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Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
February 10, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$3.99

Basically this Life Raft Container kit contains three grey resin pieces on one resin casting block. One piece is the cylindrical container, the next is the raft itself and finally, the last is the cover. These pieces can be painted quickly and easily. The assembly is nothing more than cutting a round hole on the side of the fuselage where the container and cover would go. The container is glued from the inside and the cover can be shown in the open position with the raft showing or any position you can think of for your own diorama setting. The included directions illustrate where the hole is cut and also provide a template as to the diameter of the hole to be cut.

I know some people don’t like to cut into their kits “skin” but this is not difficult at all.

I would highly recommend this addition for any level of modeling skills that you may have and definitely great for beginners to build confidence.

Review Author
David Goudie
Published on
February 9, 2011
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$9.00

This review will be for two different sets of machined brass and photoetch fro Master Models. Aside from appearance differences between the guns they were meant to mimic, assembly would be pretty much the same.

Master Models makes some of the nicest brass machining and photoetch I have ever seen. When I combined their barrel set for the German LMG-14 Parabellum with the breech and stock of the weapon in Wingnut Wings LVG C.VI, got them painted and added a touch of gunmetal and smoke pigment you could almost smell the hotgun oil and smoke.

I used CA and a touch of white Gator Glue in this assembly, along with Tamiya red-brown and Model Master Acrylic Gunmetal, with a light dusting and rub of Mig Gunmetal and smoke. I used Model Master Brass for the bullets and Stone for the belt webbing.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
February 8, 2011
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$99.95

Before I get onto reviewing this model, I would like to give a little back ground information about this aircraft.

The Messerschmitt Bf110 served in the Luftwaffe throughout WWII. Even though it wasn’t very popular with the German pilots at that time it was developed into a successful night fighter, in spite of its poor handling characteristics. Later on it was realized what a great night fighter it really was and soon became the backbone of the German Luftwaffe night fighter wing of WWII.Some of these units were formed as early as 1940.

In August/September 1943, Bf110 aircraft shot down over 2700 RAF bombers. Also, in just one night, without fighter cover, these aircraft destroyed at least 120 RAF bombers. The Bf110D was a long-range heavy fighter and/or fighter-bomber, while the improved and up-armored Bf110E was designed primarily as a fighter-bomber.

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
February 8, 2011
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.50

The casting of these elevators and stabilizers is as good as the original plastic parts in the kit. The stabilizers have a pocket trailing edge that accepts the rounded leading edge of the elevators perfectly and the fit is better than I could ever do if I had taken the kit parts and cut them apart. The resin is a cream color, but their web site shows some cast in gray, so I guess it depends upon the batch and what kind of resin they were using that day.

I looked through all of my Skyraider references, couldn’t find that many pictures of A-1s with the elevators displaced, except for those taking off or landing. But, if you want your Hasegawa A-1 to have displaced elevators, you really need these. They are a direct replacement for the kit parts.

My thanks to Aires for the review samples and to IPMS/USA these review samples.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
February 8, 2011
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

Czech manufacturer Eduard keeps expanding its Brassin line of aftermarket details this time with the release of the ejection seat for the KP Su-7 in 1/48th scale. A while back Eduard re-boxed the KP kit adding some aftermarket goodies, including this seat.

The seat is now available as a stand-alone upgrade for those that already have the KP kit in their collection. In my opinion, the seat is the weakest point of the whole (original) plastic cockpit and Eduard is offering us the solution.

Eduard provides you with 2 exquisitely molded resin pieces and a pre-colored photo-etch fret for seatbelts and other minor placards and color details.