Bill O'Malley
Reviews By Author
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F-16C Falcon 'Desert Storm Vipers' 388TFW Al Minhad ABPublished:
These decals are intended for the Tamiya series of F-16 C Desert Storm Vipers of the 388th 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:
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Aggressor Vipers F-16C/D DecalsPublished:
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:
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P.K.H. Nutcracker "Kampfgruppe BALCK"Published:
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 |
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German Cargo Truck L1500SPublished:
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. BackgroundThis 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 |
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BTR-60 WheelsPublished:
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 |
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German WWII License PlatesPublished:
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):
The photoetch pieces are… more |
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Hitachi Zaxis 135US ExcavatorPublished:
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. BackgroundThis 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 |
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SE.5a Radiator - Hispano Suiza for 2 & 4 Blade PropellersPublished:
Eduard has issued two resin radiators to upgrade the radiator in their SE.5a kit:
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 |
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Husky MKIII VMMDPublished:
First released by Panda-Hobby in 2015, this is a good kit of an interesting and very unusual vehicle. The parts have some fit issues, but are generally okay. There are not a huge number of parts (220) and there is not a lot of detail to the vehicle, which simplifies assembly. BackgroundThe Husky VMMD was first developed for the South African Defence Force in the 1970s to clear military convoy routes of mines. Formerly called the Chubby System, the Husky uses ground penetrating radar to locate mines and IEDs. Driven by a single occupant, the vehicle can withstand explosions and is easily repairable due to its modular construction. The Husky VMMD has been used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq. Kit Contents
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Büssing NAG 4500 A-1 with Bilstein 3t DrehkranPublished:
The Büssing-NAG 4.5 ton truck was manufactured for the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe between 1942 & 1945. The truck was adapted for many uses including cargo, troop carrier, artillery prime mover, flak carriage, and even a version that could run on railroad tracks. This particular version of the Bussing Nag was fitted with a Bilstein 3 ton crane which could be used to lift engines and change tank gun barrels. After 1943, the Büssing-NAG with 3 ton Bilstein crane was designated Kfz. 100. The Büssing-NAG was first issued by AFV Club in 2012 as a cargo truck, again in 2014 with new parts, and this version in 2015 with the Bilstein Crane. The bulging 9-1/2 x 15 x 2-3/4 box is jam packed with dark yellow plastic sprues in… more |