Soviet T-64 Mod 1972

Published: June 12, 2013
Company: Trumpeter

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… more

B-17 Wheels

Published: March 14, 2013
Company: Eduard

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.… more

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet ECS Pipes – Early

Published: January 24, 2013
Company: Quickboost

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… more

MK-77 Mod. 4/5/6 Fire Bombs

Published: January 24, 2013
Company: Aires Hobby Models

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… more

Harrier Pitot Tube and Angle Of Attack Probe

Published: January 22, 2013
Company: Master Model

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… more

Browning M2 Machine Guns

Published: December 26, 2012
Company: Eduard

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… more

B8V20 Russian Rocket Launcher

Published: December 26, 2012
Company: Aires Hobby Models

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… more

AIM-7M Sparrow Missiles

Published: November 22, 2012
Company: Eduard

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… more

Close Combat US Tank Crew

Published: November 15, 2012
Company: MiniArt

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… more

F7F Tigercat Undercarriage Covers

Published: October 5, 2012
Company: Quickboost

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… more