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Book Author(s)
Alan D. Zimm
Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
July 4, 2020
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$32.95

The book is divided into 13 chapters with and introduction and 5 appendixes:

Appendixes

  1. Tabulation of Second Wave Dive-Bomber Attacks
  2. Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Japanese Terms
  3. Ships in Pearl Harbor and Vicinity
  4. The Perfect Attack
  5. Acknowledgments

This book is best described by as an analysis of the Japanese Pearl Harbor air raid on an operational and tactical level, using operational research methods and combat models developed at the US Naval War College.

Each chapter reviews what and how the Japanese military planners and the top commanders thought the primary goals were to be and how to accomplish those goals, filtered thru the mindset, doctrine and personal traits of the Japanese people involved.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
October 19, 2021
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$40.00

As nice as the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire Mk.IX kit is, Aires wants to make it better. They now offer a cockpit set that is intended to improve the detail in that portion of the kit. The detail is crisp, delicate and very well rendered. This set does not include a photo-etch fret. All parts are resin…typical Aires resin…gray and smooth. The parts come on either single or shared casting blocks and can be removed with a sharp #11 blade, sanding stick and/or razor saw blade. Although the resin has a degree of flexibility, care always should be exercised when removing the delicate small parts from the casting blocks as they are prone to break if handled with a heavy hand. There is a little thin flash on some parts (like the fuselage bulkheads and the oxygen hose) so a little clean up is required, but there are no discernable pinholes to worry about.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
July 31, 2011
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$29.00

History

The Curtis Company manufactured 13,700 P-40’s before and during World War II, with production ending on November 30, 1944. The P-40 flew with the air forces of the United States, the RAF, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, France, Brazil, China, Turkey, and Russia and by some resources Finland.

The P-40 lineage may be traced back to the radial engine-powered P-36 and H-75. The P-36 was intended to replace the P-26 Peashooter in an effort to match the high performance European fighters (the Bf-109, Spitfire and to an extent the MS-406). The Wright XR-1670 radial engine rated at 900 bhp powered the first prototype which first flew in April 1935. Soon it was evident that the radial engine-powered aircraft would be outclassed, and therefore the Air Corps requested that a fighter be equipped with the Allison V-1710 inline engine. Eventually the design morphed into the P-40C powered by the Allison V-1710-33 rated at 1040 bhp.

Review Author
Tracy Palmer
Published on
July 31, 2011
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

Bottom Line

A great MIG-21 build for any level modeler. Some challenges around the cockpit canopy fitting. Decals photo-etch, and resin add to the necessary level of modeling experience needed to complete the kit. If you add photo etch or resin, be prepared for a longer and more complicated build. This kit is highly recommended.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
July 29, 2011
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.95

Eduard offers two photo-etch detail sets for the Special Hobby 1/32 A5M2b kit. Zoom set #33 070 is the one to get if you just want to focus on enhancing the detail in the cockpit. The set includes a total of 42 pre-painted parts that replace some kit parts and/or add detail to ones that will be used. The kit’s plastic instrument panel is replaced with five very impressively detailed components that are sandwiched together to simulate the panel’s relief and then enhanced with brackets, machine gun supports and gun charging handles. Photo-etched rudder pedals are provided to replace the less-detailed ones in the kit and to detail the kit’s rudimentary rudder bar, pre-painted seat belts replace the un-painted ones in the kit, multi-part throttle quadrant and prop pitch levers replace kit parts and a radio panel face, control box fascias, levers, knobs and numerous small bits are included to perk up the sidewalls.