AMT has now released another package of pad printed tires, this time eight 11.75" M&H Dragmaster slicks. The printing is sharp in a flat white color, and the lettering is not raised above the surface. The tires are hollow vinyl and can accommodate any number of wheels from various drag model kits. In the attached picture, I've fitted wheels from the following kits with no trouble:

• AMT: '70.5 Camaro, '66 Nova, Pontiac Tempest AWB
• Revell: '41 Willys gasser, '32 Deuce
• MRC: Cragar wheels
• Modelhaus: resin steel wheels
• Polar Lights: Plymouth funny car

I look forward to using a pair on my next dragster! Thanks to Round 2 for the parts pack, and thanks to IPMS USA for the opportunity to review this detail set.

Recently, Eduard released photoetched detail sets for the 1/72 scale Hobby Boss F-14A, and these included both an interior as well as an exterior set. Upon opening this set, you will find a single, bare metal fret of photoetched parts along with a single sheet of directions. The items in this set, as one would assume from the title, are made to enhance the exterior of an F-14A Tomcat, and they do this most impressively by adding detail to the landing gear, gear doors, access covers, engine inlets and outlets, missile launch rails, and the missiles themselves.

The Aircraft

The C-118 was the military version of the Douglas DC-6A. Probably the most famous C-118 was President Truman’s VC-118, named “Independence,” which still resides at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

I am lucky enough to know a crew member from a C-118. Bill Mathay was an Air Force Navigator who served in World War 2, Korea, and even passed through Vietnam during the war there. In the late 1950s, Bill was stationed at PACAF Headquarters, Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Bill told me that he was very impressed by the comfort of the C-118 and the size of the passenger compartment windows compared to the other planes he flew in.