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This book is the second of three that deals with the Soviet Air Forces in the Baltic Region from the subjugation of the previously-independent Baltic republics in 1940 to the invasion by the Nazis in June 1941.
The Scale Aircraft Conversions F6F-3/5 Hellcat (Kit No. B11, also listed as 00241), Stock Number 72206, consists of two sets of six items each in their distinctive plastic bubble and cardboard packaging consisting of the main and tail landing gear, pitot tube and antennae. The landing gear are direct replacements, as is the pitot tube, the tailwheel appears sturdier, and you have the choice of two antennae based on the aircraft being built. Scale Aircraft Conversions was even kind of enough to number the parts cast in the protective white metal. Parts 17-20 are kit parts B17-20; with the tailwheel (No. B17 not being numbered) and the main gear struts are direct replacements for kit parts A24 and A25. Best of all, there are two complete sets provided, so you can build both variants.
Dash Two decals was founded in 2005 by a long-time plastic modeler who had a hard time finding markings he was interested in. The only way to get the markings nobody else would make is to learn how to take the plunge and learn the process, starting with creating vector artwork. I cannot say who the printer(s) are for the water slide decals, but they are names well respected and known to the scale modeling community.
Packaged in a large sleeve (letter-size sheet), four-page full-color instruction sheet, one cram-packed decal sheet, and a single small additional sheet with “505” slanted markings. The 4-page, full-color instructions are very well laid out, showing locations of decals as well as key comments unique to certain aircraft. As simple as the colors are on Growlers, the paint callouts refer to Federal Standard (now AMS) instead of a specific paint brand, which I prefer.
Brandon Lowe has introduced the Squadron Cutting Mat in a clear resealable package. This is a very useful tool to protect your modeling desk as well as prolong the life of your blades. This 1/8” thick ‘self-healing’ cutting mat features solid white lines to denote one-inch squares that are subdivided by half-inch squares denoted by dotted white lines. The printed grid is 17-inches by 11-inches with the overall size of the cutting mat, 17.6875” x 11.8125”. Centered on the cutting mat is a Boeing B-17 dorsal view drawing in white; but wait; this cutting mat is also two-sided with a duplicated Boeing B-17 drawing and grid on the other side!
This book contains 224 pages, 225+ B&W and color photos and is 10inches x 10 inches. It has 10 chapters and 4 appendices. It is a thorough examination of what it took to form the Blues and what it has taken to maintain one of the best aerobatic display teams in the world.
The book begins with the 1946 formation of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron in Jacksonville Florida. Beginning with the Grumman F6F Hellcat, the Blues have flown 5 total Grumman designs. These include the F8F Bearcat, F9F Panther and Cougar and the F-11 Tiger. There have been 3 designs from McDonnell Douglas. The F4 Phantom, A-4 Skyhawk, and the F-18 Hornet. Currently they fly the Boeing produced F/A-18 Super Hornet.
