Chad Richmond
Reviews By Author
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USAAF Camouflaged P-51D, Part 2Published:
LPS Hobby has been producing many decal sheets of previously unavailable markings, previously incorrect markings and some unusual markings. This particular sheet is no exception. This sheet provides markings for three camouflaged P-51’s which were over-painted with what is believed to be RAF Dark Green and Medium Sea Gray. The decal sheet is printed by Microscale and is in perfect register. The first aircraft is P-51D-5-NA, “Tangerine”, piloted by LT Henry A. Pfeiffer, 364FS, 357FG, Leiston, England, Autumn 1944. The second is P-51D-10-NA, “Master Mike”, piloted by Lt. Col Joseph E. Broadhead, 362 FS, 357 FG, Leiston, England, January 1945. The last aircraft, and the one I chose is P-51D-15-NA piloted by Major Howard D. “Deacon” Hively, 334 FS, 4FG, Debdon, England, December… more |
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A-37 Landing GearPublished:
Not too long ago, Trumpeter gave us a brand new, scribed 1/48th scale A-37 to play with and Scale Aircraft Conversions were not very far behind with a white metal landing gear to help support all of the added nose weight to prevent a tail sitter. There are six total parts on two frets, with the nose gear being separate, The way they are cast makes cleanup of the parts much easier than the plastic kit parts. And, I must say they are every bit as clean and accurate as the kit parts. A cheap and welcome addition to the Trumpeter kit. I highly recommend this gear replacement. My thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions and IPMS for the review sample. |
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F-4B Exhaust NozzlesPublished:
Eduard’s Brassin line has some of the finest resin cast parts that I have ever run across, from any manufacturer. These exhaust nozzles are a direct one-for-one replacement for the kit nozzles. Those that come in the kit are the best I’ve ever taken out of a kit box, but Eduard’s are still another step above. Eduard gives you two burner cans, two exhausts, two exhaust cones and a photo etch sheet with the flame holders. Each of the resin components has a very ease to remove pour block which takes no time in removing. You have to be careful with the exhaust cones however, because they have some very, very fine vanes that are pretty much guaranteed to break during removal of the pour block. You won’t be able to see them once the cans are inside the model, but you will know they… more |
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F-102A CockpitPublished:
Meng’s 1/72nd scale F-102’s are very nice kits with a nicely detailed cockpit interior. Of course, we all know that there is always room for improvement. The Czech company, Pavla, came out with a very nice replacement for the kit cockpit. You get eleven nicely cast parts in grey resin. Included are a new cockpit tub with detailed side panels, instrument panel, seat with seatbelts and shoulder harness and ejection seat guide rail, canopy elevating mechanism, new HUD, separate rudder pedals, new yoke and side console levers. The instrument panel is crisply cast, but the kit gives you a nice instrument panel decal that will allow you to produce a very convincing instrument panel in this small scale. There is more detail in the Pavla instrument panel, however, so some careful… more |
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MiG-15 Gun BarrelsPublished:
One of the differences between the MiG-15 and the MiG-15bis is the gun configuration in the nose. It is not readily noticeable, but there are differences in the 23mm cannons and their fairings. The MiG-15 was equipped with one N-37 37mm cannon and two NS-23 23mm cannons in a drop down tray on the bottom of the nose fairing. This was the standard configuration until improvements were made in the MiG-15bis. Eduard’s new MiG-15 and MiG-15bis kits in 1/72nd scale are great little kits and are very accurate. Even though the kit gun barrels, parts C3, C12 and C32 are very well done, Quickboost has provided us with some exquisite resin replacements with no mold seam to clean up and the end of the 37mm cannon barrel drilled out. These barrels are direct replacements… more |
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MiG-15bis Gun BarrelsPublished:
One of the differences between the MiG-15 and the MiG-15bis, in addition to a newer and more powerful engine, is the gun configuration in the nose. It is not readily noticeable, but there are differences in the 23mm cannons and their fairings. The MiG-15 was equipped with one N-37 37mm cannon and two NS-23 23mm cannons in a drop down tray on the bottom of the nose fairing. This was the standard configuration until improvements were made in the MiG-15bis. The MiG-15bis received two NR-23 cannons, which had a higher rate of fire and an improved ammunition system. The cowling also changed with bulged ejection chutes. The fairings on the newer guns were also shorter than their predecessors. Eduard’s new MiG-15 and MiG-15bis kits in 1/72nd scale are great little… more |
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MiG-15bis ExhaustPublished:
Eduard's kit of the Mig-15 is a hit and has very nice detail and builds into a beautiful replica. One of the areas all models have issues with is the exhaust. It is virtually impossible to make it in one piece and it is hard to get seams out if it is multiple pieces and the detail is not as crisp due to molding limitations. Aires to the rescue with a quick replacement resin exhaust. The part is molded seamlessly as a single piece. Cut off the pour stub and use the kit fan blades and you can paint and glue in place with no issues. Detail is excellent on the entire piece and it is definitely a worthy addition to an already excellent kit. Definitely recommended. My thanks to Aires and IPMS USA for the review sample. |
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Kfir C2/C7 Wheel BayPublished:
Many of us have waited a long time for a quality kit of the Kfir, and Kinetic released a very fine example about a year ago. Though the kit is very detailed, of course there is always room for improvement and embellishment, so Aires has come up with a couple of offerings for this kit. One of these is a very nice set of highly detailed main and nose gear wheel wells. All together there are fifteen exquisitely detailed parts that include new doors and actuators for each of the wells. Both the main gear well and nose gear well include all of the plumbing that is inherent in those wells. Packed in the normal Aires card and bubble pack are fifteen exquisitely detailed parts that include new doors and actuators for each of the wells. All are easily removed from their pour blocks.… more |
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Kfir C2/C7 Gun BayPublished:
Many of us have waited a long time for a quality kit of the Kfir, and Kinetic released a very fine example about a year ago. Though the kit is very detailed, of course there is always room for improvement and embellishment, so Aires has come up with a couple of offerings for this kit. One of these gives the modeler the capability of opening the gun bays and showing the two Rafael DEFA 553 30mm cannons. Packed in the normal Aires card and bubble pack one will find three pour blocks which include two gun bays, two gun breeches and two gun bay doors with latches. The detail is typical high quality Aires. The installation is rather simple. All the modeler has to do is remove the two doors from the lower wing half and install the bays and the doors. There is no great concern about… more |
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F-15C Eagle, 57th Fighter Interceptor SquadronPublished:
No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. It is an F-15C with conformal fuel tanks. By 1984, the USSR had amassed a considerable submarine launched ballistic missile capability which complemented their already powerful ICBM force. The vast majority of the Soviet SSNB submarines, known as ‘boomers’, were based at Archangel and Murmansk. Their pre-launch stations were usually in the White Sea sector. Because of this, the US Navy devoted a large portion of its SSN submarines or ‘hunter killers’ to located and then follow the movement of all Soviet SSNB boomers in the White Sea. To perform this task, US SSNs ran through the Giuk Gap in route to their patrol areas. To counteract the Americans, the Soviet navy began a pattern of deploying an ever… more |