Chris Gibson
Reviews By Author
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Ki-21-1b 'Sally' with Pilots and Ground PersonnelPublished:
The Mitsubishi Ki-21 “Sally” was designed in 1936 and first flew in 1938, it was used extensively in the war against China and was a trainer for bomber groups. This subject has been neglected in the model world but ICM has brought out a nice representation in 1/48th scale. Included in the kit is:
The instructions are pretty straight forward and the kit seems well detailed with fine panel lines and some rivet detail.
Section 1-7 starts with the left fuselage half with detail items and a bulkhead going in. there are also oxygen bottles and some clear… more |
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A-20G Havoc Instrument PanelPublished:
Anything that makes a model look better than a basic build is OK with me, whether it is resin, photo-etch, masks, or decals. Enter YAHU 3D instrument panels, these aftermarket instrument panels are the best thing since sliced bread. I have a 1/32 HKM A-20G in my stash and when I saw the YAHU instrument panel for this model I snatched it up. The initial look at the package, I thought, wow these look better than I expected. The replacement panel comes with 3D photo-etch for the instrument panel and other subpanels in the cockpit. The instructions are not very detailed about where some of the other pieces go. Assembly is straight forward, remove any raised detail on the kit instrument part, then remove the part from the fret, sand down any burrs and attach with CA glue. The… more |
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SB2C-4 Helldiver Instrument PanelPublished:
Quite frequently the aftermarket comes out with some great products, photo-etch, resin, masks or decals, and the Yahu models 3D instrument panels are definitely one of them. I have a 1/32 Infinity Models SB2C-4 in my stash and when I saw this available I was able to get it. The initial look at the package I thought, wow these look better than I expected. The replacement panel comes with 3D photo-etch for the instrument panel and other sub panels in the cockpit. The instructions are not very detailed about where some of the other pieces go. Assembly is straight forward, remove any raised detail on the kit instrument part, then remove the part from the fret, sand down any burrs and attach with CA glue. The replacement panel fits just about perfect and looks 100%… more |
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Macchi MC.202 FolgorePublished:
Italeri has brought out the long awaited 1/32 scale Macchi MC.202 Folgore (Italian for Thunderbolt) just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Regia Aeronautica (RA; Royal Italian Air Force). The MC.202 was a development of the earlier C.200 Saetta, which was a radial engine design. The MC.202 used the Italian built version of the German Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine and a redesigned more streamlined fuselage. Considered to be one of the best wartime fighters to serve in large numbers with the Regia Aeronautica, the Folgore served on all fronts the Italians operated in. The Folgore entered service in July 1941 and immediately proved to be an effective dogfighter. The Australian Ace Clive Caldwell who fought a variety of German, Italian and Japanese fighters during WW2… more |
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Boeing B-17, Flight Craft 27Published:
This is one book in a line of military aircraft books from Pen and Sword in the Flight Craft series #27 Boeing B17. Now there have probably been hundreds of books published on the Boeing B17, many of which I have read. This is the first one I have read that incorporates design and development, camouflage and markings, in service and in action, B17 variants, with modeling the B17 and showcase models. This book seems to be aimed at the modeler who wants to incorporate more detail into his modeling. The first half of the book gives a useful overview of the real thing with the design and development, to in-service and in-action, and detail of some B17 special variants. The book takes you from the first Model 299 through the B17G and all variants. The camouflage and marking section… more |
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Messerschmitt Bf109E Sept. 1940Published:
Brief HistoryThe Messerschmitt Bf109 is probably one of the most well-known WW2 fighter planes ever made. Also the most prolific at 35000 produced. They were produced well into the 1960s by the Spanish Air Force and by Czechoslovakia. It was a plane developed in1934 by Willy Messerschmitt to a Luftwaffe specification for a high performance single seat fighter. The Bf109 was, in essence, the smallest airframe that could be wrapped around the most powerful inline engine and still carry a useful armament load. The first prototype flew in October of 1935, powered by a British Rolls-Royce engine, the Jumo engine not being ready at that time. The Jumo powered Bf109B entered service in 1937 and was used in the Spanish Civil War. Meanwhile the fuel injected Daimler-Benz DB601… more |
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A26B Invader Pacific TheaterPublished:
Brief HistoryThe Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircaft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts. A limited number of highly modified United Sates Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Aisa until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft. A re-designation of the type from A-26 to B-26 led to confusion with the Martin B-26 Marauder which first flew in November 1940, some 20 months before the Douglas design's maiden flight. Although both types were powered by the widely used Pratt & Whitney… more |
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Fokker Dr1 TriplanePublished:
It has been 102 years since the end of WW1 and we still have a fascination with the daring young men and their flying machines. It is amazing that 11 years after the Wright brothers first flew, we had airplanes dogfighting over the battle-scarred fields in Europe. Some of those aircraft were simple single wing models that resembled kites, others were single seat bi-planes and 2 seat cockpits with a pilot and gunner and others were huge 100 + foot wingspan bombers. Then there were the Triplanes, England’s Sopwith came out with the first triplane and the German Fokker soon followed with their Dr-1, of which Manfred von Richtofen, also known as the Red Baron, had made his mount until he was killed in action on 21 April 1918 I am doing the review of the Meng Fokker Dr-1 of the… more |
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Lancaster B Mk.III Dambuster – Part 3 of 3Published:
Welcome back to the final installment of the 1/32 HK models Lancaster B Mk.III Dambuster review. Last time we finished the bomb bay area, wings, tail feathers and did some initial assembly. This time we will be masking, painting, decals and final assembly. PaintFirst off this is a big model and requires a bit more paint than other kits. I happened to request the paint I needed from Tru-Color paint, which they gladly supplied. I received three 2oz. bottles of paint 1-2oz. bottle of thinner and 1-2oz. bottle of acetone. Matte black for the underside, matte RAF dark green and RAF dark earth for the top side. I start the paint process by masking all the canopies and windows, (there’s a lot of them), with Eduard’s mask set #JX225, I have always used Eduard… more |
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Lancaster B Mk.III Dambusters - Part 2 of 3Published:
Welcome back to the second installment of the HK 1/32 Lancaster B MkIII Dambusters review. Last time was cockpit and interior assembly and painting and fuselage assembly, also turret assembly and painting. Part 2 will cover the bombay changes, engine assembly and painting and installation on the wings, wing and tail plane assembly and installation on the fuselage. Bomb BayThe bomb bay area is different on the dambusters edition of the Lancaster, it eliminates the bombay doors and replaces it with a cover and the structure for the spinning bomb. You have to reference the Dambuster instructions #27 & 28 to install that section. Everything went together well and I pre-painted everything flat black except the spinning bomb which is olive drab green.… more |