Dave Koukol
Reviews By Author
Hurricane Mk I Landing GearPublished: June 28, 2012 SAC’s recent release of their 1/48 Hurricane Mk I Landing Gear for the Italeri/Tamiya kit has been most timely and welcome. With over 40 years of modeling under my belly-eclipsed belt, it’s safe to say I’ve destroyed every set of injection-molded Hurricane landing gear I’ve ever built – and that’s quite a few. I was concerned about that with my latest Hurricane build – until this little set of… more |
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Hurricane Mk I Landing FlapsPublished: June 28, 2012 Eduard’s set of photoetch landing flaps adds another level of depth to the Italeri/Tamiya Hurricane Mk I kit. Although few reference photos of aircraft on the ground show the flaps dropped, they do add a degree of interest to finished model. The single fret of components, as expected from Eduard, is beautifully engineered and produced. Instructions are clear and concise. After… more |
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Hurricane Mk I ExhaustPublished: June 28, 2012 A welcome addition to the slew of aftermarket details for the Italeri/Tamiya Hurricane Mk I is Quickboost’s resin exhaust set. Crisply and cleanly cast in fine tan resin, the exhausts feature open exhaust ports and fit perfectly to the kit Merlin. I highly recommend this set for modelers of all skill levels who don’t want the hassle of opening up the exhaust ports. … more |
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Hawker Hurricane Mk IPublished: June 21, 2012 Conceived in 1934 to fulfill a requirement for a monoplane interceptor with a top speed exceeding 300 miles per hour in level flight, the Hawker Hurricane became one of the most significant Allied fighter aircraft in the opening years of the Second World War, and served worldwide throughout the conflict with great distinction. Most famously known for its pivotal role in the Battle of Britain,… more |
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Ilyushin Il-2 ShturmovikPublished: September 12, 2021 The Soviet Union’s first purpose-designed ground support aircraft, proposed in 1938, the Il-2 first saw production and combat action in 1941 as a single-seat platform. As a result of heavy losses from enemy fighters, the 2-seat version with a rear gunner station was fielded in 1943, and proved to be a crucial element in the Red Army’s defeat of the invading Nazi forces. With over 36,000 units… more |
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YF-22 RaptorPublished: May 22, 2012 Now the United States Air Force’s “Air Dominance Fighter,” the F-22 Raptor is arguably the world’s most advanced and capable air-to-air fighter aircraft. As part of the competition between the F-22 and F-23, the “YF” prototypes were flown, studied, and evaluated. Revell’s latest Snap-Tite aircraft offering, the YF-22, is a faithful reproduction of the winning prototype design. Molded… more |
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SR-71 Blackbird Egg PlanePublished: May 22, 2012 What classic breakfast food is capable of propelling itself at “Mach 3+” and capturing the imagination of modelers of all ages? It must be none other than Hasegawa’s SR-71 Blackbird in its offbeat and popular Egg Plane Series. Like it’s other egg-shaped cousins, this recent release is molded in a single color plastic with a sprue of clear canopy parts. Our SR came in black, and was… more |
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TBF/TBM Avenger In ActionPublished: May 20, 2012 The US Navy’s most widely-used torpedo bomber of World War II, the Grumman TBF Avenger filled a critical gap in combat capability shortly after the United States’ immersion into the war. The Grumman TBFs and license-built General Motors TBMs replaced the aging and obsolete Douglas TBD Devastator. Avengers operated in a host of roles through 1954, including torpedo bomber, level bomber, and… more |
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USS North Carolina, Squadron at SeaPublished: February 10, 2020 Authorized in 1936, launched in 1940, and commissioned the following year, USS North Carolina was the first battleship constructed for the US Navy since USS West Virginia’s 1923 commissioning. The first of America’s fast battleships, North Carolina compiled a sterling combat record in the South Pacific between 1942 and 1945, earning 12 battle stars while… more |
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Spad XIII (early)Published: September 14, 2021 First delivered to combat units in the fall of 1917, the Spad XIII was a refinement of the successful Spad VII design, featuring increased power and armament. Within months of initial delivery, 15 of 16 operational American pursuit squadrons had transitioned to the legendary French-built fighter. One of those squadrons was the 94th Pursuit Squadron, to which America’s leading ace of The Great… more |