Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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T-800 Terminator, Packs 1-10Published:
Agora Models is out of England, and they specialize in large-scale, highly detailed and illuminated/automated models of all genres. This goes from figures such as Alien and Optimus Prime to ships like the Constitution and Bismarck to vehicles such as Aston Martin DB 5 and Lotus Esprit to military vehicles such as a Leopard tank and aircraft like the Japanese Zero. All are large scale from 1/2 for some figures to 1/200 for the ships. The kits are made of everything from die cast zinc to wood to plastic. Due to their size and complexity, they are expensive, but Agora has softened that by selling them as very reasonable monthly subscriptions. And when you are done, you have a showstopper. Occasionally, a model comes along that is just that special. I think as modelers we all have… more |
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Lead Wires - Half Round, Flat and RoundPublished:
John and UMM-USA have been a godsend for those that like to scratch build by supplying tools and parts to make life easier for all of us as well as giving us access in the US to suppliers not as easily found. This selection is three styles of soft lead wiring perfect for ignition harnesses, wiring jets or anything that might need some kind of wiring or plumbing. The sets come in three types- round 0.4mm, half round and flat at 0.4mm. Each set comes with about 20 pieces by 140mm for these sizes. Many different sizes are also available. I love the size consistency as the size being reviewed is about the right size for 1/48th scale ignition wires on a radial engine. I grabbed an old one and installed a couple wires and they look great. I also made a quick (and sloppy)… more |
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Ultimate Razor SawPublished:
I have been using UMM razor saws for years to cut resin and plastic with great results. Since I build larger resin figures, sometimes the fine blades and smaller saw blades take a while to cut through. Also, with the blade being sandwiched in the middle, you have a limited depth to cut. The new ultimate razor saw addresses many of these issues. First, it is a double-edged blade with course on one side and fine on the other so you have options. Second, with the blade being attached on one side, you have much more depth. One feature that is very cool is that the blade is attached by an allen wrench and that is attached to the handle, easy to remove and use and then stow back so no looking for the wrench. For a trial, I had some T Facto Godzilla fins I was working on and the… more |
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XXXG-OOWO Wing Gundam Zero EW - Master GradePublished:
So I had an opportunity, thanks to IPMS Usa and Hobbytyme to build a Gundam, suit. I have seen them become more and more popular over the years and the local hobby stores have rows of them, so I was curious as I do not limit my modeling to one genre. First, what is Gundam? Gundam is a Japanese military science fiction media and features giant robots called Gundam’s. It started in 1979 and has spread to movies, TV shows, manga, novels, video games as well as of course models. The subject of this review is from the movie Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz special edition released in 1998. They remind me of Pacific Rim which also featured large, cool giant robots. Inside the box you will find 14 sprues in colors ranging from white, to gray to metallic to blue and a sprue… more |
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Operativo Indepndencia, Volume 1 - Armed Insurgency in Argentina 1955-1974Published:
Volume 1 of Operativo Independencia (Operation Independence) covers the period from 1955 to 1974 in Argentina which was a period of political upheaval and change. This volume considers both the insurgencies and government responses. This is the precursor to the “Dirty War” which will hopefully be covered in Volume 2 or more. The Table of Contents is small:
The book is a history of the rise of Marxist groups from their beginnings in the 1950’s… more |
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Painting Wargaming Models: Amoured Vehicles in Europe 1943-45Published:
Andy Singelton has several books out on painting figures and war gaming pieces and this book is the newest. You might recognize him from his studio - Volley Fire Painting Service. He has worked with manufacturers of war game equipment and scenarios and is the co-host of “A Few Brits and the Hobby”. This book covers exactly as the title says, the latter half of WWII in Military vehicles. The chapters included are:
Getting started is just that and covers a discussion of the type of kits - resin, plastic or metal. Tools are… more |
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Four in One Sanding SticksPublished:
Here is a really slick idea for all types of model builders- a sanding stick with four different grits on one stick. From CRM Hobbies in Missouri comes a set of four sanding sticks with a stick having 600, 320, 240 and 150 grit on every stick. No digging around looking for a new stick as you polish up a seam, just flip it to the right one you need. As an added bonus, they are water proof. You can take them under a running sink while sanding or dip them in water and the grit stays in place. They are cushioned so they can go around corners too. I was recently built the X-Plus Ultraman kit and used these to eliminate seams and polish and they worked great. I also used them in running water and also, no loss of grit and it polished up the seams well. They cleaned right up with water… more |
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Prehistoric Scenes Saber Tooth TigerPublished:
The Prehistoric Scenes kits were first issued (from what I can find) in 1971 or before so the kit is over 50 years old. Looking inside the box, the kit comes with two small bases and a tree along with the star of the show, the Sabre Tooth Tiger. The molds have been cleaned up and there is pretty much no flash at all. The plastic is a very nostalgic yellow and if you are my age, you remember the planes and kits of the time being this bright color. Since I built this kit decades ago, I wanted to do something a little different so I reversed the layout a bit as the tiger looks mad and I wanted him jumping at you attacking. So if you look the kit up on the Internet, mine may look backwards but I like it in attack mode. There are really to parts to assemble- the tree and the… more |
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The McDonnell Douglas FG.1, FGR.2 and F-4J(UK) Phantom, British VersionsPublished:
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom is probably one of the most iconic aircraft of all time. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy, the F-4 found it’s way to the Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force. This highly capable aircraft went on to become the most produced American supersonic aircraft in history. Due to its capabilities, the F-4 also served with the air forces in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This book explores the FG.1, FGR.2, and F-4J(UK) in service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The text is laid out in three chapters, each focusing on a specific variant. The introduction includes technical specifications for each variant and a list of British Phantom production numbers is a nice touch. Each chapter provides a thorough discussion of Phantom operations specific… more |
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F-14A Detailed Landing GearPublished:
Detail and Wonder has issued a replacement and highly detailed landing gear set for Tamiya’s 1/48th F-14A. The set includes a complete set of wheels, both main and nose along with separate hubs. a bag of metal supports and three 3D Printed landing gear- left, right and nose gear. To start, the instructions are wonderful and coded. The main parts are 3D printed. If you have never seen a 3D printed part, the process requires supports to make sure the prints are good. To start the prep of the parts, you cut off the big outside supports which are there protect the parts. As you can see from the pictures, the packaging is superb. All the inner supports are marked in red in the instructions. To remove the supports, I used a very good pair of sprue nippers and used a set of… more |