E is a nice kit of the modern Navy fighter. There are ways to improve it though. The F/A-18 exhaust nozzles close down on shutdown. So this detail set is perfect for the Revell kit. The kit engines are small, inaccurate, and shallow completely lacking depth and detail of a modern jet engine.
The Revell Bf-109G-6 when released was a welcomed addition to the 32nd Luftwaffe modeler. The Hasegawa kit was getting more difficult to find and was expensive nonetheless. The Revell kit at a third of the price was a bargain. However, the kit did have some shortcomings. One of the noticeable errors was the oil cooler under the nose. The kit was just not right. The sides were too vertical and that threw off the angles of the whole assembly.
The Quickboost piece is a single part with a minor pour block on the front of the cooler. You will have to clean out the front opening. This is nothing too difficult. Then to that piece you’ll have to add the kit exhaust flap. The part is a direct replacement for the kit part. The shape is spot on and looks significantly better than the kit part.
This set will require some patience but nothing that a modeler with a few resin pieces under his belt couldn’t handle.
Highly recommended
Thanks to one of our steadfast supporters, Revell, for providing us a copy of this vintage kit… and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review. Talk about a time capsule…
This kit was first released by Monogram models back in 1961. A groundbreaking effort at the time, it was the best of all modeling worlds; an accurately shaped P-51D in clear plastic, with plenty of detail and operating features. Retractable landing gear, spinning propeller, sliding canopy, bombs which could be dropped… what else could one ask for? All at the princely sum of $4.98! This model has stood the test of time; the molds have a little bit of flash, but the parts pretty well fit together as designed.
With Wingnut Wings release of dual boxings of WWI floatplane kits, Albatros Productions has decided to again offer a limited edition reprinting of its long-out-of-print Datafile 55 – Brandenburg W29. The subject must be a popular one because this is the second time Albatros has reprinted this Datafile.
This was my first Fujimi build and I think I picked a good one to start with. I don’t often build jets but I’ve always liked the Saber so I grabbed this from the reviewer corps list. This kit or more specifically this mold has been around since ~1986. For a mold of this age it is in terrific shape and I only spotted a tiny bit of flash on one part. Panel line detail is very good with only a few of the access panel lines needing the attention of your favorite scriber. The kit box makes mention of this being a Value set. From what I gleamed on the Fujimi website, the Value is the fact the kit includes the JASDF “Blue Impulse” decals along with the standard decals.
In recent years the art of realistically weathering models, of almost any genre, has been both a heated topic and a much sought after skill, one that has been changing and evolving regularly. Modelers from different areas of the globe often have very different techniques, which come through as very different results on their finished products. Some of these are very subtle and must be carefully examined to detect all of the nuances while others are very bold and jump right out at the viewer. Some modelers are happy to share their weathering techniques and others are reluctant to reveal the secrets to their incredible finishes.
Fortunately for us, AMMO products, by Mig Jimenez, has worked to pull together a group of modelers with the former traits: not only happy to share, but willing and able to put it into words and pictures these techniques for all to see and try. AMMO presents their work in “The Weathering Magazine”.
On the heels of Finnish Fighter Colours 1939-1945, Romanian Fighter Colours 1941-1945, Hungarian Fighter Colours 1930-1945, and Swedish Fighter Colours 1925-1954, comes MMP’s latest tome. This book, focused on the ‘Early Years’ is planned to be followed by at least four additional volumes on the ‘Great War’ (Volume 2), ‘Red Stars’ (Volume 3), and ‘Against Soviets’ (Volume 4). The authors leaned heavily on Russian private archives, as well as archives, libraries, and museums.
The book is a nice hardbound volume, with a nice glossy cover, and 176 pages on high-quality stock with a matt finish. Mainly black and white period photos are supplemented with modern day color photos, color period posters and postcards, colour side and top views, and colour unit emblems and personal markings. The text is in English and quite readable.
I really like how Hasagawa keeps releasing quality models of Japanese Anime vehicles. This one is one of the Arcadia ships (think there were 2, possibly 3 different versions) used by Space Pirate Captain Harlock. I found an English dubbed version on YouTube which, of course, featured the green ship instead of this one but still interesting to watch. I also found a fun site about the lack of continuity in the Harlock Universe that is worth a read if you like this kind of stuff.
Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty eight years.
The December issue starts off with seven pages of models and modeling tools that were shown at the 2014 All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show
The main article this month is a feature using several model ship kits that were released in 2014. The article is composed of in progress shots of the kits, a diorama, line drawings and archive photos. Some of the kits used are the Fujimi 1/700 IJN Light Cruiser Kitakami 1945, Aoshima 1/700 IJN Seaplane tender Kimikawa-Maru and the Gallery 1/350 USS Intrepid.
Following the main article are several small monthly reoccurring articles. Some of these articles are Union Fleet Organized Course, Modeling JASDF and IJA/IJN Airplane Illustrated.
Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty eight years.
The November issue starts off with two quick articles. The first is a build article of the Zoukei-Mura SWS 1/48 Ta152H-1 and the second is on the Daco Products 1/48 F-104 Starfighter Improvement & Correction set.
The main article this month covers the design and development of the JGSDF Type 61 Tank. This article features five different 1/35 scale model kits including two different versions of the Type 61. The other three are a M4A3E8, M-46 and a T-34/85. These are used in the article to show the lineage to the Type 61. There is a multitude of color photos of these models throughout the article. Also included is a some technical drawings and a write up about Japans armor progression from the beginning of the JGSDF to modern times.
