Andy Renshaw
Reviews By Author
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Soviet T-64 Mod 1972Published:
I was quite excited to see Trumpeter start releasing some of the more modern Soviet armored vehicles. Not only are the kits nicely detailed, but they tend to go together quite well. Also, Trumpeter has no problem releasing several variants, unlike some other manufactures that release one base type and leave us modelers scrambling for aftermarket resin to do other variations. So, needless to say, after years of resisting the urge to purchase some resin “updates” to the old Skif T-64 kits, I was delighted to have a state-of-the-art tooling in my hands. Box StatsWithin the box you get 566 parts in all.
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B-17 WheelsPublished:
No introduction is needed for the subject that would carry these wheels! The B-17 has long been a favorite among modelers, and many remember Shep Pane’s diorama using the Monogram B-17G. Revell also released the B-17F, and now both molds have long been reissued many times. Needless to say, it’s still the only game in town for a quarter-inch scale B-17, and overall is still accurate in shape. However, the finer details show their age. Eduard has been releasing lots of very useful resin upgrades that can add a little extra life to some older kits. These new resin wheels for the B-17 are no exception, and are little jewels to support your detailed B-17 project properly. In The PackageThe parts come in a blister pack similar to Aires’ sets, with the resin parts… more |
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F/A-18E/F Super Hornet ECS Pipes – EarlyPublished:
For those who stay up on the latest US Navy aircraft, we have all heard of the evolution of the classic Hornet into the all new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. As with any aircraft, it’s undergone several updates even within its short service thus far. One of the areas that has been updated is the infamous Environmental Control System (ECS) exhaust. Several iterations of design have been tried before the exhaust ports settled on the BARD stacks. With the early vents came insulation blankets installed behind the vents as a stopgap solution to the skin damage that was happening aft of the vents. Now, all Super Hornets from Lot 28 and up have the newer stacks built in during assembly, with modifications starting to be retrofitted on earlier jets. Several kits have hit the market within the last… more |
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MK-77 Mod. 4/5/6 Fire BombsPublished:
The Mark-77 bomb (MK 77) air-dropped incendiary bomb contains a fuel gel mix that is similar to napalm, but different in that it is kerosene-based rather than gasoline-based. Of course, its effects are similar to napalm, thus the term is used generically to describe the Mk-77 even though it technically is not napalm. The Mk-77 is the primary incendiary weapon used by the US, and has been used in both Operation Desert Storm and recent operations in OIF/OEF. One of the main uses during Desert Storm was to ignite the miles of oil filled trenches being used as barricades by Iraq against collation forces. The primary fusing system consists of the igniter Mk-273 Mod 0 with the M918 fuse, or the initiator Mk-13 (igniter Mk-273 Mod 1 with the Mk-343 fuse). The Mk-77 Mod 4 also has… more |
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Harrier Pitot Tube and Angle Of Attack ProbePublished:
Even with all of the modern molding technology available now, plastic has its limits as to how thin and how small details can be made and still be moldable. Pitot tubes and AOA (Angle of Attack) sensors are where this shows the most on scale model kits. Take a kit that is nearing 30 years old, and it becomes grossly apparent that something must be done to improve these details, and for the most part these small details can make an old school model seem new again. This all becomes apparent when looking at the old Monogram AV-8A / GR.1 labeled simply as “Hawker Harrier” on the box. It is still the only game in town for an early Harrier (excluding Sea Harriers), but actually isn’t a bad kit. It’s overall quite accurate in shape, with the major details done quite well. The pitot… more |
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Browning M2 Machine GunsPublished:
The Browning M2 heavy machine gun needs no introduction. Serving the US Military for over 70 years, it is only out-lived by another Browning design, the Colt 1911. Several generations of fighting men and women all over the world have used the simple and effective design in all climes of combat. Though there have been several medium machine gun designs that have come and gone, the M2 proves that “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” attitude, and has remained the main HMG in US inventory. It is hard to believe that the same gun mounted on Shermans during WWII also serves on the Stryker and Abrams today. As prevalent as it is, achieving the detail of the M2 in 1/48 has been a challenge. Most plastic kits represent the gun as a “stick on a box”, and some resin has been marginally… more |
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B8V20 Russian Rocket LauncherPublished:
Guided rockets are nice when you need to place some hurt on a specific spot, but when the need is an overwhelming amount of firepower in a small area, nothing beats the classic unguided rocket. Most nations still have podded unguided rockets in their inventory, including the US and the former Eastern Bloc, as they are cheap and effective. The B8V20 is a podded launcher that holds 20 80mm S-8 Series rockets. They are commonly found on attack helicopters such as the Mi-25 Hind, Mi-28, and Ka-50 Hokum, but also have been fitted to the Mi-8 Hip and others. Other variants of the pod include more aerodynamic shaping with a cone on the front. In the BoxThe hanging bag with enclosed card backing comes with two resin pour stubs, each with all the parts for one complete pod,… more |
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AIM-7M Sparrow MissilesPublished:
For most modelers, we all will spend lots of time and energy detailing the aircraft to the max, yet when we get to the ordnance, we are left wanting by the kit-supplied items. Eduard comes to the rescue within their Brassin line and provides a great set of Sparrows for your latest detailed build. Designed and molded with the latest technology, they will satisfy the need for detail. A Little HistoryThe AIM-7 Sparrow family was birthed out of a late 1940’s project to develop an aerial beam-riding rocket out of the HVAR used during WWII. Douglas quickly discovered the size of the HVAR was inadequate for the needed electronics, so the body was enlarged. The result was the AAM-2 Sparrow I, which made its first “interception” in 1952, and was carried onboard Skyknights and… more |
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Close Combat US Tank CrewPublished:
It wasn’t too long ago that there were basically three manufactures of plastic figures available through common sources. Through them, you could usually cobble together a crew for a German tank, but if you wanted some figures for a US armored vehicle, you were stuck with some very static poses that came with the kit. Dragon broke new ground with the release of their US tank crew several years ago, and they were leaps ahead of anything on the market, but still some pretty basic poses. Now we have MiniArt among a host of new producers that is not only providing some great new figures, but in poses that we couldn’t even dream about! This release of a US Tank crew in “close combat” is no exception, and provides five figures, all in various poses. In The Box… more |
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F7F Tigercat Undercarriage CoversPublished:
Once in a while, I like to build one of the older kits from the stash, adding additional details and such to bring it “up to modern standards”. One of these sitting in the to-do pile is the old AMT/ERTL F7F-3N Tigercat. This kit was recently re-boxed from Italeri, and is the only 1:48 plastic kit of this aircraft anywhere. Quickboost again provides a timely release with these replacement landing gear bay doors. In the Box The hanging bag with paper instruction insert comes with five resin parts on three casting blocks. All the bay doors are replaced with items in this set, including both pairs of main landing gear doors and the nose gear door. Casting is flawless in the familiar dark grey resin, and the attachments to the casting block is minimal. … more |