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Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Let me start off with this, Lifelike Decals are some of the most thoroughly researched decals available. When your instruction sheets a sheet with 41 references on it for the subject aircraft, AND 26 references just addressing the Zero colors, you know this company is different.

Inside a ziplock baggie you get enough decals to do SIXTEEN Zeros in various models, from the Type 21 to the Type 52. The instructions are an absolute boon of information. There are no less than EIGHT pages dedicated to the discussion of the Zeros camouflage. This includes the most recent research by notable Japanese historians, including Nicholas Millman. It is a reference in itself that is worth the price of the decal sheet. There are color chips! When was the last time you were given color chips with your decals? You also get two masks to protect the areas where the aircraft information is on the fuselage.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Let me start off with this, Lifelike Decals are some of the most thoroughly researched decals available. When your instruction sheets a sheet with 41 references on it for the subject aircraft, AND 26 references just addressing the Zero colors, you know this company is different.

Inside a ziplock baggie you get enough decals to do SIXTEEN Zeros in various models, from the Type 21 to the Type 52. The instructions are an absolute boon of information. There are no less than EIGHT pages dedicated to the discussion of the Zeros camouflage. This includes the most recent research by notable Japanese historians, including Nicholas Millman. It is a reference in itself that is worth the price of the decal sheet. There are color chips! When was the last time you were given color chips with your decals? You also get two masks to protect the areas where the aircraft information is on the fuselage.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$45.00

Academy/MRC has released a new North American F-86F-40 Sabre in 1/48 scale with leading edge slatted wings. There are two new sprue-runners (I & H) with upgraded wings, slats, 200 gallon drop tanks, main landing gear wheels wells, and wheels. From Scalemates.com, the original molding was created by Academy in 1998 for all the other sprue-runners.

This is Part 2 of the review and focuses on the assembly and completion.

Review Process

This is a box stock build, but I did add simple tape seat belts. The only assembly deviation I did for this review was taking liberties of the assembly sequence to help make the process go faster. To try and make a simpler build, I decided to not open the fuselage speed brakes or the nose gun bays.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$25.50

I have some history with the CH-54. In 1982, in Savannah, Georgia I was an airplane crew chief. The GA National Guard was flying these at the time. I went over and asked to go flying with them. They said no problem. So I hopped in the jump seat with a people pod mounted in back. We did a run-up and the rotor brake failed. So since I was a mechanic, the crew chief and I changed out the component and off we went to pick up the National Guardsman on maneuvers. I was in the back right next to the lever that disconnected the people pod. I was very aware of where that was. We flew them around, dropped them off and after the mission I thanked the crew and went back home. It was a cool experience, and I was struck by the massive size and power of the beast.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1:32
MSRP
$10.00

The EC-145/H145/ UH-72 Lakota series of models from Revell-Germany are some really great kits. Each one is slightly different.

The large canopy is highlighted by a very large single wiper blade that is used for either side. The plastic parts in the kit are large and clunky. Quickboost’s wiper blade assembly is very petite and looks the part. There are three parts to the wiper assembly. They are molded on a single grey resin pour block. The actual wiper blade looks just like a real windshield wiper blade looks. This is attached to the wiper arms, which are mounted sideways on the block. It has two ‘arms’ that will fit nicely in the mounts that Revell has on the kit. The third part is part of the wire strike protection system and goes below the wiper blade base. This part is NOT included in the kit, but it appears to be on almost every H-145 that I can find. Great job Quickboost in recognizing this.