Book Author(s)
Mark Stille, illustrations by Ian Palmer and Howard Gerrard
Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
November 14, 2010
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

Osprey Publishing’s latest monograph (Book # 31 in their Duel series) focuses on the largest World War I battleships, the Dreadnoughts, and the epic 1916 clash between the Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Kaiser's High Seas Fleet. Author Stille (CDR USN ret.), makes the technical material understandable to the layman, and is ably assisted by the illustrators, whose drawings and maps clarify the ships’ layouts and the battle tactics. I read the chapters in order, and found them well organized, with the climactic Battle of Jutland saved for last. The reader, depending on his previous knowledge of the subject, may choose any particular chapter of interest. The book is an excellent starting point for naval history buffs, war gamers and ship modelers. I selected the book to learn more about World War I naval history, and for info on building a dreadnought ship model in the future.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
November 3, 2021
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Continuing the build of F-102’s: Having just built the Encore F-102A, I had offered my services to build one of my stash Revell/Monogram F-102A kits around these Aires items. They are simple upgrades, with major appearance improvements. Aires continues to set an almost unbeatable standard for detail. Their fit has improved greatly over the years, and once complete, you have a work of art at reasonable cost.

First, the wheel wells. The main gear well requires you to remove part of the existing interior hump from the upper wing surface, locating pins for the kit wheel well bulkheads, and sand down the back of the beautifully-done one-piece main wheel well supplied by Aires. This done, the well slipped into place and was glued down without problems. The wing halves were then glued together. An excellent fit on all accounts.

Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
July 20, 2022
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$23.00

The Kit

Revell's new release of Chevrolet's uber-Muscle Car is molded in white plastic, and is a modification of their basic Corvette mold, with extra parts included specific to the ZR1. A little reference to part numbers is needed because the regular Corvette C6 ones will fit on the ZR1, but I’m not sure things like the exhausts and headers would match up if they were interchanged.

The build is straightforward with no vices, though a little parts cleanup helps things fit together better. The four-lobe Eaton supercharger isn't a great fit to the engine block unless the top of the block is sanded flatter along its seam. On the plus side, the headers have real locating pins to fit into the block, not just nubs which sit in shallow depressions.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
November 13, 2010
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$99.95

Part 1. First Look

Before I get onto reviewing this model, I would like to give a little background information about this aircraft.

The Messerschmitt Bf110 served in the Luftwaffe throughout WWII. Even though it wasn’t very popular with the German pilots at that time it was developed into a successful night fighter, in spite of its poor handling characteristics. Later on it was found that it would make a great night-fighter and then became the backbone of the German Luftwaffe night fighter wing of WWII. Some of these units were formed as early as 1940.

In August/September 1943, Bf110 aircraft shot down over 2700 RAF bombers. Also, in just one night without fighter cover, these aircraft destroyed at least 120 RAF bombers. The Bf110D was a long-range heavy fighter and/or fighter-bomber, while the improved and up-armored Bf110E was designed primarily as a fighter-bomber.

Review Author
Fred Amos
Published on
November 13, 2010
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$48.00

The Nakajima Ki-27 “Nate” was a successful low-wing monoplane, all metal fighter design used by the Empire of Japan throughout World War II. Conceived of as a private venture design by the Nakajima Corporation, the Ki-27 was soon debuted and accepted by the Japanese Army. It was the equivalent of the Navy A5M.

If I recall correctly, when Hasegawa first produced this kit it was Kit # 001, so that leads me to believe the Ki-27 was the first 1/48 kit produced by Hasegawa. I could be wrong so don’t quote me on it.