Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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F-14D Super TomcatPublished:
Hobby Boss continues its F-14 series with a modern F-14D. The kit is large. There are 27 sprues of well-defined gray plastic, along with vinyl tires, a photoetch fret, one sprue of clear parts, and three decal sheets. Ten of the sprues are for weapons, including two GBU-12, two fuel tanks, four Mk-82's, four GBU-31's, six AIM54's, four AIM-7's and two AIM-9's. The kit features an open gun bay, refueling probe, two complete engines (that can't be seen), and a complete optional radar. When this kit came out, the first thing that attracted me was the markings. The VF-101 markings with a black tail and white grim reaper were excellent, but then I noticed that the second markings were from VF-213 aboard the USS Carl Vinson where my son is stationed, so it became a no-brainer. Also,… more |
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S2F-1 Tracker DecalsPublished:
Caracal Models started to release decals in 2011 and has released some of the neatest and best markings to come out in the last couple years. Kinetic’s S2 Tracker is a neat kit and everyone I have seen build is exactly the same color – gull gray over white. While that's an attractive scheme, Caracal Models dug deep and gave modelers another option. The Trackers on these sheets have decals for two S2F-1’s with the large radar above the cockpit but in overall gloss sea blue. There are two separate markings:
Both planes are overall blue with black anti-glare panel and deicer boots. The radome is also tan. The decals come in a single sheet and are… more |
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Scale Aircraft Modelling, Vol. 35, Issue 9Published:
The November issue of Scale Aircraft Modelling is another excellent piece of scale art. There are the usual two Feature Articles, an Aviation in Profile piece, industry news, and a series of Compact Build Reviews. The two feature articles for this issue are a 1/32nd scale build of the HobbyBoss P-61 Black Widow and a 1/72nd scale build of Airfix's Lancaster B.III Dambuster. The HobbyBoss P-61 build by James Ashton goes into some detail of the build and adds True Details Wheels and Kits-World Decals. Where this article really shines is in the description of weathering and painting. The articles details paint chipping using the AK interactive chipping system, and also the post-shading and using the oils to weather. The effects are superb and the article is lavishly… more |
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F-105D Thunderstick IIPublished:
Revell has reissued a modified version of their venerable F-105D kit. This time, they have added the larger spine necessary to make the Thunderstick II conversion. This allowed a better visual and blind bombing capability by adding electronics which were housed in the larger spine. The Revell kit has 87 parts and there is little to no flash. There are two clear parts and the HUD. The plastic is a nice gray color and the panel lines are raised. The build starts with the cockpit, which is nicely detailed and has a nice instrument panel. Color hints for the kit’s parts are given in colors, but there are no FS numbers, which would be handy. The FS colors are listed for the airframe colors but not the interior or details. The seat has molded-in belts and good detail. The front wheel… more |
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US Navy Multiple Ejector Rack MER-7Published:
The US Navy Multiple Ejector Rack MER-7 is a weapon suspension unit that attaches to an aircraft's main racks (pylons or hard points) and can carry up to six weapons, such as a variety of bombs. This is currently used by the Navy only, as, according to sources, the Air Force quit using them in the 1990's. They have been used on the A-6 to F-105's. The parts are extremely well detailed and cast in the normal grey resin. The racks are cast in one part. All you need to do is separate them from the casting blocks, sand, and you are ready. The remainder of the parts, 28, are the shackles to attach the bombs to the MER and the shackles to attach the MER to the pylon. These need some cleaning and are small, so careful removal and clean up is required. It isn't difficult, but they are… more |
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Scale Aircraft Modelling, Vol. 35, Issue 8Published:
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. This is my first chance to review this magazine and I am impressed. The Feature Articles for this issue cover a Revell 1/32 BAE Hawk and AZ Models 1/48 Heinkel He70. The Hawk build by Brian Wakeman covers building the Revell Hawk kit with an Aires seat, SAC landing gear, and Airframe decals for an African scheme. He covers the build thoroughly, including the need for replacement seats and his painting and weathering techniques using oils and variations in paint colors. The other Feature Article takes AZ Models’ 1/48th He70 and makes it a showstopper. This is one of the… more |
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T-28 Trojan Exhausts and Cooling FlapsPublished:
Quickboost and Aires add to their enhancement parts for Roden's 1/48 T-28 series with this set designed to replace the exhausts and cooling flaps on the sides and bottom of the cowling. The set is perfectly cast. To use, you cut the parts off of the casting blocks. Make sure to cut a little extra and sand back to the kit part. All the parts are drop-in replacements, so simply glue them in place. I included a shot of the Quickboost parts next to the kits parts. The kit parts are a little thick, and you’ll notice those large ejection pin marks on the cooling flaps. Also, you can see that Quickboost has hollowed out the exhausts while Roden's are solid and should be drilled out. This is another set needed for the Roden kit. The drilled-out exhausts and more-to-scale flaps… more |
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USAF Flightline Tool Cabinet (Roll Cab), 9 DrawersPublished:
With many of the new kits coming out, there have been a few excellent mechanic figures included, either in the kits or as aftermarket. It never occurred to me until this release that what was missing was a tool chest. A mechanic needs his tools, doesn’t he? Aerobonus to the rescue with a rolling 9-drawer tools chest which has the Snap On logo, too. The kit is simplicity itself, with the main tool chest being a single part only needing the casting block sanded off. The four wheels and a handle are on a single sprue and easily detached and added. The color is Snap On Red and is close to insignia red, which I used. The silver parts were painted and then touched up, and I also distressed the kit a little with some scrapes and scratches here and there. The decal sheet contains a… more |
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USAF 150 Gallon Fuel BowserPublished:
Aerobonus is part of Aires and has consistently come out with great items for dioramas for kits in multiple scales. In this kit, Aerobonus provides a 150 gallon USAF Fuel Bowser which is used to reclaim the fuel planes have left over in their tanks after they’ve landed. The kit comes with 14 resin parts and five small photoetch parts. Construction started by removing the casting blocks. They are large on the two tanks, and time spent here sanding them is worthwhile. The frame was next, and then the small parts. I added the two tanks to the frame, wincing at a few broken straps on the tank bottoms. They are fragile and broke during shipment. They were replaced with Evergreen strip. I added the axle next, and then added the reel on the front, and also added the two tires… more |
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T-28 Trojan Wheel WellsPublished:
Aires has continued its releases for the Roden T-28 family with a wheel well set. Included in the set are 9 large resin pieces in the standard firm gray Aires resin, and also a small fret of retractions parts which has around a dozen pieces. There is no photoetch with this set. The first thing to note is that this set gives you ALL the replacement landing gear doors – 9 in total, which are superbly thin and have great structure on their insides. The kit doors have some roughness that the Aires set does not. The front and rear wheel wells have much more detail than the kit parts, with better framing and detail. The big difference for me in this set is that the kit has some really tough-to-fix ejection pin marks, and the resin does not have any at all. Between the detail… more |