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Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$54.99

The Hasegawa FW-190 series of models is a very nice series without all the bells and whistles of the Eduard kits and not nearly as expensive as the Trimaster versions. The latest release covers another of Hermann Graf’s aircraft, WkNr. 2594, flown as the Kommandeur of Jagd-Ergazungsgruppe-Ost in France 1943. This particular aircraft is unique in its markings and in its supercharger intakes. I think this is the most colorful machine that Graf flew. The yellow nose with red chevrons with white outlines and RLM 76 cowl ring makes it stand out. If that isn’t enough the same motif is used on the tail and contains red lightning bolts on both sides making this a very unique and colorful aircraft.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$52.99

The OH-6 is a compact light helicopter used for observation, light transport, training and light attack. This particular boxing depicts a Japanese aircraft used in the observation role.

This kit looks to be the Academy kit reboxed for Hasegawa. The molds have been around for quite some time but the moldings don’t show its age. The plastic is typical Hasegawa light grey plastic on four sprues. The plastic was quite shiny and polished. My review copy doesn’t have any flash or blemishes. The panel lines are recessed. There is a sprue of eight dark grey resin parts that includes antennas, FLIR, tail lights and spotlights. The resin pieces will require some careful cleanup but they look really great.

A sprue of clear styrene has the nose and windows.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$21.95

Master Box just keeps turning out these very unique kits made exclusively for building dioramas and/or vignettes. They come out with the most peculiar subjects that will add that finishing touch to a diorama, or base a diorama around, and then you wonder how we ever got along without these kits. This time, they have come out with the Eastern Region Peasants in the WWII era. When I opened the box I wasn't surprised at the great detail and preciseness of their clothes, facial expressions, and other small items which add to the realism – in fact, I knew that these figures would reflect their high standards as always.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$18.95

Since I had picked up Bronco’s lovely little 40mm Bofors gun, I jumped at the chance to review the separate Gun Crew set. Unfortunately for me, they are dressed in more European Theatre uniforms (and possibly early war) while I plan to make my gun one based on Malta, so hopefully Bronco will do a Middle Eastern uniformed crew set in the near future.

That said, let’s take a look in the box and see what we got. There are 6 figures in the kit, which seems a pretty standard crew for the gun, but it could go up to 8 men.

The figures come in 8-11 parts including helmets and gas mask bags. While I have seen a few pictures of crews wearing the gas mask bags, most of the shots I have seen show the crews without these. This wouldn’t be an issue except the straps for the bags are molded to the torsos of the 5 crew members with bags, so some shaving would be required to remove these.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Dutch Decal
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.98

This new sheet from Dutch Decal highlights several US- and English-built aircraft used by the Indonesians during the ‘50s. The included history talks about Opeartion “Haik,” which centered on clandestine US operations in Indonesia in 1958.

Decals are provided for a very interesting set of aircraft: B-25 Mitchell, P-51D/K, C-47B, Piper L-4, Auster, Catalina, and B-26B Invader, with the standouts in my opinion being a couple of sharkmouthed Mustangs and a lovely Invader in not only a sharkmouth but also a sharktail.

Full color profiles show each scheme in detail with wing placements for the Mustangs and Mitchells. Also included are a few small pictures displaying a few of the aircraft in real life.

Dutch Decal has a great reputation for their decals and this looks like another excellent set. Now, maybe I need to get another Mustang for one of those sharkmouths.