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Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 15, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.95

Kinetics’ 1/48th scale F/A-18C is a great kit and comes with a good representation of the SJU17A ejection seat. The kit even provides a photoetch generic seat belt. Eduard ups the ante a ton with its release of a color photoetch steel set of belts specifically designed for the Kinetic seat.

The set has one small colorized steel fret with nine pieces for the shoulder/seat belts and two pieces for the leg restraints. All made with multicolor parts. As you can see in the photo, the kit provides a basic lap belt and shoulder harness.

Addition to the seat is easy. There are four sets of lap belts so those get added first. The seat is pretty flat so they slide right into place. Next, add the adjustment straps on top of the four lap belts. Lastly, bend the shoulder harness to fir and glue in place.

To finish, I added a black wash to the seat and then wiped off. A few dry brushed and a flat coat and its done.

Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
December 15, 2016
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$85.95

Introduction

The StuH.42 (Sturmhaubitze 42, Sd.Kfz 142/2), was used to support armor and infantry. They were fitted with a 10.5cmStuH.42 L/28 howitzer offering greater destructive firepower than the StuG III that had a 7.5cm StuK 40 L/43 cannon. The 10.5cm StuH was modified to be electrically fired and fitted with a muzzle brake. The StuH 42 used the chassis from the StuG.III Ausf.E/F. Alkett, a major manufacturer of armored vehicles for the German war machine, produced 1,299 StuH 42 from 1943 to 1945. Additionally, the vehicle weighed over 26 tons.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
December 13, 2016
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.60

This set provides a replacement pitot tube for the Trumpeter Su-24 Fencer kits. The set includes two brass parts and one resin part. The brass parts provide the circular tubes of the front and back of the pitot tube and the resin part replicates the fine vanes and protrusions commonly seen on Soviet pitot tubes.

The packaging for the set is really well thought-out as the brass parts are in separate pockets from the resin part and the resin part is contained in a small foam square that is lined with good sticky tape on the back side to keep the resin part from floating around, which is good as the resin parts are very delicate.

Book Author(s)
Kenneth W. Estes
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
December 13, 2016
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.00

The Cold War produced a number of unusual weapons systems, and few were more unusual than the M50 Ontos (a Greek word meaning “entity” or “thing”). In the aftermath of the Korean War, The M50 Ontos and its cousin, the M56 Scorpion, were developed to fulfill the role of Tank Destroyers, a service corps left to languish following the end of World War 2. Both the Army and the Marine Corps had been disappointed by their difficulty in stopping Russian made armor in Korea, and the prospect of thousands of Soviet tanks flooding across the plains of central Europe gave rise to the re-establishment of the dedicated tank destroyer concept.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 13, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

Masking sets first started making their appearance a while back and have been made in several materials including vinyl and tape. Eduard has settled on the kabuki style thin yellow tape for their masking material and makes a wide assortment of masks for many different subjects. I think tape is the best item as it is thin, conforms to the shapes well and provides a good seal.