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Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
MSRP
$62.99

Northrop's YF-22 was the direct competitor to the F-22 Raptor that the Air Force elected to purchase. Two prototypes were built- one in gray and the other in black. Hobbyboss has released the first quarter scale kit and it is a beauty. The kit is 94 parts with the upper and lower fuselage being one large piece each. Engraving is good. Most of the parts go toward the landing gear bays and landing gear. There is a clear canopy and windscreen. No option for opening it is available. There is a small decal sheet and full color paint guide in the kit representing the gray prototype only.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$11.17

The December issue of Model Art starts off with a short article covering some of the new releases at the 2013 All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show. I will try to give some of the highlights of the releases that will be hitting our stashes soon.

For the aircraft builders, here is a few examples of what you should see soon. Hobby Boss 1/48 P-38L-5-LO due spring 2014, Trumpeter 1/48 T-38 release date TBA, Fine Molds 1/48 Fine Molds Mitsubishi Ka-14 (A5M prototype) due Dec. 2013, Tomytec 1/700 Launch Complex 39 pad A due Dec. 2013, 1/48 Kittyhawk Mig-25 due Oct. 2013, 1/32 Wingnut Wings Salmson 2-A2 release TBA, 1/48 Avant Garde Aero L-29 Delfin release TBA and the 1/48 Avant Garde CM.170 Fouga Magister.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$12.00

The rucksacks come in a clear plastic cardboard backed package. There is also a piece of foam to help keep the pieces from moving around. They parts are in gray resin with very nice details.

Included in the package are five rucksacks, two folded tarps, one entrenching tool w/cover, three canteens, two bread bags, two bread bags and canteens molded together, five mess kits, two grenade bags, two helmets ( Model 1918 and Pickelhaube) and one wood chest. The level of detail is high on the pieces. One thing I noticed on my sample is Plusmodel tried to replicate some wire pieces on the mess kits, this makes it very delicate and several of my examples were missing it. It would be an easy fix to replace it with fine wire.

With the renewed interest in WWI and kit manufactures coming out with new kits, this set will be a welcome addition for those looking to add extra detail to their kits.

Review Author
Tom Jett
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$55.00

Kit Review

This is the second review I’ve done of a MiniArt Building, and let’s just say they aren’t getting easier. That’s not to say they’re not great kits, but they are perhaps they lend themselves to the more experienced modeler. If you haven’t built or seen one of these, the kits consist of both Vacuform and injection molded parts. The major building pieces are vacuformed with the interior and exterior walls and roof sections molded as separate parts. No base is included/provided as in other MiniArt building/ruin kits. The detail on the kit is quite good, and this kit in particular comes with extra parts that don’t necessarily go on the shed, gutters, downspouts, louvered shutters for example. These can go right into the spares box for another time.

Book Author(s)
Greg VanWyngarden
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

Jagdstaffel 17, better known as Jasta 17, was one of the premier German fighter squadrons of World War I. It began as Kampfstaffel Metz, and later became known as Jasta 17. Although not as famous some of the other units, it nevertheless produced its share of aces, and three of its members were knights of the Orden Pour le Merite, holders of the coveted Blue Max. Julius Buckler, with 35 confirmed victories, was the highest scoring ace of Kampfstaffel Metz. Other standouts included Oblt Bruno Loerzer, Hermann Goring, Jacob Wolff (who was 48 years old when he scored his last victory, and was also Jewish), Vzfw Christian Donhauser, and a number of others who either transferred in and out of the unit, or served briefly until becoming casualties.