Reviews

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Furball Aero-Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

Furball Aero Design, in association with Detail & Scale, offers an expanding collection of decals for the modeler, and this set is designed to be used on the Kitty Hawk TF-9J Cougar. This review does not include any comments on the Kitty Hawk kit, but focuses solely on the Furball/D&S decals.

My initial response to the decals upon inspecting them was very positive. The decals are the result of much research and it shows. But then, that is a hallmark characteristic of Detail & Scale, which provided the research. The detail in the stenciling and markings is outstanding. I noted that the decals were printed by Cartograf and I have yet to have a problem with a Cartograf decal. Detail & Scale coupled with Cartograf printing? That’s a win-win.

Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$52.00

The Aircraft

This is the second release of the 1/72 scale F-16CJ [Block 50] Fighting Falcon now with parts depicting underside equipment used on the aircraft! The versatile F-16 Fighting Falcon's adaptability to both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions makes it one of the cornerstones of the U.S. Air Force today. With over 4,500 F-16’s completed since it’s introduction in 1976, there have been numerous models of this aircraft in most model scales to date. Block 50 evolutions of the aircraft were deployed from 1991, F-16CJ fighters being fitted with radar countermeasures. The aircraft's capabilities have also been extended to include night fighter functionality.

Book Author(s)
Stuart McKay
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Specialty Press
MSRP
$49.95

Stuart McKay has updated his out-of-print seminal 1999 edition on the Tiger Moth, Midland Publishing’s 272 page tome, “Tiger Moth, De Havilland’s Legendary Trainer”. If you ask, just who Stuart McKay is, I would have to answer that he is Mr. Tiger Moth. Stuart McKay has been fond of Tiger Moths since his teenage years and is the founding Secretary of the de Havilland Moth Club (Since 1975) and is the editor of the de Havilland Moth Club.

Book Author(s)
Mark Stille
Review Author
Jeff Leiby
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

Background

The website description of this title, “Written by US Navy expert Mark Stille, this book offers a unique insight into the Standard-type classes of US battleships. It provides a detailed investigation into the histories of each of the warships in the Standard-type battleship classes, the first three of which, the Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, formed the US Navy's main force in the inter-war period. The Standard-types reflected a new design philosophy: by designing each class to meet common standards of maneuverability and handling, vessels of different classes could operate as a single tactical unit without being limited by the performance of the slowest and least maneuverable ship. At the time of their construction, these ships incorporated the latest design features such as triple gun turrets.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$18.78

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 over the past forty-six years. They also release many special releases during the year, as is the case of this issue.

This issue covers IJN Light Cruisers that were produced from 1919 - 1945. During this time period there were twenty-four (This is the number that I came up with from Wikipedia. If it is incorrect, please forgive me as I am still new into IJN subjects, but learning. Light cruisers built and these fell into seven different classes. The classes being the Nagaro, Agano, Tenryu, Kuma, Sendai, Oyodo and Katori.

The magazine is broken down into ten sections. Section one thru five covers the guns, torpedo tubes and catapults found on these cruisers. Each gun is represented by a line drawing, model kit parts, and a period b&w photo. The catapults are represented by line drawings.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.00

Master Model continues to offer modelers the opportunity to add exceptional turned metal parts to their models. A number of model builders who add aftermarket gun barrels to their aircraft models are finding Master Model’s excellent multi-piece sets offer a high level of detail without a great deal of work.

This set mirrors those that Master Model already markets for builders in 1:72, 1:48 and 1:24.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Fujimi
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$78.84

Introduction

2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the Lamborghini automotive company. An anniversary as significant as this could not pass without Lamborghini celebrating it with what else but a new version of the magnificent cars they have produced for 50 years. The Veneno (named after a famous fighting bull as all Lambos are) is that car. Based on the Aventador LP700-4, this car has a redesigned body and increased horsepower from its L535 6.5 liter V-12 engine. This engine makes 740 hp and can propel this car to 220 mph. The body is constructed largely of carbon fiber with aluminum sub-frames in the front and back. Suspension is provided by pushrods with horizontal springs like a formula car that is essentially what the Veneno is. Only three production models were built, each in the colors of the Italian flag: White, Red and Green. Of the three constructed, two were granted to buyers in the US.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$21.25

Brengun offers 1/32 model builders a way to add a higher level of detail to the already nicely detailed Hasegawa N1K2-J Shiden Kai (Allied name: George). Set BRL 32017 provides about 122 parts on a single photo-etch fret and two on a printed acetate sheet that can be combined to enhance the cockpit and exterior details of the aircraft. The photo below of the instruction sheet shows where the details are to be installed.

As can be seen in the photo below of the fret, each of the photo-etched parts is impressive. The detail is very crisp and well etched on nickel-plated metal to add considerably to the cockpit’s detail.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$8.00

The M2 Browning Machine Gun or "Ma Deuce" as known by some is probably one of the most highly recognized machine guns in the world and is rapidly approaching one hundred years in service.

Eduard Brassin is designed as resin and photo etch accessories for scale plastic kits at a reasonable price.

The kit comes with two grey resin parts and a small brass photo etch fret. The resin pieces are of the M2 machine gun and the charging handle. The photo etch pieces consist of the trigger and barrel carrying handle.

Moving on to the build. My example came with a warped barrel and no matter how I have tried, I can not get it straight. The pour stub on the gun is in a horrible position. It is on the handle end of the receiver which is already attached to gun. This makes clean up in this area extremely difficult. You will also have to drill the end of the barrel to give the impression of depth. The kit builds fairly easily with just the above mentioned problem areas.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$8.00

The MG34 was mainstay of the German Army up until 1942 when the MG42 was introduced. Even with MG42 in use the MG34 continued in service until the end of World War II.

Eduard Brassin is designed as resin and photo etch accessories for scale plastic kits at a reasonable price.

The kit comes with four grey resin parts and a small brass photo etch fret. The resin pieces are of the MG34 machine gun, charging handle, buttstock and ammo feed bag. The photo etch pieces consist of the regular sights (Which are optional), anti aircraft sight w/ barrel band and a link of ammo.

Moving on to the build. The pour stubs on this are will placed and are easy to remove with minimal clean up. The photo etch is a little fiddly, but that is just due to how small it is. The barrel is not hollowed out so you will have to do this to give the impression of depth.