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Book Author(s)
Various
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$12.00

In the Novembers issue of Model Art they start as usual with the special feature. This months special feature is on weathering techniques and painting of aircraft. The article starts of with Tamiya's beautiful 1/32 F4U-1 Corsair. With this model they incorporate post shading, exhaust staining and fuel stains. The next model is the Hasegawa 1/48th A6M2b Type 21 "Junyo Fighter group". This aircraft was originally finished in IJN gray but then was over sprayed with one of the greens that Japan used during the war leaving a blotchy finish. They show you how to achieve this in this section. Next up is the Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk.1. This section covers chipping, masking and some general weathering. Zvezda Yak-3 1/48th is used next. This section deals with general weathering and details of the kit. The next section covers dust. They use the Eduard 1/48th Bf-109E-7 Trop for this demonstration. The last next article uses the Hasegawa 1/48 Henchel 129B-2 "Winter Camouflage".

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$18.95

As quoted from Squadron/Signal Publications " In Action books, despite the title of the genre, are books that trace the development of a single type of aircraft, armored vehicle, or ship from prototype to the final production variant. Experimental or "one-off" variants can also be included. Our first In Action book was printed in 1971".

The M-1 Abrams was designed to fight multiple Communist manned tanks in the forests of Europe. Even though the "Abrams" has been in combat, it has been limited to desert warfare. The M-1 was designed to be technologically superior and to provide the crew the best protection possible. During the M-1's career it has gone through many upgrades and modifications, both in technology, armor and armaments.

Review Author
John Kelly
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.49

These resin parts are designed to replace the exhaust nozzles in any of the first-generation Harrier kits from a number of manufacturers. They are advertised to fit the Italeri and Hasegawa Sea Harrier FRS.1 and the Italeri and Hasegawa Harrier GR.3. Since the Italeri kits are reissues of the ESCI AV-8A/GR.3 and FRS.1 kits, these parts will fit those kits as well. They will also work on the Fujimi AV-8A kit, as that is a copy (not a reissue) of the ESCI kit. These are first after market nozzles available for the first-generation Harriers, although similar items have been available for the second-generation Harriers (AV-8B, AV-8B+, GR.5/7/9) for some time by a variety of manufacturers. They are not the same.

Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$30.00

Vought’s Vindicator was designed in 1934 in response to the U.S. Navy’s requirement for a new all-in-one bomber, torpedo bomber, and reconnaissance platform, and was first produced in 1937. Ultimately, the SB2U was more successful as a movie star than a weapon of war, being featured in the motion picture “Dive Bomber”. Vindicators were used by the Marines of VMSB-241 at the battle of Midway, but were mostly ineffective and outclassed.

Special Hobby’s kit represents the SB2U-3 version and comes with markings for for USMC aircraft - three in camouflage, and one representing the first SB2U-3 to roll off the production line, in its pre-war yellow-wing scheme. The kit’s gray plastic parts have really nice recessed panel lines, and I liked the treatment of the fabric areas of the wings, tail, and fuselage. According to photos I have, I think the contour of the rear cockpit sill should be more curved, but it doesn’t detract from the overall appearance.

Book Author(s)
Glenn Ashley; illustrated by Jon Freeman
Review Author
Phil Pignataro
Published on
Company
AIRfile Publications
MSRP
$28.00

The Harrier is one of the most easily recognized modern jet fighters and has been so since its introduction into the RAF in 1969. It certainly is one of the noisiest, particularly when in VTOL mode. This excellent book is another of the ongoing AIRfile publications covering British aircraft. As in their other books, this volume is full of relevant information and color profiles, this time focusing on early versions of the Harrier. The chapter titles speak for themselves: