This set is designed to provide replacement parts for the Hasegawa/Hobby 2000 SBD Dauntless kits. The package includes two complete sets of gear, consisting of the two main gear struts and two options for the tail wheel assembly – one with the small hard rubber tire used for carrier operations and the other a larger pneumatic tail wheel used for shore-based operations by Navy and Marine aircraft and the Army Air Corps A-24.

As with most of SAC’s landing gear sets, the metal parts are intended to be one-for-one replacements for the kit parts. The parts are well cast and need just a little clean-up of the casting seams with a sharp Xacto blade. I recommend taking your time removing the tail wheels from the casting tree or you will end up with a very flat looking tire as I did on the smaller wheel. Also, be sure you do not trim off the long extension pointing aft above the tail wheel as it is supposed to be there - it is a tow bar used to help move the plane.

The AH-1G Cobra was the first helicopter specifically designed for air to ground attack missions. They first saw action in Vietnam. The type went on to serve several nations, including Spain and Israel (the subject of this model).

I picked the model up at the Review Corp get together at the IPMS National Convention in Omaha. Phil had gotten it straight from Special Hobby.

The kit was presented in Special Hobby’s standard strong, top opening cardboard box with an attractive painting of the helicopter on the cover. Inside, ten sprues were contained within one clear plastic bag. The clear parts were protected inside their own bag. A decal sheet and glossy, color instruction sheet was found in the bottom of the box.

The instruction manual showed a parts sprue layout, and each step was presented in a legible and easily followed manner. Colors were highlighted where needed.

The AMMO range of acrylic paints for figures has recently been expanded to include another new set of paints specifically designed for the US Marines in the Pacific Theater, the subject of this review.

Opening the box reveals a set of six industry-standard 17ml. ‘eyedropper’ style bottles of high-quality acrylic paint from their Ammo-Mig line, each containing a ‘stirring ball’ (a BB-sized steel ball to help mix the paint when shaking). The assumption is that the paint set would serve as a one-stop shop for producing the USMC uniform that bears its name, a favorite for military figure painters and armor modelers alike.

(From the Manufacturer’s Website)

(US Marines WWII Figures Set) Includes the colors used to represent the distinctive greenish tones of the jacket and trousers used during the war. These colors have been selected through rigorous research to ensure accuracy when creating highlights, adding volume, and define details.

Includes the colors: