Andy Taylor
Reviews By Author
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Soviet Army T-80BVPublished:
From the Model Rectifier Company’s website,
While interesting, the details of this tank are lacking, so I reference the US Army CTC OE Data Integration Network website,
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Dornier Do 335B-2 Landing Gear (Tamiya)Published:
The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow) was a heavy fighter built in later World War II. It was a unique twin engine design with its push-pull configuration and the lower aerodynamic drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines, and it was considered one of the fastest piston-engined aircraft ever flown. Sources differ, but only 37 to 48 Do 335s were built and none were known to have flown in combat. The Do 335B-2 was to be a heavily armed Zerstorer (destroyer) with its main feature being two wing mounted 30 mm Mk 103 cannons contained in special fairings with 70 rounds per gun in addition to the normal engine mounted Mk 103 and two 20 mm MG 151/20s in the nose cowl. Due to the increased weight, the B series also standardized on larger tires which required the nose wheel to… more |
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P-51B/C Mustang Landing Gear (Eduard)Published:
The recent 1/32 Eduard P-51B/C was quite the big seller at the 2026 IPMS/USA Nats. Scale Aircraft Conversion’s newest release is timely and worth the investment. Scale Aircraft Conversion has produced its famous white metal landing gear for the new Eduard Royal Hybrid P-51B Mustang in 1/32 scale. As aircraft modelers well know, aircraft models displayed on their landing gear are susceptible to damage from the weight of the model, especially on styrene landing gear. Scale Aircraft Conversion has had the solution since 1990. Their white metal landing gear is designed to bear the weight of the model and complement the detailed non-load-bearing plastic parts. Their extensive range… more |
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Hitler's Vengeance Weapons - V-1, V-2 and V-3 Launch SitesPublished:
Ian Baxter is a prolific author and has an impressive collection of photographs, many unpublished previously. The book follows the familiar Images of War format with brief introductions for each chapter followed by a lot of photographs to tell the story. Hitler's Vengeance Weapons - V-1, V-2 and V-3 Launch Sites does not disappoint and there is a lot of interesting information and photos in this well written and illustrated book. “On Monday, 12 June 1944, in the operations bunker, (Luftwaffe Obert Max, Commander of Flak-Regiment 155) Wachtel addressed his commanders, and told them that after months of waiting, the time had come to open fire. ‘Today your waiting and your work will have their reward’, he said, ‘the order to open fire has been issued. Now that our enemy is… more |
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Armed Forces of North Korea, Volume 4: Special Operations Force and Missile General BureauPublished:
From the Introduction -
North Korea had found a new… more |
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P-51B MustangPublished:
The recent Eduard P-51B in 1/32 was quite the hit at the recent IPMS Nats in Fort Wayne. A 1/32 P-51B is rare, and this is only the second kit in this scale (the other is Trumpeter’s 2009 release). Eduard’s new release is billed as their first Royal Hybrid kit (which represents a premium extension of the standard Eduard Hybrid line), consisting of injected molded plastic, 3D printing, and cast resin parts, decals, canopy masks and wheel well masking plugs. From the Eduard website:
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Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1/E-3/E-4/E-7 Landing GearPublished:
The iconic Messerschmitt Bf 109 almost doesn’t need an introduction as it is ubiquitous with the WWII German Luftwaffe. The E "Emil" variant was the standard Luftwaffe fighter at the start of the Second World War, and it was also the only single-engined Luftwaffe fighter in use during the Battle of Britain. The “Emil” variant was short-lived as improvements were constant, being replaced by the 109F in 1941. Scale Aircraft Conversion has produced its famous white metal landing gear for the Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1/E-3/E-4/E-7 in 1/48 scale. As aircraft modelers well know, aircraft models displayed on their landing gear are susceptible to damage from the weight of the model, especially on styrene landing gear. Scale Aircraft Conversion has had the solution since 1990. Their… more |
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McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom in the Air - Aerial Photographs of the Famous Cold War Interceptor and Fighter-BomberPublished:
Few aircraft have served for as long and amongst many Western nations than the McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II. It’s first flight was 27 May 1958, and three air forces are still flying this “most charismatic” aircraft. Initially developed as a long-range all-weather fighter for the US Navy (USN). The US Air Force (USAF) “Quickly realized that the Navy had an aircraft that could fly faster, further, and carry a larger weapons load than any tactical aircraft in the U.S.A.F. inventory. Over the next decades, several Phantom variants served with distinction and worldwide not just for the Air Force and Navy, but also the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The Phantom found itself in service with Australia, Egypt, Greece, Iran (initially with the Imperial Iranian Air Force (IIAF) from 1971 to… more |
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USMC F/A-18C/D VMFA-312 and 115 Decals SetPublished:
DXM (Double Excellent Model) Decals is a hobby company based in Taiwan and has been producing models since 2018. DXM produces modern jet aircraft (primarily United States, Japan, and Israel, but there are some other unique air forces – Hellenic, Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, etc.) decals in 1/144, 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32 scales. In addition, there are weathering/rusted airbrush templates, 3D parts, and conversion sets. The decals are printed by Cartograph. You can see their amazing products on their homepage and even have a YouTube video reference for applying their decals. DXM’s 1/48 scale USMC F/A-18C/D VMFA-312 & 115 Decals Set has five options from MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, all from VMFA-312 DR 214:
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Military Vehicles of the Armed Forces of UkrainePublished:
ICM has done it again with a great combination kit containing three vehicles currently serving Ukraine against the Russian invasion. This boxing Military Vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (DS7205 – Diorama Set) has three complete kits: Ural-43203, BM-21 ‘Grad’ and SPz Marder 1 A3. From the ICM webpage for the Military Vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
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