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Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

This book details combat between the P-39/P-400 Airacobra and A6M2/3 Zero in New Guinea in 1942. This book follows the usual pattern/layout for this series with a history and specifications of aircraft, the training and operations of the servicemen of both nations, and then combat operations.

The book is broken down into 11 sections. The introduction discusses in brief the lead up to both designs and provides a chronology from inception until the end of the war.

Next the design and development of both types are covered. The P-39/P-400 is covered first then the A6m2/3 Zero.

Chapter Three has the technical specifications of each model. B-29 coverage begins with the P-39D and continues with the P-39F, P-39K and P-400.The same treatment is given to the A6M, covering the A6M1, A6m@ Model 11, A6M2 model 21 and ending with the A6M3 model 32.

Book Author(s)
Chris McNab
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Chris McNab is an author and editor specializing in military history and military technology. To date he has published more than 40 books, including The Illustrated History of the Vietnam War (2000), Twentieth-Century Small Arms (2001), Twentieth-Century Small Arms (2001), The Encyclopedia of Combat Techniques (2002), The Personal Security Handbook (2003), Reformation, Exploration and Empire (2005), Mythical Monsters : The Scariest Creatures from Legends, Books, and Movies (2006), Tools of Violence (2008), Deadly Force (2009), A History of the World in 100 Weapons (2011), The Roman Army (2012), SAS and Special Forces Mental Toughness Training, and Abandoned Wrecks (2017). Chris has also written extensively for major encyclopedia series, magazines and newspapers. He is an experienced specialist in survival techniques and provides instruction on wilderness hunting techniques. He currently lives in Neath, Wales, UK.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$18.95

The Trumpeter helicopters are really nice kits but the kit’s white metal landing gear are very fragile. They are brittle and break apart. I’ve had this issue with the CH-47D and Mi-8 kit landing gear. Scale Aircraft Conversions offers a replacement set of white metal landing gear for the Hip.

This set includes nine white metal parts for the landing gear. They are direct replacements for the kit landing gear. They are packaged in a cardboard backed blister pack. The detail is nicely represented and should prove no problem for adding them to the kit.

They are not brittle like the kit parts. Some parts will need straightening as they got slightly bent during shipping.

These are a nice addition and stronger than the kit landing gear. These are a perfect replacement for the brittle kit white metal landing gear. This is another great release from Scale Aircraft Conversions. I hope that they make landing gear for the CH-47A and D.

Highly recommended

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 allows a lot of options. One option that isn’t included is the WGr-21 Rocket system. The mortar rockets were mounted under the wings of the Bf-109, from the G-2 to the G-6.

This set is packaged in a typical blister pack with 16 light grey resin and one photo-etch fret. The resin is molded in light grey and dark grey not that it matters as both styles are beautifully done. The weld mark on the tubes is awesome.

The fret is made up mostly of templates to first set the angle of support struts and second to then set its location on the wing. The assembly of the set is pretty straightforward once you get the templates made up. You get two separate rockets for your diorama and two rockets to be ‘installed’ in the tubes. The photo-etch parts for the rocket tubes are mostly for the rear of the rockets.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 has that beautiful engine that can be shown opened or closed. My question was they lead the world in engineering kits, can’t they hollow out the exhausts? Apparently not. So that is where this set comes in.

Eduard provides the answer. Packaged in the typical Brassin blister pack, Eduard provides you with some spectacular exhausts to replace the kit parts. Two light grey resin set of exhausts are included, as well as, a fret of photo-etch. They have beautiful weld lines and are hollowed out. They also are specifically designed for the Tamiya kit. The mounting points on the engine are sided and so are these beauties.

The photo-etch parts are for the deflectors and the front and rear deflectors.

The instructions are printed on a single sheet of double-sided paper.