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Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
July 10, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

Developed as a replacement for the Maschinengewehr 08, the MG-14 Parabellum was a machine gun used on WWI German aircraft that was capable of firing 700 rounds per minute of its deadly 7.92 mm ammunition. Although Anthony Fokker used this model gun in the development of the synchronizing gear for his aircraft, the gun was typically used in the flexible mounts of reconnaissance aircraft, bombers, and Zeppelins. The lighter weight of the gun (as compared to the MG-08), high rate of fire, and reduction in the size of the ammunition belt, set the MG-14 apart as a weapon of choice.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
July 10, 2016
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

The Su-7 - in 1/48 scale - has one kit in town: the late 80s kit from Kopro/OEZ recently re-boxed by Eduard. The model is somewhat limited in surface detail and different manufactures offer ways to enhance it. Among them is Master Model which offers a drop-in replacement for the guns and pitot tubes (nose and wing).

As you can see in the pictures, the guns are a vast improvement over the originals, which are basically a plastic rod. The metal replacement parts have nice hollow ends and have different lengths to properly reproduce the placement of the guns in the Su-7.

The wing’s pitot tube has a much fine shape than the plastic one. Please note that you will have to keep the base of the plastic pitot tube and modify it to receive the turned brass one. Very simple to do with a file and a drill bit.

Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
July 10, 2016
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$76.00

This kit is a representation of the British Army’s A13 Cruiser Tank that was captured by the Germans and placed in service for the Russian Campaign.

This is a multimedia kit but the use of the Photo-Etch is required, there are no optional plastic parts. Please be aware that some of the plastic parts are very, very small and will take a steady hand to get them off of the sprue without damage. And when they are off the sprue these minuscule parts do their very best to hide or get lost in the carpet or even on the work table.

Step 1 This step builds the chassis and includes the springs for the axels.

Step 2 This step builds the wheels drive sprocket and idler wheels, my particular sample had a short shot on some of the wheels. Bronco was very quick to replace those with a replacement sprue.

Step 3 This adds the front transmission housing along with some photo etched on the front of the tank.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
July 10, 2016
Company
Furball Aero-Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.99

New on the scene, at least to this modeler, is the availability of canopy frame decals for modern jet aircraft. Close examination of many modern jet canopies and windscreen reveals a thin line between the clear and the subjects primary paint color. Often times a model omits replicating that detail, and occasionally modelers will attempt to replicate with paint or colored decal strips.

Furball brings a simpler, yet more elegant solution: Purpose-fit decals to replicate those thin lines. Picking up where canopy masks leave off, the Furball canopy frame decals provide a precise, crisp, easy-to-use solution. Furball Aero-Design delivers well with its 1/48 set designed for AFV Club’s F-5E/F Tiger II kits.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
July 10, 2016
Company
Furball Aero-Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.99

Of the many modeling aids available today, one of the most welcome for aircraft modelers is a good set of canopy masks. Furball Aero-Design delivers well with its 1/48 set designed for AFV Club’s F-5E/F Tiger II kits.

The single sheet of black die-cut vinyl masks will handle a single F-5E or F-5F kit – masking the edges of all canopy sections and the entirety of all wheel hubs. The die cuts are sharp and the masks lift cleanly from the sheet and adhere well to the model surfaces. Only two minor concerns were noted: First, there are no placement diagrams, which leads to the second issue of the masks for the F-5F windscreen being a bit short, thus requiring augmentation from the F-5E windscreen masks to cover the masking perimeter. Masking tape was used to fill in the remainder of the canopy surfaces.