Brian R. Baker
Reviews By Author
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Nakajima B5N Kate Double KitPublished: September 28, 2012 HistoryThe Nakajima B5N torpedo and attack bomber was developed during the late thirties to replace the 1936 Yokosuka B4N biplane carrier-based torpedo bomber. Roughly comparable to, but also decidedly superior to, the U.S. Navy’s Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber, the B5N was code named Kate by the Allies when the name-codes came into use during 1942. Beating out the… more |
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Supermarine Spitfire F. Mk. 21Published: September 16, 2012 HistoryThe Spitfire is probably one of the most-modeled kits in 1/72 or any other scale, for that matter. It was used in many different modifications and variations, and a few are still flying today. It combined the classic beauty of a thoroughbred with the performance of a champion, and remained in production well after the end of World War II even though the original prototype… more |
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Mitsubishi A6M-5c and J2M-3Published: August 22, 2012 HistoryThe 352nd Flying Group was apparently activated in Japan on 1 August 1944 as a day and night fighter group, and operated from Omura Air Base in Japan until the end of the war. They used the A6M5 Zeke 52, N1K2-J George, and J2M3 Jack in the interceptor role. Apparently, their aircraft were marked with distinctive tail codes denoting their unit, and Hasegawa has seen fit to… more |
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DH-2 vs. Albatros D.I/D.II - Western Front 1916Published: August 21, 2012 History: The DeHavilland DH-2 appeared during 1915 to counter the devastating attacks of the Fokker E-III Eindekkers, which were the first true fighter planes with reliable fixed armament firing through the propeller arc. When the DH-2’s first appeared, they achieved air supremacy over the German Fokker fighters and two-seat observation types. Powered by a somewhat… more |
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Tupolev TU-7 and PE-8Published: August 19, 2012 History The Tupolev TB-7, originally known as ANT-42, heavy bomber was developed in the late thirties by the Tupolev Design team to provide the VVS with an up-to-date long range heavy bomber for strategic operations. Development was slow, partly because the Soviets never could ascertain exactly who their next enemy would be, or whether they should concentrate on… more |
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RAF RE-8 at WarPublished: August 18, 2012 HistoryThe Royal Aircraft Factory RE-8 was one of those airplanes that never attracted the attention it deserved, mainly because it wasn’t a fighter that attracted a lot of press. It was, however, a very basic, fundamental design, one intended for observation and reconnaissance duties over the front. I had always been under the impression that the RE-8 was a rather unimpressive plane… more |
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Italeri Acrylic PaintPublished: August 16, 2012 IntroductionFor the past 50 or so years, I have built plastic models and painted them using various types of enamel paints. For the earlier wooden models, before plastic kits became popular, I used regular model airplane dope (actually, lacquer), sometimes laced with talcum powder to achieve a matte finish. I started airbrushing relatively early, still using enamels, and eventually… more |
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VIIPublished: August 1, 2012 HistoryNo modeler of World War II fighter aircraft can possibly be unaware of the background of the Spitfire, so no discussion will be provided. Over 30 different Marks and variants of the Spitfire were produced before, during, and after World War II, and nearly all of them have appeared as 1/72 scale kits at one time or another. Of the long-wing Mk. VII, injection molded kits have… more |
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Reggiane RE-2002 ArietePublished: August 1, 2012 HistoryThe Reggiane RE-2002 shows its ancestry, as its designers were obviously influenced by the Seversky P-35. The original RE-2000 was first flown in 1938, and since the plane had some problems, the majority of the RE-2000’s were exported to Sweden and Hungary. A few were used by the Italian Navy. Reggiane attempted to improve the design by installing a German DB-601A-1 liquid-… more |
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Curtiss SOC SeagullPublished: June 20, 2012 HistoryThe Curtiss SOC Seagull was one of the classic biplanes of World War II. The early models entered service as the Navy’s ship- and shore-based scouting-observation airplane in 1935, replacing the Vought O3U Corsair biplanes during the late thirties. Although the prototype SOC, designated XO3C-1, was an amphibian, all subsequent models were either floatplanes or landplanes, and… more |