Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 2, 2023
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$18.95

I’ve built two ICM AH-1Gs in 1/32nd scale. They are great kits, but the landing gear mounts can be fragile in the hands of a ham-fisted modeler like myself. On the two I built I had to pin and glue the gear back on a couple of times. It was frustrating as it was near the end of the build.

The difference between the early and late gear is the early gear has the fairing around the crosstubes. The late are just the round crosstubes.

Inside SAC’s typical blister pack are two white metal landing gear and four parts for the ground handling wheels. Mine were perfectly cast and were exact replicas of the kit landing gear, but stronger. This set does NOT have the aerodynamic fairings installed. Many of the later Vietnam era Cobras had the fairings removed to save weight but more importantly was they really didn’t help. They were a major pain to remove and reinstall.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 2, 2023
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

Oh great another 109 decal sheet. Well yeah, but this one is different. This one has cartoon characters on the sides. Big cartoon characters!

Contained in a standard ziplock bag is one decal sheet with markings for six airplanes from 7./JG-53 based in Sicily in 1943 and two smaller sheets with fuel stencils. I believe they are printed by Cartograf these are some gorgeous decals for some very unique airplanes. The sheet is the standard 9x6 decal sheet with markings for the known cartoon aircraft. All of them are basically marked the same with the exception of the cartoon character. The decals provide you with all the aircraft numbers and characters. You get crosses, swastikas and fuel stencils for eight aircraft . Four sets of JG-53 emblems are included. There are no additional stencils included. You’ll have to source them elsewhere.

Book Author(s)
Bertie Simmonds
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
August 2, 2023
Company
Mortons Books
MSRP
$36.99

Introduction

Sleek, futuristic and deadly – the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon was born from the crucible of the air war over Vietnam and the need for cheaper, simpler and more maneuverable fighter aircraft with which to combat the many thousands of Soviet-bloc supplied aircraft sold around the world. Back in the early 1970s the F-16 was the pinnacle of modern design, integrating a powerful turbofan engine and offering unrivaled maneuverability – thanks to its relaxed static stability and fly-by-wire system with computer control. Today’s F-16 Viper is light years away from the simple, lightweight point defense fighter first envisaged, but it has evolved and matured into the finest and most exported fourth-generation combat aircraft around the world. This is its story.

The book's cover has a stunning, head-on, in-flight photo of an F-16.

Book Author(s)
Chris McNab
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
August 2, 2023
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$49.95

By the turn of the Twentieth Century, Great Britain was at the height of its industrial and colonial power, with the largest ironclad navy in the world. By 1904, Britain ruled the seas with 45 “pre-dreadnaught” battleships. Each of these carried a main armament usually consisting of four 12- or 13-inch main guns in two twin turrets (one forward and one aft) along with a number of lesser caliber weapons (6”, 12-pounder and 3-pounder) for close in defense. Other navies, primarily Germany, the United States, and after 1905 Japan followed on Great Britain’s heels. The stage was set for an abrupt alteration in the status quo, as industry, technology and the critical thinking of one man combined to change the face of naval power in the decades to come.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
August 2, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$24.99

No one can argue that being a war correspondent is anything but dangerous work. Journalists who choose this branch of their profession face death, kidnapping, torture and more on a regular basis, as well as dealing with the repercussions this activity can have on their family lives back home. All of this is especially true in this age, where the “Press” label affords far less protection than it has in the past.

ICM is no stranger to controversial or challenging subjects, and this package offers a selection of figures that can be utilized in a wide variety of contemporary settings, not just the Ukrainian conflict. This set includes a camerawoman, a video cameraman, an interviewer with microphone and a standing Ukrainian soldier. I believe the journalists are supposed to represent international correspondents (rather than Ukrainian) as the PRESS markings are in English on both their helmets and vests.