Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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Flexible Scribing RulerPublished:
UMM-USA continues it tradition of innovative and useful tools with part MN040, a Flexible Scribing Ruler. What comes in the package it a 6.5-inch-long thin stainless steel ruler. I say ruler but there are really no demarcation lines on it like what is usually thought of as a ruler. But that does not affect its use at all. This can be used in combination with any of the UMM-USA scribing tools or the Template Scriber. The ruler is 0.08mm (about 0.003 inches) thick and is very flexible and strong and can work on curved surfaces. To give this a test run, I used a Skywarrior that has been waiting for some rescribing due to a lot of sanding/seam filling. And I do mean a lot. As you can see in the pictures, the ruler taped to the curve on the top of the fuselage which will allow a… more |
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Poor Cinderella 32mm FigurePublished:
Morland Studios produces an excellent line of 32mm and 54mm figures, 200mm busts as well as bases and scenics with the focus on quality display miniatures. This review is the 32mm Poor Cinderella sculpted by Kevin Contos and based on the artwork of Howard David Johnson. This item is 32mm and comes with four parts. There is a base with the main figure and then the two baskets. The base is plastic and the rest of the parts are white metal. All the parts are very well cast and required only some minor scraping to remove the seams. I primed all the metal parts with Alclad gray. When dry, I glued the figure to the base for ease of painting. The painting started with the face. I used Scale 75 paints for the face. As you can see in the pictures, this is a small kit (I added a penny… more |
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USN Deck Crew "Vietnam"Published:
This latest set from Videoaviation.com includes two Navy crewmen and an Aero 12 ordnance cart with two boxes of fuses suitable for Vietnam era planes like the F-4 and A-4. The figures are one “red shirt” ordnance man and one ‘green shirt” aircraft mechanic circa 1965-1968. Inside the pack, you will find 16 parts in cream colored resin- one figure is three parts and the other is four parts. The remainders of the parts make up the cart and fuses. There are also painting/assembly instructions and even more photographs on the web site. There are slight seam lines as with all resin cast parts and these are easily scraped away. Fit of the parts is great and no filler was used. I left the heads off for easier painting. All parts were washed thoroughly with dish soap and dried. The… more |
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Deck Crew Aircraft MaintenancePublished:
Videoaviation.com continues its excellent streak of 1/32nd scale diorama accessories with Set 1872323, a Navy Deck Crew for aircraft maintenance. This set includes two Navy Deck Crew Aircraft maintenance figures- one kneeling with a tool to remove screws and the other assisting. Also included is an Aero 12C cart with a selection of toolboxes included. Inside the package, you will find 22 creme colored resin pieces. Of these, the cart is seven pieces, the toolboxes are five, and the remainder is for the figures. There are also painting/assembly instructions and even more photographs on the web site. There are slight seam lines as with all resin cast parts and these are easily scraped away. Fit of the parts is great and no filler was used. I left the heads off for… more |
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VMA(AW)-533 HAWKS (1) USMC A-6A Intruders in the Cold WarPublished:
AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale and covers VMA(AW)-533 was previously featured on AOA's first 1/32 sheet 32-001 covering their Vietnam War deployments (1967-69 and 1972-73) and again on sheet 32-003 covering Operation Desert Storm. This new sheet 32-029 expands that coverage of VMA(AW)-533 to now include the intermediate and immediate postwar periods in the early 1970s. The set includes three sets of markings for A-6A Intruders:
Decals also included for… more |
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SUU-30 (CBU-54) H/B LatePublished:
Videoaviation.com has been producing superb aftermarket diorama accessories and munitions for a fair amount of time. One of its latest offerings is the SUU-30 (CBU-54) H/B Late cluster bomb unit. The SUU-30 is the actual canister holding all the smaller cluster bomblets. This unit was used from post Viet War, late Cold War until 1991 Gulf War. Inside the package, you will find parts to make six complete cluster bomb dispensers. The bomb units are broken down into front and back parts (six of each), a photoetch fret to add the fins at the rear of the bomb and a set of decals and instructions. Casting is superb with cream colored resin being used. Preparation is simple. Cut the fin and nose sections from their casting blocks. Make sure to be as square as possible to… more |
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Intruder Airframe Stencils & Markings (High-Viz)Published:
Never one to rest on their laurels, AOA Decals has rereleased their 32002 stencil sheet for Hi-Viz A-6 Intruders in 1/32nd scale. Not only have they rereleased the sheet but they have also upgraded it to include: main and nose landing gear placards, walkway outline stripes, red engine intake warning markings, "A-6B" identifications, original style fuselage formation lights, radome latches (red & white), & tail hook stripes. And it gets a new number- 32026. This is also in addition to the following from the original sheet:
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Precision Sprue/Wire Round Cutter 02Published:
UMM-USA is one of the premier tool makers in the modeling market. John Vojtech has made many of these based upon his needs for his award-winning models. This is the Precision Sprue & Wire Cutter. This version, 02, has a rounded end. The piece comes in a plastic sleeve for easy storage. So, let’s take a look at the cutter. I personally like the rounded end version as it allows great vision for cutting. The end comes to a sharp point and that allows a fine cut on smaller parts. The part is “springy” and acts like tweezers. Because of the action at the cutting end, it allows for a very flush cut and leaves almost no clean up necessary. So, let’s take it for a test run. I started with the tires on Tamiya’s P-38 kit and they cut flush. It took one cut to lose it from the… more |
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VA-75 Sunday Punchers (2) USN A-6E TRAM Intruders DecalsPublished:
AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale and complements with VA-75 SUNDAY PUNCHERS (1), Sheet 32-027 and covers a spans of almost 20 years of the A-6 Intruder in service with one Navy squadron - VA-75 Sunday Punchers - from Vietnam to Desert Storm. This review is for Part 2 and covers the low visibility period with coverage of the late 1980s into Operation Desert Storm in 1991. There are two markings included for the following:
The set also includes decals for fuel tanks, tail… more |
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VA-75 Sunday Punchers (1) USN A-6A/A-6E Intruders DecalsPublished:
AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale along with VA-75 SUNDAY PUNCHERS (2), Sheet 32-028 covers a spans of almost 20 years of the A-6 Intruder in service with one Navy squadron - VA-75 Sunday Punchers - from Vietnam to Desert Storm. This review is for Part 1 and covers the high visibility period including coverage of their third and final deployment to Vietnam in 1972-73 and also their better known postwar white-tail markings. Markings are included for the following:
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