Master Models has released a set of 8 machined brass gun barrels for the current batch of 1/32 scale P-47 kits. One nice thing is that these barrels will fit either the Hasegawa release or the Trumpeter release.

The barrels are perfectly made and already have the ends drilled out. The attached pictures show a comparison to the Hasegawa barrels, although there is really not any comparison – there are no seam lines and they have no sprue points to sand down.

There is a 1:1 scale picture showing the proper alignment. To use this set in the Trumpeter kits, simply paint and glue the barrels in place. The Hasegawa kit will have to have the bulkhead drilled to accept the barrels, which you can then paint and glue. The drawing will then insure proper alignment.

This book covers all the Chieftain versions from prototype to mark.11 – that means all the main battle tank versions of this significant AFV from the cold war. The only versions not covered are the special mission vehicles, like the bridge layer and recovery vehicle that are based on the Chieftain chassis.

The book was written by Robert Griffin, who has served in the Chieftain for several years and can provide first-person impressions on its performance and spice up the reading by adding details of crew living conditions in the vehicle.

The book’s breakdown covers:

This book covers 11 different Cold War aircraft; many of which were built and flown but never went into production. All but one aircraft has its own chapter. The book has a striking cover with a very well done fake photo of a production F-108 Rapier approaching a tanker to refuel. This is only a hint of what is to come!

Chapter one discusses the Northrop B-49A and RB-49A. It begins with the development of the flying wing by Northrop and the predecessor of the B-49, the propeller-powered B-35. This continues through development and testing and the reasons for canceling the B-49. The chapter is filled with many wonderful digital prints of B-49s as they would have looked in service. Three that show B-49Ds in Southeast Asia markings still serving beyond the 1960s and RAF examples give the “what-if” modelers many ideas.