Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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Triple Ejector Rack (TER)Published:
The triple ejector rack (TER) has been used for many years and is a weapons suspension unit that attached to an aircraft pylon and allows for three weapons to be carried on that pylon. The United States has used TERS since the Vietnam War and they still a common sight on US aircraft along with many NATO air forces. The bombs are attached to the TER by mounting lugs and are stabilized by adjustable sway braces on the TER. Eduard has produced a resin set which includes part to make 5 TER’s in 1/32nd scale. The set is made of 50 parts of wonderfully cast resin and a small photoetch fret. Full color instructions and full markings are also included. Construction is straightforward. Remove the main body and bottom rack from there casting blocks and clean as needed… more |
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CBU-105 Cluster BombPublished:
The CBU-105 Cluster Bomb Dispenser was an improved version of the unguided CBU-97. The primary change was the including of a GPS system and tail fins to more accurately place the weapon. This also allows the interior bombs, BLU-108 submunitions to rain down and destroy tanks, antiaircraft and more. Eduard has produced a wonderfully detailed set of six resin cast CBU-105 bomb in this release. The set is cast in the standard Eduard gray resin. Prep work involved cutting the fins and the front bomb off the casting blocks, sanding smooth and then gluing together. One note, make sure you glue the rear fins on in the correct orientation- the drawings are excellent so follow them! I fixed any seams with putty smooth with lacquer thinner. This was then primed with Alclad gray primer… more |
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F-14 Weapons SetPublished:
Eduard has combined three wonderful resin sets into a combo set called the BigSin set for the Tamiya F-14A. I would think it would also work with other F-14’s but watch the variant so you could match it to the missile variants. The set comes in an excellent box with a full set of four AIM-54A Phoenix missiles, four AIM-7E Sparrow missiles and four AIM-9G/H Sidewinders with launch rails and seeker head covers. Each set comes with full stenciling and individual instructions in color including the color call outs for painting. Let’s look at the sets individually. The Sidewinders are comprised of 32 pieces including the launch rails. There is also a small photoetch set for adding detail to the rocket motor back of each missile. Four of those pieces are clear resin for the… more |
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Moebius BatgirlPublished:
Moebius Models has been a great boon to modeling especially those who like Sci-Fi, Monsters and Super Heroes. A while back they started producing figures based on the 1966 version of Batman. Currently Batman (Adam West), Cat Women (Julie Newmar), The Riddler (Frank Gorshin), Robin (Burt Ward) and The Penguin (Burgess Meredith) have wonderfully detail kits out. To really celebrate these, Moebius has issued their Batgirl kit as a 1/5th scale resin kit. The kit represents the late Yvonne Craig in all here glory with the red wig and green contacts as she was on the 1966 series. The kit is made of resin and housed in a beautiful box with each part in an individual Styrofoam slot so there is no rubbing or issues with broken parts. The finished kit is 16” tall and there are great… more |
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Mirage Pilot, 1960’sPublished:
PJ Productions from Belgium makes great aftermarket and figures in resin for aircraft modelers in all scales. This set is a resin Mirage Pilot wearing of the 1960's wearing the white suit named "habit de lumière" and the Garneau helmet T312 or the high-altitude helmet EFA T12. The figure is designed to fit either the Mirage IIIC or early IIIE in 1/32nd scale. The kit consists five cream colored resin parts- left and right arms, the body with legs and two head options. One is fully helmeted and the second is without so you have an option. The casting is good with only a few seams and no bubbles. I cut the arms off the casting blocks and used the back side of a #11 blade to get the seams removed followed by a light sanding. The same was done with the body and I chose… more |
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Combat Edge-War Fighters in Detail: US Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B ProwlerPublished:
This second book in the new Combat Edge series from SAM Publications deals with the US Navy and Marine Corps EA-6B Prowler. The book has a beautiful cover shot in glossy relief of a Prowler coming right at you. The book covers the history and development of the Prowler, its operational history as well as a walk around and beautiful color profiles. Lastly, there are three unbelievable builds of the Prowler. More on these later. The chapters included in the book are:
Each chapter is lavishly illustrated and starts with the development or the EA-… more |
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Big Scale Hogs - A-10 DecalsPublished:
Speed Hunter Graphics is a part of the Reid Air Publications family and that means Jake Melampy whose owner as wells as chief cook and bottle washer. That’s a great thing for all of us who love the wonderful A-10 Thunderbolt II. I have had a love affair with this plane since I first saw one fly in an air show here in Cleve. Anything but sleek, it is a workmanlike flying tank whose appearance may be different but it also the last thing you would ever want to see if you are in an armored vehicle on the wrong side and it’s the best thing to see if you are looking for close air support. Enough of the love fest, Speed Hunter has released a set for the Trumpeter 1/32nd A-10. This is a massive set with decals for fourteen planes. There are enough decals in the set for two complete… more |
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F-16C WA WA WA Nellis VipersPublished:
Twobobs always makes great decals and when this scheme popped up on the review list and included and arctic scheme aggressor, I knew I wanted to review it and build and F-16 in those colors. Inside the package are markings for two 1/48th scale F-16’s from 57th Wing at Nellis AFB. This group continues making aggressor schemes to mimic the newest schemes from our potential adversaries. In this case, the two schemes involved are the Arctic scheme with light gray/medium gray/very dark gray in bands around the jet for the first scheme and the second is the splinter scheme in blues and gray. Both jets are really nice looking but I wanted to focus on the Arctic bandit scheme. But before I use them, let’s look at what you get in the package- decals for both planes printed by Microscale… more |
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The Modern SLUF Guide - The A-7 Corsair II ExposedPublished:
For those of you who love aircraft and their details, Reid Air Publications is the gold standard for reference. This series of books is a glorious full color run through some of the greatest planes in the US armory. The latest book reviewed here covers the A-7 II Corsair, commonly called the SLUF (short little ugly fella or some derivative!). This is an in-depth photo journal of the plane from top to bottom and front to back. It covers variants including A-7 D-H, TA-7C, TA-7H, A-7K as well as all the needed under wing ordnance. Looking at the general chapter headings will give you a good start to the depth this book has:
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DOGS OF WAR Part 2 US Army/USMC/VNAF O-1 Bird Dogs in the Vietnam WarPublished:
AOA Decals specializes in Navy and Marine Corps subjects from the Vietnam era. They have branched out slightly with the first sheet for Roden’s lovely O-1 Bird Dog by adding Army/ USAF planes. Part 2 continues and goes back to the USMC and adds markings in for additional Army and VNAF planes also. Let’s take a dive into Part 2. Part 2 of the 1/32nd Bird Dog coverage includes thirteen marking options for various O-1 A/G/E Bird Dogs from the Vietnam War:
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