Chris Smith
Reviews By Author
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OV-10A BroncoPublished:
Originating from a USMC requirement for a close support aircraft, The OV10-A, a North American Aviation design, won a production contract in 1964. Performance highlights included short takeoff using a high-lift wing configuration and trailing beam landing gear to allow rough field operations. The central boom could hold paratroopers while sponsons carried 4 machine guns and hard points for weapons and a fuel tank. The operational version had 10 feet added to the wingspan. The cockpit canopy featured bulged side panels to allow downward vision to the pilot and observer. These aircraft were used in the Forward Air Control (FAC) role in Southeast Asia all the way through the war in Iraq. In 1995 the last Broncos were retired by the USMC. This kit is a new tool in 1/72 scale. It's… more |
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Soviet Military Airfield 1980sPublished:
It's not hard (at least not for me), to remember when anything related to Soviet military equipment and operations was a mystery in the west. Not until the cold war Soviet Union fell apart in the 1980s did, we get a good look at what the Soviets had been up to. This set from ICM give us the basics needed to portray what we might have seen behind the “Iron Curtain”. This kit includes two ZiL-131 utility trucks, a Mig 29 9-13 variant and 32 PAG-14 prefab airfield paving plates to create a base. Everything is packed in ICMs typical rigid cardboard box with a full color sleeve. Inside are four separate bags of parts all molded in the soft grey plastic ICM seems to use on all their products. The instructions come in a glossy color folder but two of the three are small black and… more |
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US GP 100lb AN-M30A1 Bombs (10pcs)Published:
This set from Brengun provides parts to build ten 100lb bombs. Each bomb consists of a resin main body and four photoetched parts to represent the fins and the fuse arming prop on the nose. Separating the bombs from the pour gates is quickly done as they have a pouring extension on the front and are attached to a runner of five at the back. Attaching the fin assemblies requires removing three parts from the photoetch fret. These parts are done in brass and are not only thin, but easy to cut off and clean up. The fin assembly requires the builder to cut a cross hatched slot on the back of each resin bomb. The instructions suggest using a knife, but I found it easier to use a very thin saw blade. Interlocking fin legs are inserted into the slot and a fin “box” is formed by folding the PE… more |
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US WWII 110 Gallon Fuel TankPublished:
As the US Army Air Forces P-51 escorts ventured farther over Japan they required more fuel. Enter the 110 gallon drop tank. Similar in design to the 96-gallon tanks formed from stamped aluminum halves pinch joined at the seams, these larger tanks now held 660 lbs. of fuel. The sway braces used on the standard pylons were not up to the task. Fixing this problem took the form of plywood braces cross tied over the tank to each other. To keep the tanks hanging in the direction of gravity, the height of each was cut to account for dihedral of the aircraft’s wings. Brengun has duplicated this system in this kit. Resin cast tanks are detailed with photoetch parts and decals are provided for the stencils. Assembly starts with separating the resin pour stubs from the tanks. This will… more |
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Vickers 1911-77Published:
Anyone familiar with the Vickers name knows how critical their contribution to British industry has been. Starting in 1828 as a steel producer, the company diversified into arms, ships, railroad stock and aircraft. The aviation arm of the company got its start by building rigid airships and blimps. This experience not only gave them experience in building these types of structure, it also brought them Barnes Wallis as one of their designers. At the same time, they introduced the R.E.P. Type monoplane. This single seater had a steel tube frame and was used as the base trainer for a flying school Vickers opened. During the first World War, the “Gun Bus” series of pusher powered fighters were designed and built as well as the first multiengine military aircraft in the world, the E.F.B. 7… more |
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P-51B MustangPublished:
I know what you’re thinking, does the world need another P-51 Mustang model? In the case of the ARMA P-51B kit the answer is YES! If you love the Mustang like I do, you must build one of these kits. ARMA has created detail fidelity in this scale that I’ve not seen in scales much larger. The cockpit is a model in itself and includes decals for all the placards. Capping it are standard canopy and Malcom hoods that allow open or closed positions and the rails for Malcolm hood are included, a feature no P-51B model I'm aware of has ever done. Decals options are provided for four aircraft including “Old Crow” one of Clarence “Bud” Andersons early Mustangs. One additional scheme is provided in the instructions for Captain John Pugh's “Geronimo”, with a checked nose that was later… more |
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Detail Up Parts for Beemax Porsche 935 K2 ’78 Le MansPublished:
This set provides upgrades to the Porsche 935 K2 78 LM kit # BX24025 from Beemax. It includes a steel fret of metal parts including screens, wing and air deflectors, window straps and clips, seat belt hardware, brake rotor faces, fuel and oil flaps, windshield wiper and panel hold down pins. A strip of fabric for seat harnesses and turned metal ferules for jack connector and antenna, complete with antenna wire, round out the package. Instructions show you where these parts add to or replace kit parts. The metal parts do not have connection points to clean up but be… more |
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Porsche 935 K2 ’78 Le MansPublished:
A presence on the racing scene from 1976 to 1981 when FIA rules changes finished their run, the Porsche 935 series of race cars won about a third of the all the races they entered. This car, a 935 K2 series fielded by the Porsche-Kremer racing team ran the 1978 Le Mans race finishing 25th. Kremer would go on to win Le Mans in 1979 with a 935 K3. These cars were powered by flat six 3 to 3.3 liter twin turbo charged engines producing over 700 hp. Based on the 911 body, numerous aerodynamic improvements made these cars serious contenders. The Beemax kit is a reissue of a Platz kit. The parts are molded in black, white, clear and chrome. Masks are provided for the glass as are rubber tires and mesh for the rear wing vents. Two styles of wheels are provided as are the brake vent… more |
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Yak 9T WWII Soviet FighterPublished:
The Yakovlev series are considered by many the best of the Soviet fighters of WWII. It was the equal of its opponents and generally carried a mixed cannon/machine gun armament. Yakovlev believed he could fit the recently developed NS 37 cannon to make the YAK 9 a tank killer. Designated the Yak9T for tyazhelowoonuzhenny or “heavily armed”, fitting of this weapon required some changes to the standard Yak 9. The cockpit was moved back about a foot and structural integrity was increased. Surprisingly, these changes didn’t reduce the aircrafts performance. This cannon was supplemented by a single 12.7mm machine gun. Both guns were housed in the engine cowling. Introduced during the battle of Kursk in 1943, the Yak9T became a favorite with the pilots who flew it. It was found that higher… more |
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Polish Wings #34, Mikoyan Gurevich Mig-15 and License Build VersionsPublished:
it’s a good time for fans of reference books. Since the collapse of the Iron Curtain, many former Soviet Pact countries are flooding the market with detailed new sources aimed right at the modeling community. This volume focuses on the Mig 15 in service with the Polish Air Force. Each of the seven variants, which are defined by foreign or domestic manufacture, are covered. The first two sections cover the Soviet manufactured Migs, the Mig 15 and Mig 15bis (improved). In between the end of the Soviet built examples and the Polish built series were the S102s manufactured in Czechoslovakia. The Migs built in Poland were part of the Lim series which translated meant “License Fighter”. In all, four Lim series were built. Each section follows the same format of a description of the… more |