Camden Koukol
Reviews By Author
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F6F-5 HellcatPublished:
The US Navy’s mainstay fighter from 1943 until the end of World War II, the Grumman F6F Hellcat was instrumental in establishing air dominance in the Pacific theater of operations during the war. Following the war, the Hellcat was relegated to US Navy Reserve units, as newer, more capable types replaced them in fleet service. Revell’s re-release of the timeless Monogram F6F-5, first offered in the 1960’s, is still a great kit for young modelers, or experienced modelers looking to relive a piece of their childhood. It’s probably safe to say that a majority of older modelers who started the hobby as kids have built at least 1 or 2 of these classics. Although only 6 (and ½, I’m reminded), this was Camden’s second Revellogram F6F-5, and the first one he actually painted and decaled… more |
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YF-22 RaptorPublished:
Now the United States Air Force’s “Air Dominance Fighter,” the F-22 Raptor is arguably the world’s most advanced and capable air-to-air fighter aircraft. As part of the competition between the F-22 and F-23, the “YF” prototypes were flown, studied, and evaluated. Revell’s latest Snap-Tite aircraft offering, the YF-22, is a faithful reproduction of the winning prototype design. Molded in light gray plastic with a sprue of tinted clear containing the canopy and another molded in black with the base, the kit convincingly captures the lines and essence of the YF-22. Camden, age 6, assembled the 15 kit parts in no time flat with minimal guidance from Dad. Since no painting instructions were provided, we opted to leave it “natural plastic.” The peel-and-stick “decals” flew on over… more |
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SR-71 Blackbird Egg PlanePublished:
What classic breakfast food is capable of propelling itself at “Mach 3+” and capturing the imagination of modelers of all ages? It must be none other than Hasegawa’s SR-71 Blackbird in its offbeat and popular Egg Plane Series. Like it’s other egg-shaped cousins, this recent release is molded in a single color plastic with a sprue of clear canopy parts. Our SR came in black, and was crisply molded and snapped together in no time at all. A couple strategically-placed dabs of liquid cement ensured durability during an expected lifetime of little boy play. Camden, 6, was able to complete the majority of assembly without close supervision or assistance from “big hands” to get parts to snap together – very “kid friendly!” Overall assembly time was under an hour. Testors Gloss… more |
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2010 Ford Mustang Convertible SnapTitePublished:
A throwback to the ’64 original design, the 2010 Mustang captures the classic lines of the original “pony car” in contemporary form and is the subject of Revell’s recent SnapTite series release. As with their ’63 Corvette (reviewed previously), the 2010 Mustang is a beautifully engineered kit for novice and veteran modelers, alike. Once again, at the hands of 6-year old Camden, this review sample went together flawlessly in exactly an hour shortly after being discovered on our doorstep. The kit consists of 9 sprues (3 black, 2 goldenrod, 2 chrome, 1 clear, and 1 transparent red), the goldenrod-colored body, black interior tub and chassis, 4 vinyl tires, steel axles, 4 self-tapping screws, and a sheet of peel-and-stick decals. Surface detail is both raised and recessed, as… more |
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NASCAR 2010 Chevrolet Impala COT Hendrick MotorsportsPublished:
Introduced mid-season 2007, NASCAR’s “Car of Tomorrow” (COT) hit the track in an effort to improve driver safety, decrease operating cost, and level the proverbial playing field between the monster multi-car teams and the smaller race teams competing in the Sprint Cup Series. Although received with skepticism and initial contempt by some drivers, the “wing thing” proved to be a more rugged, reliable, and measurable machine than its predecessor. With COT’s arrival, manufacturer’s body styles settled in around 4 core models: Chevy Impala, Ford Fusion, Dodge Charger, and Toyota Camry. Round2, under their AMT brand… more |
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T-4 "Ashiya Special" EggplanePublished:
Initially released in 2009, Hasegawa’s T-4 “Ashiya Special” is once again available to eggplane enthusiasts in the United States. A recent perusal of the Hasegawa official website also indicates release of some new eggplane offerings. Unorthodox in appearance and simple in construction, the T-4 egg is a fun departure from traditional aircraft models. The kit is crisply molded in white styrene, with a clear canopy and bright, full-color decals. Four-step instructions, with marking guide, are clear and accurate. Undertaken at the hands of Camden (age 6) under Dad’s tutelage, the basic construction and painting progressed quickly – once Camden got over the fact it wasn’t a “real” plane. (Good grief – I think I’ve created a “rivet counter!”). Camden found it easy to… more |
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'63 Corvette Sting Ray CoupePublished:
Chevy’s classic Corvette was first offered in a hard-top version in 1963, and that model-year’s radical shift in design style can still be seen in the generations of ‘Vettes which have since followed. The ’63 Sting Ray Coupe is Revell’s latest addition to its Snap-Tite Corvette collection, and this one surely does not disappoint young modeling hands. Camden (age 6) built this review sample in less than an hour during a visit to a local pediatric urgent care facility the night the kit arrived, and we can definitely say this was one of the best-behaved snap kits we’ve seen in a while. The kit consists of 5 sprues of parts, the candy apple red body, the clear window insert, 4 vinyl tires, steel axles, a couple of self-tapping screws, and a sheet of peel-and-stick decals. Surface… more |
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Wile E. Coyote and the Wile E. WillysPublished:
Saturday morning cartoons once again meet the modeling bench in Round2’s resurrection of classic kits featuring Warner Brothers’ beloved Road Runner and his nemesis, Wile E. Coyote. Of the three newly re-released kits, this review focuses on the hapless Wile E. Coyote and the Wile E. Willys – a loony dragster embodying a skateboard culture theme. The MPC-branded kit consists of 4 sprues of colored parts (including 1 chrome-plated), a set of peel-and-stick decals, and a pre-painted vinyl Wile E. Coyote figure. Construction is touted as snap-together, but we found it necessary to apply either superglue or Tamiya liquid cement for virtually every step. The 14-step assembly sequence is clearly outlined in the instructions, and took roughly an hour or so to complete. Round2… more |
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Road Runner and The Rail RiderPublished:
Saturday morning cartoons again meet the modeling bench in Round2’s resurrection of classic kits featuring Warner Brothers’ beloved Road Runner and his nemesis, Wile E. Coyote. Of the three newly re-released kits, this review focuses on Road Runner and The Rail Rider – a looney dragster embodying a steam engine theme. The MPC-branded kit consists of 5 sprues of colored parts, including 1 chrome-plated, a set of peel-and-stick decals, and a pre-painted vinyl Road Runner figure. Construction is snap-together, but is well served by a few well-placed applications of liquid cement and superglue – especially if the finished product is to be subjected to the playful hands of a little one. The 17-step assembly sequence is clearly outlined in the instructions, and took roughly… more |