Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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Scale Aircraft Modelling, Vol. 36, Issue 2Published:
Each issue of Scale Aircraft Modeling follows a basic design and format. There are usually two Feature Articles, an Aviation in Profile piece, industry news and a series of Compact Build Reviews. The Feature articles for this issue covers a build of 1/72 Revell Tornado IDS build in Tigermeet markings and a 1/32 Special Hobby Fiat G.50. The Tornado build is by Pierre Baldru and covers the construction and painting of this colorful kit. He modifies the kit with Aires Wheel Wells, Master pitot tube, Verlinden seats and Eduard RBF tags. The kit is then finished with a remarkable German Tigermeet scheme with the entire plane striped. It looks fantastic The other Feature article from James Ashton and covers building the 1/32 Special Hobby Fiat G.50. No aftermarket is used and… more |
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Captain America Monster TruckPublished:
I knew the grandkids were coming for Spring break and also like building models with Grandpa so when the AMT Captain America Truck came up for review, I snagged it to build with my granddaughter, Lilli. Since she is a younger builder, this kit is perfect as it is a SNAP fit with stickers for decals and requires no painting (although we did some anyway). The kit is only 25 parts plus stickers and instructions. The undercarriage parts are molded black and the body and accessories are blue. Lily did almost all construction herself, cutting the parts and snapping them together. I do recommend gluing the bumpers in place and the smoky glass (there's no interior) in place as fit is not super tight and the bumpers are the connection point to the undercarriage. The frame and… more |
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F-4B Interior SAPublished:
Eduard has released this set of photoetch to enhance the new Academy F-4B in the cockpit and canopy areas. The set contains one fret of brass that details the canopies, canopy sills and areas around the canopies. A second colored fret details the instrument panels and interior of the cockpit and is of the self-adhesive type. The set has excellent instructions. To use the preprinted side panels you will have to sand the kit panels smooth. The same process is done for the rear instrument panel. The front instrument panel is all photoetch and does require some bends. The sidewalls in the kit are very nice, and the replacements are very nice also. This, to me, is a modeler’s choice as both options are great. The highlight of these photoetch interiors are the instrument… more |
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A-10 Thunderbolt II - GAU-8 Avenger Gun Tip and Pitot TubePublished:
I have several of Master-Models pitot tubes in my stash and when I saw this latest set, I jumped on the review item as they have out done themselves again. This is a GAU-8 Avenger Gun Tip for the A-10 Warthog. The set also includes a replacement pitot tube. In the set, you get 2 photoetch pieces making the ends of the gun barrel with holes for the barrels and center support. Your get one turned brass center post and seven turned gun barrels and the gun barrel cover in turned brass with drill holes- this piece is spectacular in its craftsmanship. Lastly, you get the tuned brass pitot tube. Assembly is simple. Glue one end on the barrel housing. Insert the center shaft and glue the other end on making sure the holes are aligned with one another. Once dry, glue in the… more |
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Lost in Space Robot B-9Published:
Danger, Danger Will Robinson… Moebius Models has come to the rescue of all those living in our past and loving Lost in Space. Their latest release, in beautiful 1/6 scale, is the original bubble headed booby, the B-9 Robot which played such a huge parts in the series. The robot itself was played by Bob May and voiced by Dick Tufeld. If you are my age, almost everyone I know remembers at least one of the robot’s lines. The B-9 Robot may be one of the two most famous robots in TV and movies, along with Robbie. Let’s dive in and look at the kit. The basic parts for the kit are done in a medium-soft gray plastic, and are comprised of seven sprues and four torso parts. Two clear sprues are also included, along with a small photoetch fret and a decal sheet. Last, there are… more |
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RA-5C Vigilante Pitot Tube and AOA SensorPublished:
Master Model from Poland makes turned metal parts for ships and aircraft. They can be used for replacements or, more importantly, improvements. The set reviewed here is for Trumpeter’s 1/48 RA-5C Vigilante kit. The set consists of two turned brass parts to replace the AOA sensor and pitot tube. The parts come in the usual pouch, and have a nice set of instructions. You will have to drill a small hole for the AOA sensor. There is a great picture of the pitot here. As you can see from the comparison shots, the kit pitot is a nice attempt, but it… more |
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Scale Aircraft Modelling, Vol. 36, Issue 1Published:
Each issue of Scale Aircraft Modeling follows a basic design and format and this one is similar. There are usually two Feature Articles, an Aviation in Profile piece, industry news and a series of Compact Build Reviews. The Feature articles for this issue covers a build of Wing Nut Wings 1/32 S.E.5a and a 1/48 Eduard PKZ-2. The WNW S.E5a is a fantastic kit to begin with and the author, Phil Roger does a spectacular job. He uses a special method for oxidizing the exhaust pipes and shows the rigging and weathering in many detail shots. The other Feature article from Dai Williams and is the start of a series called ":flying Oddities' and the PKZ-2 is odd. This a WWI helicopter which was basically a manned platform with an engine that was tethered to the ground and went up. Mr… more |
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BAC Lightning - Pitot TubePublished:
Master Models now provides coverage of the Airfix 1/48 Lightning kit with a perfectly formed replacement pitot tube. Master Models is well known for their superb turned brass parts and this set is another fine example. The set is one part of perfectly turned brass to replace the kits parts. Here's a great picture of the pitot tube and how far it sticks out from underneath the front of the plane. The instructions are great. In this case , the kit part is cut off of the support, a small hole drilled and the new part inserted. As you can see by the comparison pictures, the kit parts is straight, much thinner and too scale and also has the durability of brass. Another hit for… more |
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J7W1 Shinden - Final Construction and Painting - Part 2Published:
When we left off at the end of part 1, the gun bays, cockpits and main airframe were done, and we needed to cover the engines and prepare the airframe for painting. Moving on to this round of the build, the sides and tops covering the engines are added. This is easier on the 1/48 kit as there are fewer parts, only 7 versus the 11 found on the 1/32 scale kit. In either case, hiding the engine below the covers is difficult, if only because it is so well done. The back is added along with the air scoops, top cover and a little putty, at which point we are done with the aft of the plane. Next up is finishing the nose. To start with, add the canards, nose tip and front gun cover, and glue it all in place. I also added weight to the nose, and filled the open spaces with shot. Make… more |
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Scale Aircraft Modelling, Vol. 35, Issue 12Published:
Each issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling follows a basic design and format. There are usually two feature articles, an “Aviation in Profile” piece, industry news and a series of “Compact Build Reviews.” The feature articles for this issue cover the build of a Trumpeter 1/32 Mig-17 in Cuban markings and a 1/32 Revell Bf-109G-6. The Mig-17 build, by Brian Wakeman, covers the construction and painting of one of Trumpeter’s early efforts. He modifies the kit with five Profimodeller sets and one Eduard set. The kit is then finished with a bright Cuban paint scheme and great weathering. The other feature article is from Jay Laverty, and covers building the Revell 1/32 Bf-109G-6 (early and late) kit. Mr. Laverty concentrates on painting and weathering with some… more |