Dan Brown
Reviews By Author
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WWII U. S. Army BulldozerPublished:
MiniArt has released a new series of U. S. Army tractors and bulldozers that were used in WWII by the U. S. Army. This particular boxing is simply titled U. S. Army Bulldozer but it appears to be the open top version of the Caterpillar D7 bulldozer, which was used extensively in all theaters in many construction and engineering roles. This is my first MiniArt kit in a very long time, but from my first impression it seems very similar to the others I have worked on. Beautifully detailed moldings, a high part count, and a lot of very small pieces. The total part count in the box is well over 700 for a vehicle with a very small foot print. The first few pages on the very nice instructions are solely devoted to the construction of the highly detailed engine that dominates the… more |
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JGSDF Type73 Heavy Tank Transporter and Type 74 TankPublished:
The Isuzu Type 73 Heavy Truck, is a Japanese work horse tactical truck. It serves in a multitude of rolls throughout the Japanese Armed Services. This kit includes an Isuzu Type 73 Heavy Truck, a Tank Transporter flatbed trailer and a Type 74 Tank. There are a couple of options for displaying the model: you can display the ramps down with the tank driving up and the feet down or with the tank on the trailer and the ramps stowed. There are also two boxings of this kit, with and without the Type 74 tank. The box contains five sprue trees molded in hard dark green plastic, one clear sprue, a short length of vinyl tubing, and a separately molded truck cab for the truck and trailer. It also includes five more trees, separate hull pieces, and vinyl tracks for the tank. The parts are… more |
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SAAB JA 37 Viggen Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions is a company that specializes in producing white metal drop-in replacement landing gear parts for a number of aircraft kits. The white metal is much stronger than injection molded styrene and if needed can bent slightly without breaking. This set is made to replace the kit gear for the new Tarangus 1/48 Scale SAAB JA 37 Viggen. As usual with SAC landing gear the parts you are supplied are beautifully cast replacements for the kit’s plastic gear. Due to the extremely complicated gear arrangement on the Viggen, this is one of the most extensive SAC sets I have ever seen. There are 6 small frets, three large struts and a few more smaller miscellaneous pieces included in the usual SAC blister pack. The nose gear went together very smoothly… more |
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SAAB JA 37 ViggenPublished:
The SAAB JA 37 Viggen was designed during the Cold war to be a rugged short take-off and landing interceptor for the Swedish Air Force. It first flew in early 1967 and production ended in 1990 after 149 airframes were delivered. It has always been a favorite of aircraft enthusiasts and modelers due the distinctive delta wing and canard design. This highly anticipated new kit from the Swedish company Tarangus is the first new kit of this awesome fighter in 1/48 scale since the old ESCI kit from the 80s. Tarangus is a small Swedish company that specializes in new, beautiful kits of very interesting Swedish subjects. Most of their kits are short run kits but this new Viggen is not. The kit was taken back into development for nearly a year to make mainstream moldings that would be… more |
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JASDF Patriot PAC-3 Launching StationPublished:
The PAC-3 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, whose primary purpose is to intercept ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of flight. This new offering from Aoshima is the first injection molded kit of the Patriot Missile system in 1/72 scale. The kit includes the Transporter Erector Launcher trailer, 4 missile containers, and an Isuzu Type 73 Heavy Truck. There are several options for displaying the model: you can display the TEL with outriggers up or down; the missile canisters can be stowed or ready to fire; the antenna can be in the raised or lowered position; or you can also show it firing a PAC-3 missile. One of the neat features of the kit is that it provides two full sets of outrigger legs and you do not glue the legs on, they are attached by poly caps. This means… more |