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I first heard about the Moebius 8-window movie version kit when reviewing SciFi & Fantasy Modeller Vol. 25 for IPMS/USA, http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/scifi-fantasy-modeller-vol-25, so when the kit became available shortly thereafter I had to give it a shot.
Scale Aircraft Modelling is an excellent monthly publication focusing on modeling scale aircraft. The name of the publication gives that bit of information away rather easily.
Averaging just under 100 pages, SAM is filled with “build” articles featuring some of the newer kits on the market as well as projects based on old favorites. In this issue (Vol 34, Issue 09) a number of featured articles cover a range of subjects, both jet and prop.
Neil Pinchbeck, also featured in the last issue, provides an excellent article presenting the Valom Scale Aircraft Saunders Roe A.29 Cloud. The Cloud is a seaplane used by some British airlines in the early ‘30s. Neil’s article provides an excellent guide for those who wish to construct this kit of a rather nostalgic aircraft.
Introduced by Ford in 1988, the AeroMax was part of their L-Series of trucks produced over 28 years starting in 1970, designed for fuel efficiency, performance, and comfort for long hauls.
Revell’s 1/32 SnapTite kit embodies AeroMax with 52 parts molded in white, black, chrome plate, and clear. A sheet of peel-and-stick decals and a set of instructions round out the box contents.
Parts are nicely molded, with appropriate raised and recessed detail. Fit seemed to be pretty good, although some of the snap features required reinforcement with a little liquid cement. Instructions are clear and assembly sequence was straightforward. Box art and instruction drawings also provide ample guidance for those wishing to paint their model. The peel-and-stick decals are crisply and printed and in register, with die cuts around raised features such as hood latches and door hinges.
This kit is everything one expects from the Special Hobby label – an interesting subject not often kitted, superb casting with no flash, excellent detail, PE and resin parts, fine decals, and a bit of work to get it all together. Those with patience will be rewarded with a fine kit of a subject not easily available elsewhere.
Five sprues with 74 light gray and 30 transparent (yes, this plane has LOTS of windows!) greet one upon opening the box. There is a photo etched fret with 36 larger brass parts and at least that many smaller parts representing the levers. There are a number of extra levers for the control panel, and it’s a good thing. I have big thumbs.
6 casting plugs with 31 resin parts make up the bulk of the cockpit and the machine guns. These are very well cast and come off the plugs easily and with no breakage.
There are 2 pieces of film for the instrument panel, which work well also.
If you are interested in building some of the older kits that you may have missed when they were first introduced, you have a friend in Round 2 Models, who are re-releasing kits from the likes of AMT, MPC, and Polar Lights. One of the latest releases is this 1966 Ford Mustang Hardtop in a “Retro Deluxe Edition” that includes pad-printed tires, vintage kit packaging, and all new decal designs. The kit may be built as a stock, custom, or drag racing variant, with plenty of supplied kit parts to allow for customizing to the tastes of the builder. The built-up kit is a respectable looking 1966 Mustang hardtop with plenty of options; just keep in mind that being an older kit, there will be some fit issues to overcome.
