Chris Smith
Reviews By Author
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Rutan QuickiePublished:
Burt Rutan’s name has become synonymous with innovative, unconventional aircraft designs built with efficiency and safety in mind. Types like the Varieze, Varviggen, and the Voyager all shared a common platform utilizing a canard or small wing ahead of the main wing. Wanting the promote safety, the principal behind the canard was the forward smaller wing would stall before the larger rear wing protecting the pilot from loss of control during the critical takeoff and landing phases of flight. The construction of these designs incorporated a composite structure of a foam core wrapped in fiberglass. This structure was not only strong but it was very aerodynamically clean. These designs could attain cruise speeds faster than most production designs with a fraction of the horsepower. That… more |
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The Essential Buyers Guide, Ford Mustang, Fifth Generation/S197 2005 to 2014Published:
It’s nice when a product delivers what it promises as this book does. As the title implies this is a buyer’s roadmap to purchasing a fifth generation (2005 to 2014) Ford Mustang also known as the S-197 bodied cars. Mustang fans were thrilled when this body style was reveled in 2004 because it harkened back to the sharp angular lines of 1965-67 Mustangs that established the “Ponycar” paradigm. The 2011 model year was especially anticipated as it marked the return of the 5.0 liter V8. As the proud owner of a 2013 Mustang GT as well as a lifelong fan of this iconic car, I was intrigued by what this book offers. The book opens with a brief introduction to the Mustang brand and the S-197 styled cars in particular. It then launches into a discussion about the factors to consider… more |
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F-4J Phantom II "VF-102 Diamondbacks"Published:
This subject needs no introduction or prolonged history so I’ll skip it. The kit has been around for a few years in various versions, this time as the short nosed F-4J of the U.S. Navy’s VF 102 aka the “Diamondbacks”. Having read a lot of great things about this kit I had high expectations and they were all realized when I opened the box. There’s a whole lot of plastic in there and it’s done to the highest standards. Most important is the one piece upper fuselage that eliminates the tricky gap you’d have otherwise. In fact a closer examination shows that most of the major joint lines fall in places that exist on the real thing making the builders job one of aligning the parts and gluing them. You get a full complement of missiles, iron bombs and drop tanks. The only negative out of the… more |
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RU-8D "Seminole"Published:
IntroductionThe U.S. Army RU-8D Seminole (not to be confused with the Piper light twin of the same name) was based on the Beechcraft Model 50 Twin Bonanza, first flown in 1952. The Army version modeled in this kit takes a civilian aircraft, strips the luxury interior out and loads the inside with radio receivers and festoons the exterior with antennas to fulfill the signal intelligence mission. Used extensively over Vietnam, the Seminole crew would home in on enemy radio transmissions with the goal of pinpointing the position of those units. These underappreciated units provided critical intelligence to units on the ground. I was pleased to see a model company honoring this often lonely and forgotten mission with this model. BuildCroco Models is a small… more |
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Zlin Z50 "Worldwide Users"Published:
IntroductionThe Zlin Z-50 is an aerobatic aircraft developed in the Czech Republic in 1975. Designed to withstand plus 9 and minus 6 G’s and running a 300 HP engine, this aircraft is a real contender in the competitive aerobatic world and has won a couple of championships. Of course, the plane is only as good as the pilot. For a number of years now I’ve had the pleasure-as have many others-to see Rob Harrison aka “The Tumbling Bear”, perform his brand of low level high energy aerobatics in his bright yellow Zlin. My favorite part of his routine is the passes so low you can see Rob working the controls! Rob has been a stable on the Southern California airshow circuit for years. In spite of a terrible crash in Modesto CA in 2009, Rob supervised the build of his replacement Zlin… more |
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JASDF F-15J Eagle J-MSIP Modernized Special Marking "Golden Eagles" in Komatsa 2017Published:
IntroductionThis is actually my second build and review of this kit (See review posted October 24th, 2015). This time around it’s the same great kit with some really striking markings. My research says Aircraft # 92-8906 was specially painted for an airshow that was cancelled due to a typhoon. You do get a second marking option without the cool artwork but I can’t imagine building this kit as such. I’m not going to go into the history of the Eagle as it is well documented many other places. Unlike the first build where I used a nice photoetch set, this Eagle was built out of the box with the exception of some seat harnesses from the spares drawer. Build UpSame great quality molds and parts fit. The intakes have some ejection marks to clean up but they are… more |
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OH-6D "Winter Camouflage"Published:
First flown in 1963, the HUGHES OH-6 is a light observation helicopter capable of carrying four at cruise speeds of up to 135 knots. The type is also known in the civilian world as the Hughes 500 series. A number of countries used the OH-6 including the Japanese Self Defense Force who used aircraft built under license as the OH-6D by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. That version is represented in this kit. This is a limited-edition kit and comes in the now common Hasegawa top open box with a photo of the real thing on it. Inside you find high quality parts typical of this company with restrained panel lines and very good fit. Six resin parts are included that consist of antennas and a supplemental tail light assembly. Construction begins with the cockpit and enough parts are… more |
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#10 Danica Patrick Aspen Dental Ford FusionPublished:
With her Indy car win in Japan in 2008, Danica Patrick has become a house-hold name in racing and a celebrity based on her clever add campaign with Go Daddy, one of her past sponsors. In 2010 Danica moved to Nascar and although she hasn't won any races she has claimed pole position and led a number of laps. She has proven her ability as a racer and follows in the footsteps of Shirley Muldowney and the up and coming Cortney Force. This kit represents one of Danica's 2017 cars sponsored by Aspen Dental. Running under the Ford Banner for the Stuart-Hass racing team, the car is shaped to represent the Ford Fusion. All the teams ran the Roush-Yates FR-9 engine that season. This 358 CI engine was equipped with fuel injection and were restricted by a plate on the intake manifold to… more |
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GAU 8 Avenger Gun & Pitot PEPublished:
HistoryDeveloped in parallel with the AX program which eventually led to the A-10 Thunderbolt II the General Electric GAU-8 "Avenger" was designed as a tank killer. The seven-barrel 30 mm cannon can fire over 3000 rounds a minute. When coupled with depleted uranium cored ammunition this weapon can penetrate most known armor. During my time in the USAF I was posted with the 23rd TAC who flew the shark mouthed A-10s of Flying Tiger fame. Part of my duties required maintenance visits to the firing range where I got to see these weapons awesome power first hand. A number of model companies have produced the A-10 in 1/48 scale and while the airframes are very good in most cases the gun is a solid piece without hollow barrels. Scratch building a GAU-8 is certainly possible but not… more |
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Sukhoi Su-22 M3/M4 Fitter FPublished:
HistoryDeveloped from the delta wing Su-7 the Su-17/22 NATO code name "Fitter", the design incorporated a swing wing to reduce landing speeds. Interestingly the swing-wing was limited to the outboard portion of the wing allowing the landing gear and fixed weapon pylons to remain unchanged. Kitty Hawk has given us the Su-22 M3/4 in this boxing. The Su-22 is the export version of the SU-17 and you get no less than seven marking options for German (pre and post-cold war), IRAQ, Czech, Polish, Syria and Vietnamese aircraft. Perhaps the most memorable moment involving this aircraft is the encounter two Libyan Fitters had with US F-14s on August 19, 1981, in during which the Tomcats prevailed. Although it's not the most elegant of designs its always been my favorite cold war era… more |