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Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.50

One feature of jets is the need to use ladders to get inside of them. This essential item of ground handling equipment is typically forgotten by model manufacturers. Thanks to Plus Model this key component is finally available.

Packaged in a small top opening cardboard box is a single sprue of light grey plastic inside a plastic bag. There are 15 parts involved in this small kit. The instructions are on the back of the box. The painting instructions are also there but it is quite simple, either yellow or dark green.

Assembly of the ladder is simple enough. The key will be ensuring that everything is squared off.

The dark yellow will highlight this ground handling piece of equipment regardless of the camouflage of your Starfighter.

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

The Apache is an impressive helicopter (when it works, sorry former Cobra pilot said a bad thing). What makes it really impressive is the Hellfire missile system. Also carried by the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and many drones the Hellfire has allowed anti-tank and anti-personnel capabilities unheard of before. The ability to reach out and torch things 10Ks away is always good for the crewmembers and bad for bad guys.

Packaged in a typical Brassin box with foam cushioning. Inside the foam are three small ziplock bags containing the resin parts in light and dark grey resin. There are two clear resin blocks with the missile warheads. I could not find any flaws or blemishes on any of the parts. There are 50 resin parts. The resin covers two eight missile launchers. This is a typical loadout for the Apache. The Kiowa Warrior would have a single launcher with two missiles per side.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Tamiya
MSRP
$4.50

Tamiya acrylics can go down grainy in the right conditions (dry atmosphere, high pressure, big distance) & this retarder helps prevent this, it can also help with airbrush dry tip issues.

You mix it in with the paint or you can mix it with the thinner before thinning the paint. It can be used up to a 1:10 ratio with Tamiya Acrylic Paints.

You must remember that like most other retarders, adding too much retarder causes the paint to not dry.

Also, it is ideal for painting glossy finish surfaces and what I found very useful is using it when brushing Tamiya acrylics. As when brushing the paint starts to cure between brush strokes and using a good mix of paint, Tamiya X-20A thinner and Tamiya's Paint this can help prevent the quick drying that normally occurs.

Summary

This is a fantastic product to add with the use of Tamiya paints and I have found it a great addition to my tool box!

Book Author(s)
Robert Peczkowski
Review Author
Unknown Modeller
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$25.00

The North American P-51D requires little if any introduction, however reference material for it is always sought after. This book is intended to cover all bubbletop variants: -D, -K, CAC production and Cavalier production.

The book is broken down in a logical way, having a 2-page introduction to the type (as I said, it does not need much introduction). Then it goes into the production series, with the –D and –K series as the main versions covered while the CAC (Australian) and Cavalier production are also covered, but not as in depth as the previous versions. You get many 1/72nd scale drawings of all the different production series.

A really interesting section is a comparison of performance with other fighters of the same time: Bf-109G, Mc.202, Fw-190, P-47 and Spitfire. Let’s be clear, this is not a “how will win a dogfight”, but rather a comparison on climb rates, weight, speed, ceiling and such.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.50

The KP/Smer Su-25 Landing Gear covers lack detail and are slightly thick. Quickboost comes to the rescue with this simple set.

This set is packaged in the typical Quickboost way with a cardstock protecting the contents. You get two pour stubs of light grey resin with exquisite detail. There are four doors two for the front wheel and each main gear. Removal of the parts from the pour blocks is simple enough. Then it is just a matter of cleanup, prime, and paint. The parts feature rivet details and beautifully recessed portions.

Another simple and effective set that will enhance your model with minimal work.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy.