Scammell Pioneer SV2S Photoetch

Published: October 25, 2017
Company: Eduard

Eduard has issued this nice photoetch set for IBG Model’s newly released Scammell Pioneer SV2S Heavy Breakdown Tractor. IBG’s kit has very good detail, and Eduard provides many additional details to improve the quality of the model.

The photoetch is up to Eduard’s high quality standard, but there are many very small parts to deal with. I could assemble all the photoetch using super glue, and did not find soldering to be necessary. The photoetch seems to be very thin, and several pieces broke when I tried to bend them. Experience working with photoetch is highly recommended for this set. The use of a bending device tool is also very helpful for this set.

To add PE to a model, I go through the kit instructions and mark those parts that are modified by the photoetch so it… more

Export Vipers Decals

Published: October 15, 2017
Company: Speed Hunter Graphics

This sheet features markings for some of the more unique and colorful F-16s in use around the world. These decals are sized for the Tamiya series of F-16 kits. There are enough stencils to model two complete F-16s in 1/48. The package includes one 8 ¼ in. x 10 ¼ in. decal sheet, stencil guide, and walkway marking layout. The decal sheet is packed full of decals, some extremely small, but even the smallest are crisp and clear.

Paint & marking guides are provided for the following aircraft:

• 1615 (12-0012) Balad AB, Iraq, Iraqi Air Force, October 2016
• 91-0008, 192 Filo, Balikesir, AB, Turkey, Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, June 2015 *MiG killer*
• 88-0033, 152 Filo, Merzifon AB, Turkey, Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, June 2015 *helo killer/"Savasan Anka" nose… more

F-16C Falcon 'Desert Storm Vipers' 388TFW Al Minhad AB

Published: October 15, 2017
Company: Bullseye Model Aviation

These decals are intended for the Tamiya series of F-16 C Desert Storm Vipers of the 388^th TFW, Al Minhad AFB. The Tamiya Aggressor kits are preferred as these are mostly early Block 40 jets. Modeling notes are included so the decals can also be used on the Hasegawa kits as well.

10 marking options are provided:

• F-16CG Block 40, 88-0449, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Wing CC Aircraft
• F-16CG Block 40, 88-0421, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Sqn CC Aircraft
• F-16CG Block 40, 88-0416, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91
• F-16CG Block 40, 88-0454, 421 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91
• F-16CG Block 40, 88-0480, 4 TFS/388 TFW, Al Minhad AB, UAE, 1990/91, Sqn CC Aircraft
… more

Aggressor Vipers F-16C/D Decals

Published: October 15, 2017
Company: Bullseye Model Aviation

These decals are intended for the Tamiya series of F-16 C/D Viper aircraft of the 64th AGRS and 414th CTS Squadrons from Nellis AFB. Modeling notes are included so the decals can also be used on the Hasegawa kits. The Tamiya Aggressor kits are preferred, however the ANG kits can be used as well. These are all block 25/32 jets.

18 marking options are provided:

• F-16C Block 25, 85-1418, 64 AGRS, 2016, 'Splinter'
• F-16C Block 32, 86-0269, 64 AGRS, 2014, 'Blizzard'
• F-16C Block 32, 87-0321, 414 CTS, 2001, 'Flogger'
• F-16C Block 32, 84-1277, 64 AGRS, 1990, 'Flogger'
• F-16C Block 32, 87-0267, 64 AGRS, 1990, 'Flogger'
• F-16C Block 32, 87-0307, 64 AGRS, 1997, 'Banana'
• F-16C Block 32, 86-0269, 414 CTS, 1999, 'Sand'… more

P.K.H. Nutcracker "Kampfgruppe BALCK"

Published: October 12, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

The Maschinen Krueger universe was created by artist Kow Yokoyama in the 1980’s in a series of cartoons about the repopulation of planet earth after nuclear war, and subsequent battles for control of the planet in the year 2882. The Earth’s Independent Provisional Government was formed by the colonists resettling Earth, and they were challenged by the Strahl Demoktatische Republic, who were sent to quell the colonists. The colonist’s Independent Mercenary Army used Armoured Fighting Suits to devastating effect, and the Strahl’s Defence Force developed the unmanned Nutcracker to counter the fighting suits.

Hasegawa originally issued the Nutcracker in 2011, including two figures. This new release of the Nutcracker is the same kit without the additional fighting suit figures. Four… more

German Cargo Truck L1500S

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: MiniArt

This is a nicely molded kit with lots of detail. The kit is delicate with many small and fiddly parts that require patient assembly. This will build a nice truck but requires working with some very small parts.

Background

This kit is the civilian version of the Mercedes L1500S 1.5-ton German cargo truck.

4101 of the trucks were manufactured from 1941 to 1944, and light fire fighting vehicles were the most common variant. Many of the others were used as trucks for civil & commercial applications.

MiniArt originally issued the kit in 2012 as a military cargo truck. The vehicle has been re-issued in several other versions including a personnel car, 2 fire truck variants, a 4 x 4 car, and two variations of a military cargo truck.

Kit Contents… more

BTR-60 Wheels

Published: August 30, 2017
Company: Hauler

The set provides eight resin replacement wheels and tires, molded as one piece, for the Russian BTR-60 APC. The tires are slightly wider than the Trumpeter rubber tires. The Hauler wheels are a different style and much smaller than the Trumpeter wheels. The Hauler tires have a crisper tread pattern than the Trumpeter tires and are molded without a center seam. They do not have a flattened portion for the weight of the vehicle.

Each of the wheels is molded with their own casting block. The mounting hole for the wheel is much larger than the Trumpeter axle so it needs to be drilled out. Mounted on the vehicle, it becomes apparent that the Hauler wheels are smaller and the tires have a larger profile.

The profile and size of the Hauler wheels provide a good option to the… more

German WWII License Plates

Published: August 15, 2017
Company: Hauler

This detail set by Hauler provides numerous license plate frames in different shapes for WWII German vehicles. The set is a steel photoetch fret that is 1 1/8”x3 7/8”. The PE pieces have a slight curl to them. This set provides only the backing plate for licenses, but no decals or stickers are provided for the actual license plate graphic. Mounting brackets are not provided either.

There are 33 license plates provided in the following sizes in millimeters (width x height):

• 6 - 14x3 rounded corners
• 6 - 9x5 rounded corners
• 3 - 6x4 rounded corners, no edging
• 3 - 10x3 rounded corners, no edging
• 6 - 9x6 notched corners
• 6 - 14x3 square corners
• 3 - 9x6 rounded corners

The photoetch pieces are… more

Hitachi Zaxis 135US Excavator

Published: August 4, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

This is not a highly-detailed kit, but can be an entertaining build for both less experienced and more advanced modelers. Less experienced modelers will enjoy the ease of assembly, and can build the kit without painting. More advanced modelers looking for construction equipment will find the kit to be an opportunity for some extreme weathering.

Background

This is the second kit Hasegawa has produced based on the Hitachi tracked excavator. The first was the Double Arm Working Machine Astaco Neo released in 2015 and updated in 2017 with new parts. This new Hitachi Zaxis kit retains the grasping claw from the Double Arm kit, but adds an excavator bucket and dozer blade as additional options.

The Zaxis 135US-6 excavator is used by contractors… more

SE.5a Radiator - Hispano Suiza for 2 & 4 Blade Propellers

Published: July 22, 2017
Company: Eduard

Eduard has issued two resin radiators to upgrade the radiator in their SE.5a kit:

• 648319 SE.5a Radiator – Hispano Suiza for 4 blade prop 1/48 $7.95
• 648320 SE.5a Radiator – Hispano Suiza for 2 blade prop 1/48 $7.95

These radiators are for the Hispano-Suiza engine version of the SE.5a. The upgraded radiators include resin and photoetch parts with much finer detail than the kit parts.

The Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5 was introduced in 1917 with a 150 HP V8 Hispano-Suiza 8A engine with two-bladed counter-clockwise (left) rotating propeller. The SE.5a was an improved version of the SE.5 and was one of the fastest fighters of WWI. The SE.5a aircraft was originally produced with a 200 HP Hispano-Suiza 8B gear-driven engine (‘Hisso’), with a… more