Dave Morrissette
Reviews By Author
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B-25 Interior Detail SetPublished:
Eduard has issued this interior set to upgrade the HK Models 1/32nd B-25 interior by addressing several areas. The set comes with two large photo etched frets and one small colorized fret, all of which have excellent relief on the parts and great color on the small fret. This set addresses the tail gunner position, the top turret gunner position, both exit hatches, and the rear fuselage interior, along with barrel covers for the guns. I started construction with the tail gunner area. Both side walls have a large PE part which address the lack of molded-in detail. These were pressed into the area and when they fit well, affixed with super glue and accelerator. These are enhanced with rails which are bent and formed to look like the ribs inside the tail. The wiring detail on the… more |
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B-25H/J WheelsPublished:
To spice up that HK Models B-25, Eduard has released its Brassin B-25 wheel set. For those not knowing, Brassin is Eduard’s resin line. It is excellently cast and comes in 11 parts, with the wheels being single pieces and the hubs coming in two parts. There is also a photoetch cover for the front wheel, depending on the configuration you are building. Lastly, there is an excellent set of masks and a nice instruction sheet. There are no air bubbles anywhere, and the resin is easy to sand. There are pour blocks on each wheel which I trimmed with a razor saw and then sanded, with no issues. I used the razor saw to get the seams out of the excellently engraved treads. I trimmed the hubs next, and they are also cast perfectly. You will have to clean out the open spots in the hubs… more |
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B-25 Pilots SeatsPublished:
This set is a single fret of excellent relief-etched material which fixes the seats on the HK Models 1/32 B-25. So, you ask, what’s wrong with the kit seats? Not much, but research does indicate that the co-pilot’s seat was not a full seat like the pilot’s, more of a half seat. The fret includes 35 parts which allow you to build more detailed and correct seats. Construction will be helped by use of one of the PE bending tools on the market today – I used a Hold and Fold and it is much more precise making the bends than any other way. Also, you will need some plastic rod to construct the seat mounts – two pieces of 1.2mm rod, each 26.5mm long, and for the smaller seat, two pieces of 1.2mm rod each 14.5mm long. I used stock styrene rod from the LHS. Each seat is well… more |
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B-25 Ammunition BeltsPublished:
Eduard has issued an upgrade set to enhance the detail on the ammunition belts in HK Models 1/32 B-25J. This set includes one fret of 15 parts which replicate the detail on the ammunition belts for the rear guns, waist guns, and, if used, the nose gun. HK Models’ detail on the gun belts is okay but does lack for some of the detail on the outside of the tracks. To upgrade this, the photoetch parts are added to the outside of each plastic part and are bent at a 90 degree angle to cover the top and sides. This gives a much better representation of the real belts. I started by trying to glue on a belt and then bend the PE over – not too successful. In the end, I prebent all the needed parts on my Hold and Fold and glued them on in sections, using CA glue and accelerator. It… more |
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Hs-129B-2 Winter Camouflage Limited EditionPublished:
The Henschel Hs-129 was a purpose-built ground attack plane which was designed for destroying tanks and attacking enemy emplacements. It wielded several versions of a 30mm cannon and had an armored cockpit and engines to allow for close air support of troops. Hasegawa has reissued its excellent Henschel Hs-129B-2 kit with the needed decals to make two winter camouflage schemes. The kit comes with nine gray sprues and a clear sprue and a new set of decals. There is also a small poly cap sprue which is used to hold the propellers onto the engine faces. The panel lines are great and the kit is flash free. The first thing that you realize with this kit is how small the actual plane was – it had a wing span of 47 feet, which is only slightly larger than a P-47. Because I can… more |
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F-35B Lightning IIPublished:
Kitty Hawk Models continues their great releases with an F-35B Lightning II. The F-35 is a development from the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) program and is a short/vertical takeoff and landing plane with bomb, cannon, and missile capability. This version, the “B”, is designed for use by the US Marine Corps and various overseas navies. It does not include a tail hook or foldable wings like later versions. The kit itself is in dark gray plastic with no flash and excellent panel lines. There are six sprues plus separate parts for the upper and lower fuselage and a forward cockpit piece. There is also an excellent clear sprue which is very thing and crisp. Last are two decal sheets and the instructions. Looking over the instructions, you need to decide which configuration you… more |
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Su-27/Su-30 Pitot TubePublished:
This fine metal pitot tube is from Master Model, based in Poland. For those of you who have never heard of the company, they produce finely machined gun barrels, pitot tubes, and the like for aircraft, and also have a great line of metal gun barrels for ships in all scales. This particular part is a single milled pitot tube for the nose of the Trumpeter Su-27 or Su-30. Adding it to the kit requires nothing more than gluing it in place. I have included a picture comparing the kit piece to the Master Model piece and the Zactomodels piece. I have also added the Master Models pitot to my kit nose (which is the replacement nose from Chris Wilson and Zactomodels) – the fit is perfect. Highly recommended! This is a great replacement for the kit part (much less clunky) and is… more |
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He-162 Replacement Landing GearPublished:
From Ross McMillan and Scale Aircraft Conversions comes this nice little set of replacement landing gear from Tamiya’s 1/48 He-162 Salamander. The set consists of two main gear struts, two torque links, one nose gear strut, one lower half of the nose gear strut, and one retraction strut for the main landing gear. Each of the parts is well cast in white metal. The parts are a direct replacement for the kit parts. They fit well and provide more strength. I have included shots of the kit parts and SAC gears they duplicate. If you want to add more strength, these are perfect. Recommended. My thanks to Ross McMillan at Scale Aircraft Conversions and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great gear. |
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F-8E, J Crusader Pitot TubePublished:
Master Model continues their new releases with a replacement pitot tube for the Trumpeter range of F-8 Crusader kits. This particular piece fits either the E or J models. The part is a finely milled, one-piece pitot tube that directly replaces the kit part. As you can see from the pictures, it is light years beyond the kits plastic part, having the correct shape and size. Adding it to the kit is simple – drop it in with no cutting and you’re done. For a mere $4.00, this is needed. It corrects the kit part and adds strength to the piece. If you are building one of the Trumpeter F-8's, you need to add this piece. Recommended! My thanks to Master Models and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this item. |
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F/A-18E VFA-195 Dambuster CAG Chippy Ho 2011 DecalsPublished:
VFA-195 is one of the naval F-18 squadrons people usually don’t remember until either one of two things happens. First, they are called the “Dambusters” after their successful destruction of the Hwacheon Dam in North Korea. Even more recognizable is their “Chippy Ho” scheme of green and black with the large eagles head. They have been carrying some form of this scheme on the CAG aircraft for about 25 years. The squadron was formed many years ago flying Avengers but worked their way up to F-18’s in the 1980’s and to the newer F-18E/F Super Hornet in the 2010. The Dambusters are based at NAF Atsugi, Japan DXM Decals has issued the latest Chippy Ho markings for the F/A-18E Super Hornet which were for the 2011 markings aboard the USS George Washington. The decals come with a full… more |