Previously, Cyber-Hobby released a 1/72 scale plastic kit of the American-designed Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King helicopter. At first, this twin-engine SH-3 Sea King was used primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) by the US Navy. Many other nations adopted the Sea King design, including Japan, where it was license-produced by Mitsubishi. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) widely used the Sea King as an ASW platform. Some 18 S-61A Sea Kings were used in search-and-rescue (SAR) roles too. Sometimes these were deployed to Antarctica aboard naval icebreakers. Japan maintains stations in Antarctica, and the JMSDF is responsible for Japan's Antarctica Observation activities.

Cyber-Hobby is providing a kit of an S-61A in Antarctica Observation service with the JMSDF. With the provided Cartograf decal markings and a suitable paint scheme, this S-61A variant of the Sea King could be ready for action in the frigid climes of Antarctica.

I knew the grandkids were coming for Spring break and also like building models with Grandpa so when the AMT Captain America Truck came up for review, I snagged it to build with my granddaughter, Lilli.

Since she is a younger builder, this kit is perfect as it is a SNAP fit with stickers for decals and requires no painting (although we did some anyway). The kit is only 25 parts plus stickers and instructions. The undercarriage parts are molded black and the body and accessories are blue.

Lily did almost all construction herself, cutting the parts and snapping them together. I do recommend gluing the bumpers in place and the smoky glass (there's no interior) in place as fit is not super tight and the bumpers are the connection point to the undercarriage. The frame and shocks are three simple parts and the axles are metal. The wheels are directional so watch out on installing the hubs.

Eduard has released this set of photoetch to enhance the new Academy F-4B in the cockpit and canopy areas. The set contains one fret of brass that details the canopies, canopy sills and areas around the canopies. A second colored fret details the instrument panels and interior of the cockpit and is of the self-adhesive type.

The set has excellent instructions. To use the preprinted side panels you will have to sand the kit panels smooth. The same process is done for the rear instrument panel. The front instrument panel is all photoetch and does require some bends. The sidewalls in the kit are very nice, and the replacements are very nice also. This, to me, is a modeler’s choice as both options are great.

The highlight of these photoetch interiors are the instrument panels. They are multi-part affairs that give depth and create great looking instruments. These were flat coated and then small drops of clear were added for the glass.