In this video I build ICM's new kit of figures for their B-26 Marauder kits. I describe the modifications needed to fit the figures into the intended kit.
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Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$151.99
The Handley Page Hampden was a British medium bomber that entered service with the RAF in 1938 and served with some distinction until late 1942 as a bomber and 1943 as a torpedo bomber. Noted for its distinctive fuselage shape, earning it the nickname “The Flying Suitcase,” the aircraft was named for an English Parliamentarian of English Civil War fame.
Previously kitted mostly in 1/72 by several companies, this is the first mainstream IM kit in 1/48 of the Hampden (ignoring - if you can - the abomination that is the short-run FM kit…) and ICM are to be congratulated for their audacity in producing this unusual but worthy aircraft in this scale.
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95
Scale Aircraft Conversions specializes in providing aftermarket/replacement landing gear made of white metal. This particular set is of the recently released 1/48 Hs 129 B-2/3 from Takom.
The set includes two main landing gear struts, four sets of brackets to mount the landing gear struts to the landing gear wheel well, a two-part tail wheel (yoke and spinner) plus a foot-rest to help the pilot to climb on the wing to board the cockpit.
All parts are straight drop-in replacement parts, so no modification should be necessary. You can see from the pictures the parts are very cleanly molded and formed, with no visible molding lines.
Some parts will need to be released from their casting frames and instructions on how to work with white metal parts (detaching, handling, painting, safety, etc.) are available at https://scaleaircraftconversions.com/using-white-metal/
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$12.99
This particular set, contained in the familiar SAC blister packaging, is a perfect match for the SAC metal Landing Gear set 48472 for the F-35 C. See the excellent review by Rod Lees.
There are two parts — each representing the right and left-wing hinges. Upon inspection, no flash is detected, and they are cleanly cast. As with all SAC products, the pewter is pliable and can be adjusted as needed for a perfect fit. The two SAC parts are designed to replace kit parts EE39 and EE38, discussed in steps 61 and 62 within the Tamiya instructional guide.
Although I am a fan of metal landing gear for increased strength and stability, replacing these particular kit parts is negligible, in my opinion. Viewing the kit parts side-by-side with the metal parts, I found the kit's parts to be crisper. For this reason, I would be more inclined to stick with them, especially since the wing hinges are not parts which really require increased strength.
Book Author(s)
Ingo Bauernfeind
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$39.95
After reading a well-worn copy of Thomas Gallagher’s book The X-Craft Raid, I have been fascinated by mini-subs and the missions they completed or attempted during the Second World War. Three X-craft were to sink the Tirpitz at her berth in Norway, and the mission was moderately successful in that they were able to damage the German battleship in such a way she was out of action until spring of 1944. I learned that many countries produced midget submarines during the war, and Mr. Bauernfeind’s book, Midget Submarines 1939–45 covers these craft comprehensively. Molch, Biber, Seehund (Germany), Kaiten, Ha Series, Kairyu (Japan), Type Ca, Type CC (Italy), X-Craft, XE-Craft, and Welman (United Kingdom); these and more are midget submarines examined in this new Casemate publication.