Bill O'Malley
Reviews By Author
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American Sport Car Drivers (1910's)Published:
This kit contains two figures, a man and women in sporty attire. The figures are a nice companion to ICM’s Model T 1913 Speedster American Sport Car, kit no. 24015. For this review I posed them with ICM’s Model T Touring Car. The kit comes in a 10 x 7 1/2 x 1 1/2 light cardboard box with a slip cover with box art. The box top includes a painted rendering of the two figures and artistic suggestion for painting of the figures. The instructions come on a single 8 1/4 x 11 1/4 sheet with the sprue layout and color list on one side and the assembly diagrams and painting instructions on the reverse side. Both figures come on one sprue molded in a medium gray plastic. The parts of the figures have nice detail, although slightly soft. There are some rough spots in the plastic… more |
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Model T 1911 Touring with American MotoristsPublished:
BackgroundAnother of ICM’s beautiful 1/24 car kits, this one a 1911 Model T Touring Car. The Touring Car body had two rear seat doors in addition to the front seat doors, two bench seats, and a foldable canvas top. This release also includes two figures, a man and a woman, in period attire. ICM’s kit is an easy build with nice fitting parts and without a lot of small parts. ICM’s KitThe kit comes in a 9 x 12 x 2 1/2 light cardboard box with slipcover. The box art depicts the vehicle in a dark green color with brass accessories, the male figure driving, and the woman in the backseat. The canvas top is shown in a medium gray color. The kit comes on five sprues crisply molded in a light gray color, one clear plastic sprue, and four white vinyl tires.… more |
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Brick Street w/ European Tram RailsPublished:
Tiger WerkeTiger Werke is a small company under new ownership that manufactures and distributes scale resin items. Their product line includes paved and cobblestone street sections, figure bases, building fronts, roadside shrines, fountains, and armor and aircraft bases. They also have storage and accessory sets for Allied, German, and British vehicles. Resin MoldingThis review is of Tiger Werke’s 1/35 scale Brick Street w/ European Tram Rails, a resin base that depicts a street section with trolley tracks running diagonally across base. On each side of the street or what appear to be stone curbs and concrete sidewalks. In 1/35 scale the pavers vary from about 4” to 5” wide by 7” to 8“ long, although they vary in size. The size of the pavers could also… more |
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The Doolittle Raid, Images of AviationPublished:
IntroductionOn 1 April 1942, less than four months after the world had been stunned by the attack upon Pearl Harbor, sixteen US aircraft took to the skies to exact retribution. Their objective was not merely to attack Japan, but to bomb its capital. The raid was more successful in its moral impact on shaking the Japanese sense of invulnerability than in its physical damage to the targets. The Doolittle Raid tells the story of the preparations for the raid, descriptions of each of the 16 crews and their outcome, and the aftermath of the raid. The book is part of Pen & Sword’s Images of Aviation Series and is profusely illustrated with quality B&W photos. The photos create vivid images of the men, aircraft, and ships involved in the raid. Each crew and… more |
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Mission Models Pearl Paint ColorsPublished:
Mission Models Paints Pearl Colors Mission Model Paints has released some beautiful new Pearl colors to their excellent line of acrylic paints. The Pearl colors have a translucent pearl-like depth and luster. MMP has also issued iridescent color paints that seem to change color when seen from different angles. The Pearl paints are like Mission Models other water-based acrylics that are odorless, fast drying, don’t clog airbrush tips, and produce a smooth, durable finish. Information on Mission Model Paints is available on their website. Click here for a full IPMS review of… more |
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Iridescent Paints by Mission ModelsPublished:
Mission Model Paints Iridescent ColorsMission Model Paints has added some beautiful iridescent colors to their excellent line of acrylic paints. These luminous paints seem to change color when seen from different angles. The iridescent paints have a silver base and produce a display of lustrous, prismatic, rainbow-like colors. MMP has also issued Pearl paint colors. The Pearl colors have a translucent pearl-like depth, either in color or luster. These iridescent paints are like Mission Models other water-based acrylics that are odorless, fast drying, don’t clog airbrush tips, and produce a smooth, durable finish. Information on Mission Model Paints is available on their website. Click here for a full… more |
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Husky Mk. IIIPublished:
Background (Wikipedia)The Husky VMMD (vehicle-mounted mine detection) family of vehicles are blast-survivable, mission-configurable, wheeled platforms employed by specialized route clearance teams operating in high-explosive threat areas. The Mk. III is the modern single-occupant Husky model. The platform is integrated with pulse induction metal detector panels and overpass tires that enable operators to regulate tire air pressure in order to reduce the risk of detonating. As with all Husky platforms, the Mk. III has been engineered in a unique modular, frangible configuration. In the event of a mine or improvised explosive device detonation, vehicle components break apart in a predictable fashion, reducing damage to the platform and occupants, as well as facilitating fast… more |
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"Pave Hawk" HH-60G, Part 2 ExteriorPublished:
"Pave Hawk" HH-60GThis the second part of the review of Kitty Hawk’s 1/35 "Pave Hawk" HH-60G. This review covers the engines, exterior, and armament of the Pave Hawk kit. Background on the Pave Hawk, description of the kit, contents, and interior assembly of the kit is reviewed separately: "Pave Hawk" HH-60G, Part 1 Interior BackgroundThe HH-60G Pave Hawk's core mission is recovery of personnel under hostile conditions, including combat search and rescue. Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk 26227 of the 305th Rescue Squadron based… more |
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MH-60L Black Hawk Landing Gear (KH)Published:
This landing gear set by Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) is for the Kitty Hawk MH-60L Black Hawk kit, although it can be used on the Kitty Hawk HH-60G Pave Hawk as well. For this review I used the gear on the Pave Hawk version kit. Kit ContentsThe landing gear comes in SAC’s typical blister pack with some of the parts loose and some attached to a metal casting sprue. The kit includes 10 parts, six for the front and rear landing gear, and four for the weapons sponson supports that mount above the main gear on the Black Hawk. I did not use the supports for the Pave Hawk version. PartsThe parts are cast in soft white metal that leaves mold seems on most of the parts. The mold seems can be easily cleaned up with an X-Acto blade, sanding sticks, or… more |
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Medium Tank M3 Lee I TopdrawingsPublished:
IntroductionM3 General Lee is an American medium tank from World War II era, also used by the British Army and known as Lee in the US, and in the United Kingdom as Grant. The M3 tank was created as a result of the need to replace the obsolete M2 tank, which did not match the WWII battlefield. The serial production began in August 1941. The M3 tank had many components from the M2 light tank, including chassis, Wright R975 EC2 star engine, and the shape of the combat compartment. Kagero TopdrawingsKagero Topdrawings series are a great resource for all modelers who want correct proportions and details of the vehicle. High quality line drawings are presented along with colored profiles and camouflage schemes. Plans are in popular scales including 1/48 and 1/35… more |