David Horn
Reviews By Author
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F-A-18E-F Super Hornet TankerPublished:
Brengun produces a wide range of unique resin, photoetch (PE) accessories and full kits in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144. This resin set comes in a small sturdy cardboard box containing four standard F/A-18 fuel tanks and a refueling “Buddy Pod”. The buddy pod consists of a two-part pod, two different styles of ram air turbine (RAT) hubs, jettison tube, basket housing and photo etch RAT blades. Panel lines are very crisp but deep enough where primer will not fill the panel lines. The upper detail on the pod that would be hidden under the pylon is detailed just in case the pod is displayed separate from your model. Assembly is very simple on the buddy pod but be careful with the RAP blades. I recommend installing the hub with blades at final assembly to prevent breaking off any… more |
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F-20A/B/N Tigershark landing gear (FMK)Published:
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) manufactures white metal landing gear that is a direct replacement for the kits plastic landing gear. The metal landing gear offer greater strength over the kit parts as well as having most of the mold lines removed. At times the metal will be bent out of shape but that is easily corrected by bending it back to the correct shape. This set includes twelve parts, the two main gear struts, retract & bracing arms, two versions of nose struts, one compressed strut and one extended. All the replacement parts are exact copies of the kit parts which really helped on my kit since the nose strut was either broken off or missing (short shot in molding). You can see in the kit v.s. SAC parts the missing section on Freedoms part (extended strut).… more |
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AN/ALE 39/47 Countermeasures DispensersPublished:
The AN/ALE-39 & 47 Counter Measure Dispenser System (CMDS) carries a variety of flares, chaff and radar jamming expendables. Typically, these dispensers are carried on modern helicopters, transport aircraft and fighter aircraft. The AN/AAR-47 Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) can be set automatically to initiate flare launch. Brungen produces a wide range of unique resin and photo-etch accessories in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 as well as 1/144. This item covers a unique subject that will assist outfitting a wide variety of aircraft. There are resin chaff/flare dispensers produced for a specific subject complete with their entire mounting per subject. This accessory will allow the modeler to add it to kits where fidelity is poor or completely missing as well as add it… more |
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HMM-264 (REIN) Black Knights, USMC AV-8B NA, AV-8B+, CH-46E & CH-53E on USS BataanPublished:
AOA Decals is a relatively new aviation decal with an impressive variety in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144 scale. Their product line primary focus is Vietnam era aircraft. Although a relatively young company, their quality and attention to detail rivals all other decal companies on the market. The decal set comes with one large decal sheet and a four-page, full color instruction sheet. This decal set covers three (Vertical lift) US Marine aircraft, two helicopters and one jet. All three aircraft are assigned to HMM-264 (REIN) “Black Knights which are elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary unit (MEU) USS Bataan (LHD-5) between the years 2006 to 2007. There are options for seven different aircraft, one AV-8B Night Attack, AV-8B+, Three choices CH-53E and two… more |
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B-1B Lancer "Bones" Landing Gear (Academy)Published:
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) manufactures white metal landing gear that is a direct replacement for the kits plastic landing gear. The metal landing gear offer greater strength over the kit parts as well as having most of the mold lines removed. At times, the metal will be bent out of shape but that is easily corrected by bending it back to the correct shape. This set includes six parts, the two main gear assemblies, bracing arms for the main gear and nose gear with separate bracing arm. All the parts are exact copies of the kit parts with a small amount of mold lines or “flash”. The Main gear still has the kits sprue, with identifying number. Note that the kit part F5 has been moved to the same sprue as part F2. The main gear bracing struts are free from the sprue and not… more |
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Cessna O-2A SkymasterPublished:
Aircraft and HistoryThe O-2A Skymaster, known as “Oscar Deuce” is a small twin engine aircraft used primarily as a Forward air controller (FAC) and psychological operations (PSYOPS). The USAF starting using the O-2 in 1967 in the Vietnam War as a replacement for the O-1 Bird Dog. With just a few years service, the O-2 was intended to be replaced by the OV-10 Bronco but the O-2 remained in service, primarily for night operations. The USAF requested Cessna to make a military version of its 337 Super Skymaster with “hardpoints” under the wings, additional windows for observers and new cabin arrangement. A unique feature of the Skymaster is the engine arrangement. Unlike traditional twin-engine aircraft with engines on each wing, the Skymaster has one in the nose and… more |
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O-2A Skymaster Landing Gear (ICM)Published:
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) manufactures white metal landing gear that is a direct replacement for a kit’s plastic landing gear. The metal landing gear offer greater strength over the kit parts as well as having most of the mold lines removed. At times the metal will be bent out of shape but that is easily corrected by bending it back to the correct shape. This set includes four parts; main gear, nose gear, oleo strut for nose gear, and nose gear bay. SAC gear does require some clean-up for the rare cases there are still seam lines. You many also sand and prime the struts to remove some of the rough texture that appears in some areas. Installing the new gear requires CA glue or non-traditional modeling adhesives. SAC recommends that the gear is for experienced modelers… more |
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O-2 Skymaster FAC & BS Bomber Oscar Deuces DecalsPublished:
AOA Decals is a relatively new aviation decal with an impressive variety in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144 scale. Their product line primary focus is Vietnam era aircraft. Although a relatively young company, their quality and attention to detail rivals all other decal companies on the market. The decal set comes with one large decal sheet and a six-page, full color instructions. This decal set for the Cessna O-2 Skymaster, also known as the “Oscar Deuce” is designed for the 1/48 scale ICM kit. There are fifteen different subjects that can be made and three different paint schemes (Gray, Black and Southeast Asia) to choose from in this set. Three of the paint schemes are for the O-2B which AOA provides a brief history, as well a statement that an O-2B is not released. AOA is… more |
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USMC F-35B VMFA-121 "Green Knights"Published:
Aircraft and HistoryThe F-35B is a single engine, single crew multi role fighter/attack aircraft that has stealth capabilities, supersonic speeds and the ability to land vertically. The F-35B is the first operational aircraft that is Short takeoff & vertical landing (STOVL capabilities. In 1993, a request to develop a new fighter/strike aircraft for the USAF, Navy, Marines and multi national air forces under the term of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The JSF competition battle was between the Boeing X-32 and Martin X-35. In 2001, Lockheed Martin was the winner with the X-35 which will become the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35B became operational with the USMC 31 July 2015. Final development, flight test and production went into full swing after the F-35 won the… more |
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Draken International A-4L A-4K TA-4K Contract Air Services #1Published:
Two Bobs Aviation Graphics is one of leaders in aviation decals with an impressive variety in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scale. This latest release has very interesting subject of privately owned company that offers airborne adversary support (dissimilar aircraft) known as “Red Air”. With a fleet of over 50 aircraft, eleven airframes are McDonnel Douglas A-4 Skyhawks and the other six aircraft types range from a single Beech Baron to twenty seven MIG-21’s. This sheet, from my count, will allow you to make two of ten different aircraft. There are three sheets with one sheet (standard 5x9) and two smaller sheets covering additional details like intake warnings and external pylon warning triangles. Each sheet is printed perfectly without any print register errors and the few items that… more |