Ben Guenther
Reviews By Author
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F4U Corsair StabilizerPublished:
Quickboost has provided the modeler with the means to show his Corsair model not with static elevators, but have them deflected. Cast in the usual fine grain resin, the only flash is on the stabilizer and that is on purpose to ease the extraction of the cast parts from the rubber molds. This flash is very thin and quite easy to remove, posing no problems. A razor saw and a pair of snips is all that is required to remove the parts from the casting gate. Quickboost has provided a drawing on the filler paper that shows what has to be removed. Quickboost has done all the hard work for you as they have taken the Tamiya parts, cut them apart and put a groove in the stabilizers allowing the elevators to fit properly. All you have to do is attach the stabilizer to the fuselage (using CA… more |
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P-38 Lightning Turbo-supercharger CoverPublished:
Quickboost has provided the modeler with replacement parts for the Academy P-38J kit. Cast in their standard gray resin the parts had no flash and are easily removed with a razor saw. The Quickboost parts are direct replacements for the Academy parts C10 and D4. The difference between the parts lies with the air scoops on top; on the Academy parts the scoops were molded solid, while the Quickboost scoops are cast hollowed out. For modeler who is uncomfortable with drilling out these scoops the Quickboost.net parts are perfect and in that regard I can recommend their use. I want to thank IPMS/USA and Quickboost for the opportunity to do this review. |
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Polish Wings 12: Mig-29/Mig-29UB Part 2Published:
Polish Wings 12 is part 2 and continues the story of the Mig-29 in Polish service started in Polish Wings 11. This work covers the ex-East German aircraft obtained from the Luftwaffe in 2002. It is a softcover book of 96 pages that includes 226 color photos and 36 drawings (side profiles and 4-views). Following past format each aircraft is covered individually with photos when in German service and with many more in Polish color schemes. The eighteen single seat Mig-29s are covered extensively in 60 pages. The remainder of the book is devoted to the eight two-seat trainers – Mig-29UB. The last three pages are devoted to cockpit views of these aircraft. Additionally, it is noted on the inside of the front cover that Techmond will be releasing decals (1/32,1/48 & 1/72) for the… more |
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Windsock Worldwide, Vol. 27, No. 1 - January/February 2011Published:
If you have a passion for WWI aircraft this is the magazine for you. In this installment Lance Krieg walks us thru scratch building wings in the Harry Woodman approach where the wing core is cut and shaped from either balsa or basswood or even plastic stock and is then covered with a plastic skin. The process is thoroughly covered in five pages with 42 photos showing wing fabrication as well as the aft flying surfaces. Variants to the Woodman approach are also considered and shown as well, very useful addition to one’s knowledge that may be of use later. Ray Rimell presents a builder’s report on the Wingnut Wings LFG Roland D.VIa model which goes thru step by step methods and hints on how to build this model covered in nine pages and with 62 photos. If you have this model or… more |
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P-51 B/C/D Propeller w/toolPublished:
Quickboost has provided modelers with a means to attach P-51 propeller blades to the spinner for the Hasegawa kits in a repeatable manner. The resin pieces were cast in a fine grain resin without flaws and with very little clean up. What one has to do is to remove the casting gates off the bottom of the spinner and the blade setting tool. I used a disc sander for that and a snip to remove the blades and shaft from the casting block. You will need to drill a hole in the spinner’s base to accept the shaft; here Quickboost fails to say what size drill to use. The hole cast in the tool is .078” in diameter, while the cast shaft diameter is .063” or a number 52 drill. Place the spinner in the tool and use the drill from the back of the tool to make the hole. Then insert the shaft… more |
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A-1 Skyraider pylonsPublished:
Quickboost has continued to issue sets that make building the Hasegawa A-1 Skyraider easier and with better details. This time around Quickboost presents a set with completely assembled pylons, the centerline, the fuel tanks (2) and the wing pylons (12). The parts are cast in the usual fine grain, gray resin with no defects and very little clean up. With the plastic kit the wing pylons are assembled from two parts and with the fuel tanks and centerline pylons you’ll have to glue on the sway brackets. The plastic parts have seam lines that have to be removed, possible glue smears to contend with and the fuel tank pylons have punch out marks that have to be removed. Quickboost has none of these issues and all you have to do is remove the pylons from the casting blocks, a… more |
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Windsock Worldwide, Vol. 26, No. 6 - November/December 2010Published:
Fans of World War I aircraft and Wingnut Wings models will enjoy this issue. Nine pages have been devoted to a build of the Wingnut Wings 1/32 scale Pfalz D.IIIa and have 45 color photos showing how to put this model together. Needless to say, tips and hints abound on how to proceed, including one page (“Pfalz Archiv”) that has four photos of actual aircraft and a three-view drawing. If you haven’t bought the kit before this you’ll most likely want to after reading this article. Roden’s 1/32 scale Sopwith Triplane has an in-the-box review followed by “Rara Avis” this time about Lloyd LK.I (40.08) Austro-Hungarian Triplane bomber. One page with a brief history, specifications and two photos of the only prototype built. A two page 1/72 scale 3 view drawing from Ian Stair… more |
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JC-130A HerculesPublished:
When the package arrived I was expecting a C-130A and was surprised to find in its place a model kit for the JC-130A. I didn’t have a clue on what the “J” stood for, so off to the internet to find out. Well, they were built to track and retrieve missiles tested over the Atlantic test range. Further snooping found that eight C-130A’s were built as JC-130A’s and later several B models were built as JC-130B’s and were used to track and retrieve space capsules (i.e. film capsules from spy satellites) on the Pacific test range. Upon opening the box one will find 85 parts made with a soft gray or clear plastic. The instruction sheet consists of 5 pages; the first page gives a short history on the Hercules but no mention of the JC-130A. Also all the paints are listed with Humbrol… more |
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STUG IV early production w/ZimmeritPublished:
Once again Dragon has taken a previously released armor kit and has added Zimmerit, re-releasing it as a new kit. This is a good thing if you don’t feel you want to try to apply the Zimmerit using various types of putties and tools. To achieve this Dragon provides us with 26 plastic sprues of varying sizes. Two Brummbar sprues, four STUG III G sprues and only a few specifically for the STUG IV, most of the sprues are for the Panzer IV. Total part count comes to 751 parts; the number of unused parts is 207 leaving 544 parts to build the model. Several sprues have the same letter; Dragon gets around this by having one letter in black and the second same letter in blue. I mark the outside of the bags to make it easy to find the right sprue when I need it. Steps 1-6… more |
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Model Art AFV Profile, #1, Jagdpanzer IV L/70 "Lang"Published:
Model Art has produced many titles and now has started a new series with this first publication; AFV Profile #1 Jagdpanzer IV L/70 “Lang”. While this work mainly covers the Panzer IV Lang (V) (the “V” standing for VOMAG the company that developed this version) it also touches on the Panzer IV Lang (A) (A for Alkett the company that developed this version). If you read Kanji maybe you can help the rest of us who do not. Even so a lot of information can be found in the profiles (color and B&W), the hundreds of photos and the limited use of English with this profile. The first eight pages are the 12 color profiles which will be helpful in developing a color scheme for your modeling project. Each tank profiled has, in English, listed the unit (if known), the location and the… more |