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Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.95

This set provides 2 wire baggage carts presumably for 1/72 airliners or cargo aircraft (there is no history included with the kit) in a single fret of photo etch. The wire baskets are very well engineered, and with car fold up nicely to form a basket about ½ inch tall that is open on one side and at the top. The basket is attached to a base once you have folded over the edges of the base. There are also 4 photo-etched casters for each cart that require you to make two folds in each to represent 2 wheels on each caster and circular base for each caster. The completed casters are then superglued to the bottom of the base of the cart. The final touch is to add to photo-etched handles to each cart. I painted my carts aluminum to give me the maximum flexibility of how to use them, and I think they would look cool next to a C-54, a C-47 or possibly an early airliner to show some scale.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Modelling
MSRP
$6.91

Scale Aircraft Modelling's August 2015 issue continues its fine history and modelling articles with everything from new kits, scratchbuilds and older kits.

The articles start with an Academy 1/48 F-4J Phantom built by Bill Clark. He adds Hypersonic Models canopy set and Quickboost resin seats to build an RAF Phantom in a unique turquoise scheme. The finished build looks great.

Andy McCabe builds Revell's 1/144 747-8F in Cargolux markings. The kit is built on a stand with an excellent paint job. Airliners and cargo planes never seem to get enough attention and this is a wonderful article covering just such a subject.

Meng Models 1/72 Kayaba Katsuodori Ramjet fighter is built by Mike Williams. Not only does he do an excellent review of the kit, he fits it to a modified Ki-67 turned into a Ki-109.

Review Author
Matthew Cottrell
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$31.00

Academy has a quality line of 1/72 scale aircraft, and they have recently begun to release several reboxings of these kits with special decals. Their latest special edition covers a USMC F/A-18A+ Hornet from VFMA-232, the Red Devils. The F/A-18A+ Hornet is an A-model that has had an avionics upgrade, primarily consisting of the addition of the AN/APG-73 radar. For the front-line Marine aircraft, so-called “bird slicer” IFF antennas are also found on nose of the A+, forward of the cockpit. Beyond the A+ parts, A-model Hornets also feature prominent reinforcement plates along the inside of each vertical stabilizer.

Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$33.00

Aircraft and History

The AH-64 was developed for the Advanced Attack Helicopter back in the mid 1970’s and was to replace the AH-1 Cobra. First flown in 1975 and introduced into the US Army in 1986, the aircraft had many upgrades since then it’s introduction. The “D” version or “Longbow” increased the helicopters lethality and situational awareness. The most noticeable addition to the Delta model is a mast mounted radar located above the main rotor. With the radar above the rotor, it allows the Apache to detect targets while remaining behind cover. The main rotor shaft is hollow which allows a fixed shaft to extend through the hollow rotor which allows the attachment of the radar. Other enhancements include a “glass” cockpit, advanced sensors and upgraded engines. Most if not all of the “A” model Apaches have been converted to “D” model standards.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$39.99

Back in 1978 I was one of many in the TV room in Langford Hall at Montana State University waiting for a new TV series that was trying to capitalize on a surprisingly successful Space Opera that had opened the previous year. That TV show was Battlestar Galactica and while it only lasted one season it gave us new ships which Monogram released as models.

Fast forward to 2003 (skipping that thing in 1980) and we got a new, gritty miniseries with a new take on the old show. This one was a hit and lead to a regular series running from 2004 through 2009.