The Kit

The Bronco offering of the Valentine tank comes fully packed in a sturdy box. Inside you will find 17 grey sprues, one clear sprue, 18 track sprues (12 links per sprue), two decal sheets, two photo etched frets (including an addendum instruction for the smaller fret), a box sized color poster of the Valentine tank, and a very well done instruction booklet. With a couple of exceptions the sprues are individually bagged. It should be noted there are no figures included with the kit.

Aerobonus latest release is the LAU-3 US Navy Rocket Container. The LAU-series was generally used by the fixed-wing aircraft of the Air Force and Navy. The -3 version delivered 19 air-launched 2.75 FFAR rockets either individually, in sequence, or all at once. This set depicts the Navy version. Looking at various planes, I found pictures of the F4J Fury and Skyraider with these rockets on the pylons, and I am sure there are more, including Phantoms.

This set contains 10 resin parts to make 2 pods. There is also a small decal sheet to cover the markings. There are tail cones and nose cones included. Research shows that these were not in use towards the end of the war. Color is white for Navy use, with the front and back plates being unpainted steel.

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.