The History

Trumpeter describes the history of its latest kit subject, the Cessna A-37A Dragonfly in 1/48 scale, on the box. The Dragonfly was developed from the T-37 trainer for combat service in Vietnam. A series of new components were applied to the aircraft, including: one GAU-2B/A 7.62 mm minigun, two drop tanks on the wing tips, three weapon stations under each wing, stronger landing gear, and two more powerful J85 engines. The new A-37As were affectionately nicknamed the Super Tweet. They were sent to Vietnam as part of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Group, 604th Air Assault Squadron on July 17, 1967.

First, my thanks to Ross, the CEO of Scale Aircraft Conversions, for providing IPMS/USA with so many examples of his new products. I am certainly not paid to say any of this, but Ross and his crew have taken the metal landing-gear market by storm. Their cautious first releases were met with a chorus of “whys?” That was, until their metal was proven (a bad pun, but true).

My personal epiphany came after building the Revell 1/32 Ju 88 kit. The owner of my local, now-defunct, hobby shop tried to convince me to use a set of SAC gear, but I passed based on the cost. Of course, the kit’s plastic gear failed after two months. I had second thoughts, but I was not convinced to try the SAC products until a similar fate befell my 1/48 Roden T-28; the kit’s gear legs were so accurately scaled, the thin, soft-plastic of the nose-gear leg couldn’t hold the weight of the CMK resin engine I had installed.

Aerobonus latest release is an oil draining cart used as a catch basin for motor oil. The set consists of eight resin parts and a decal sheet. The parts are in typical gray resin and are flawless. Parts removal is easy with careful trimming needed on the cart body and handle. Take your time and use a razor saw. A light sanding and you are good to go. The wheels are tiny as are the bolts to hold the handle. Be careful and things will clean up quickly.

I did notice one problem and that is the two bars that extend out of the front of the cart to hold the handle. Mine were broken off so i sanded them smooth and made a new set with strip in less than five minutes. Aires has protectors built into the casting block to prevent this but it didn't work in this case.