Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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Viper Pilots – Reimagined BSG SeriesPublished:
Cozmic Scale Models from the UK specializes in SciFi Model kits and accessories. They have multiple figures, details and parts for everything from bases to crews to some full kits. This review is a 1/32 Battlestar Galactica series, the re-imagined version from 2004. These come in multiple poses and this one is standing holding his helmet in one hand. The kit itself is a single piece with decals and is very clean. To prep it for paint, a few small scrapings were done and a little cleaning around the helmet and then I shot it with Tamiya primer. Painting was done with acrylics and decals added. A final flat coat and done and it was ready for display or addition to a diorama. Highly recommended. Very well produced and they can be scaled to the modelers size. My… more |
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F-18C Legacy Hornet DecalsPublished:
Squadron is back and in a big way. In this review, we’ll cover the four new decals listed below:
First, the basics for all the decals, they are in perfect register, colorful and all come with the needed profiles and instructions to make one of the two jets in the set. All decals are printed by Microscale which is great news also… more |
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Bf 108 Landing GearPublished:
When Eduard followed up with a 1/32nd scale version of their wonderful 1/48th scale Bf-108, modelers were excited to get a larger version of this plane and several versions have been issued. Looking at the kit, one thing noted is the scale thinness of the main landing gear legs. There is also the potential added weight of some photoetch and resin. Scale Aircraft Conversions can give you an alternative to the kit parts with replacement parts in white metal for the main gear legs and the tail also. The parts are direct replacement after a little clean up and can either replace the kit parts for added strength or, as I have had happen, save the kit when you break a part and need a replacement. Another great set from Scale Aircraft Conversions. Definitely recommended.… more |
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TG-16A USAF GliderPublished:
Hauler Brengun has done great work with their aftermarket sets and kits. This latest one, the TG-16A is a cool choice. In 2011, the TG-16A was chosen by the US Air Force as the new soaring trainer for USAF Academy and also is the choice for their aerobatics team. The competition version is rated at +7/-5 G which is impressive for the thinness of the actual plane. The kit comes with a single white sprue with all the parts (and a few extra) for the plane. There is a clear sprue for the canopy and rear tail part. The wings and horizontal stabilizer are a single piece. Instructions are a single sheet and painting instructions are on the back of the box. Four sets of markings are included on the decal sheet. All as similar since the planes themselves are similar. They are white!… more |
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Riveting Tools - 1/48th, 1/32nd and 1/24th ScalesPublished:
As an airplane builder, one of the necessary but boring parts for me is sanding smooth and then restoring panel lines and rivets. UMM-USA has the solution for the rivets with multiple sets. We will look at MN-006 (1/48th scale rivets), MN-021 (1/32nd scale rivets) and MN-049 (for 1/32nd and 1/24th scale rivets). Each riveter comes with a comfortable plastic handle with a wheel containing cuts with the raised pegs representing the rivets. Use is simple and I used a scrap piece of styrene. I used a ruler as a line on a smooth surface and you roll the wheel along with pressure on the tip. The rotating wheel engraves the plastic with rivets. The the different sizes all have the same diameter wheel so the difference is the cuts and number of spikes. The 1/24 scale has about 20… more |
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USN Mk. XIII TorpedoPublished:
The US Navy’s most common aerial torpedo used in WWII was the first purpose built torpedo for use in aircraft (but they were also used on PT boats. Brengun’s kit comes with twelve photoetch parts and three resin parts. The kit comes with two options- the early configuration which is a standard looking torpedo and was used from 1935 until 1942. The second option was a later configuration with breakaway plywood nose (often called the pickle barrel) and plywood tail used from 1942 until 1951. I opted for the late version for variety. First thing was to cut the tail and correct nose of square. These are glued together, puttied with glazing putty, and smoothed with lacquer thinner. Next, the two tail parts are cut off – make sure you don’t lose them. Cut off the two propellers add… more |
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US GP 100lb AN-M30A1 Bombs (6pcs)Published:
Brengun continues to release wonderful aftermarket add-ons to enhance 1/48th scale planes. In this set, there are six complete AN-M31A1 100 lb bombs which were used by fighters, bombers, or attack aircraft. They were in use for a long period of time and covered WWII to Korea and further. Inside the package are six perfectly cast bomb bodies in Brengun’s dark gray resin. Simply cut from the pour block and you are set to add the photoetch. There is a complete photoetch sheet which has the bomb fins, the nose fuse and the rear plate and tail fuse. You will need a 0.5mm rod to add the tail fuse also. Lastly, the decals are included and have the nose and tail yellow bands, marking for the tail and two for the body. The decals are crisp. The only tricky part of assembly is… more |
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MKXVII Depth Charge Mk 54Published:
Brengun adds to its catalog with Attack Hobbies re-release of the Mk XVII depth charge in 1/48th scale. The set contains the parts to make and mark two depth charges along with the pylon for mounting. Inside the set, you will find two well-cast depth bomb bodies and nose fuse stalks in gray resin, a photoetch sheet containing the parts to make two pylons, the fuses for the bomb, and a small decal sheet for the one marking on the depth charge. Assembly starts by removing the depth charge and nose stalk from the resin. Make sure the nose is sanded smooth. Glue the stalk to the direct center. The tail band needs formed into a ring. When I did this using my PE bender, the tail was too big in diameter and would not touch the four legs. I cut ~ 2 mm off the tail and reformed and it… more |
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USS Gato SS-212, 1941Published:
Hobby Boss has issued many 1/350 submarines from modern day to WWII. This offering continues the WWII kits with a 1941 version of a Gato class submarine successor, the Balao class, and the submarine that carried much of the burden of the submarine war in the Pacific. This offering is the lead class in this series as the USS Gato, SS-212 from 1941. The kit includes three sprues, a stand, a photoetch name plate and a small decal sheet. Molding is crisp and clean with no flash. The kit is 26 parts including the photoetch and the stand. The assembly instructions are two steps with the first adding the hull and bottom parts and the second were finishing the conning tower and detail. Fit is very good with only a little putty on the bottom. One thing to note that there… more |
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Tiger I, Early Production, Eastern FrontPublished:
German armor of WWII has had, to say the least, a lot written about with many, many models coming out to support the literature. Tamiya continues to release wonderful 1/48th scale kits of German armor and the latest is a Tiger I from Early Production for the Eastern front. Inside the box, you will find a new bottom hull from another kit and decals for 2 Eastern front Tiger’s:
Looking into the box, the majority of parts are either road wheels or tracks. Tracks are straight runs with separate individual tracks to go round the front and back wheels. There are ~ 26 pieces per side for the tracks. I will say this up front, fit is super all the way… more |