Frank Landrus
Reviews By Author
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Su-15 (Flagon) Pitot TubesPublished:
A feature that you can quickly notice on the Sukhoi Su-15 Flagon-F is the complicated nose pitot tube. Although Trumpeter made a valiant effort in molding the Su-15 TM pitot tube with its twelve separate vanes, the limits of the injection molding process come into play. I have used another set that used a combination of resin and photo-etch that was an improvement, but assembly was very difficult and the photo-etched vanes don’t really convey their 3-D nature. This Master Model set provides a quantum leap over any previous attempt to portray the Su-15 TM nose pitot tube. As a bonus, Master Model also provides the ability to build the slightly less complex Flagon-A nose pitot tube. I have also listed the Trumpeter Su-15 UM Flagon-G above, but I only have conflicting evidence that this… more |
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TankArt 1: German Armor, 3rd EditionPublished:
This is the third edition of Michael Rinaldi’s first book on modeling techniques. It has been expanded from 208 pages in the first edition and 224 pages in the second edition to a whopping 288 pages of glossy, high grade paper. This 64 page increase over the second edition includes three additional chapters, two by Michael Rinaldi, and one by Lester Plaskitt. The chapter on figure painting by Marijn van Gils is no longer included, but figure modeling by Lester Plaskitt to go along with his Sd.Kfz 251/22 Drilling is included. This edition is touting a “Lay-Flat binding” that works quite well, allowing you to open to a particular section and have the book stay open, ‘flat’ as it were. This edition uses all the style and methodology that has been on display in Rinaldi’s Tank Art… more |
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Firing Now!Published:
Dick Taylor is a recently-retired British Army Lieutenant Colonel who has been deployed in many areas of the world, including Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan and lately, in Sierra Leone in the fight against Ebola. Joining the army as a junior soldier in 1976, he has served exclusively in the Royal Tank Regiment. Commissioned in 2000, he has specialized in tank gunnery instruction, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear operations, Psychological Operations, and defense exporting. He has a First Class degree in History, a Master of Philosophy degree in Historical Research, and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science. He is married with two sons and lives in Blandford Forum, Dorset. Dick Taylor has authored, or co-authored, at least 16 books on armored fighting… more |
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X-Planes of Europe II: More Secret Research Aircraft from the Golden Age 1945-1971Published:
Tony Buttler was born in 1956, and joined High Duty Alloys in Redditch in 1974 as a metallurgist. For nearly 20 years he was closely involved in the testing of aluminum and titanium airframe and engine components for many of the world’s most important airplanes. It was during this timeframe that his interest in military aircraft grew into a passion. Since 1995, Tony has been a freelance aviation historian, with this book being his eighteenth major release. He has also written many titles for the Warpaint series of monographs as well as many articles for most of the popular historical aviation magazines. As the title claims, this is a follow up to Tony Buttler’s first book on European X-Planes that was released in 2012 with Jean-Louis Delezenne. Due to limitations, many European… more |
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Ilyushin Il-28Published:
Yefim Gordon was born in 1950 in Vilnius, Lithuania (then part of the Soviet Union) and graduated from the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute in 1972. He has been researching Soviet and Russian aviation history for more than 40 years. A professional photographer, Yefim Gordon has published hundreds of features and photographs in Russian and foreign aviation magazines. He has authored and co-authored more than 120 books on Soviet and Russian aviation. Dmitriy Komissarov was born in 1968 in Moscow and graduated from the Moscow State Linguistics University in 1992. He has worked as a translator ever since, with the most of his work associated with his interest in aviation. Dmitriy Komissarov has authored two books and translated or co-authored more than 50 others. He has also written… more |
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Model Art No. 940, May, 2016Published:
Model Art Issue 940 is typical of other Model Art magazines in that it is written entirely in Japanese, with occasional English words, usually in article titles or in captions. The Model Art magazine is a monthly issue that has evolved from their first issues in 1966 that focuses on all modeling subjects. I’ve attempted to capture the contents below, but please be aware of translation difficulties. There are about 40 pages of advertising, out of the 160 pages, showing what is available and new, always useful for building up that wish list. Nearly all the articles are supported with color photos. A few of the ongoing series are supported with black and white drawings and photos This issue features the McDonnell-Douglas RF-4 Recon Phantom II with build reviews of 1/48, and 1/72… more |
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German and Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Mechanic WWI. (1914-1918) - Part 1Published:
A perfect addition to your diorama or display base is this Aires Aerobonus figure. This WWI era German or Austro-Hungarian Aircraft Mechanic is carrying a replacement propeller. Aires Aerobonus provides a resin propeller along with a figure with separate arms and head on one pour stub with side bars to protect the figure. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. The supplied instructions provide color drawings for painting. Aires Aerobonus has molded the figure in light grey resin with no bubbles that I could find. The mold seams clean up easily and the resin plug is easily removed from the shoes with a razor saw or Dremel. The arms were attached with superglue. I added a just a… more |
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Spotlight On: Hawker Tornado, Typhoon, Tempest VPublished:
Janusz Światłoń authors the ninth book in Mushroom Model Publications’ series that presents detailed illustrations of celebrated aircraft (and in one case, AFV). This volume’s focus is on the Hawker Tornado, Typhoon, and Tempest V fighters that display a variety of authentic camouflage schemes and markings. A native of Krakow Poland, Janusz Światłoń, is an aviation history enthusiast and military modeler. He has retired for the Polish military after serving with the 6th Airborne Brigade. He has a long history of being published as an illustrator and as an author for many magazines and books from publishing houses as Osprey, Kagero, AF Editores, Chevron, and Mushroom Model Publications. There are forty-six color profiles of Hawker Tornados, Typhoons, and Tempests… more |
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German Luftwaffe Pilot WWII for Bf 109 Late VersionPublished:
This Aires Aerobonus figure is a perfect addition to your diorama or display base. This German Pilot figure is designed to be used with any late version Bf 109 in WWII. The figure is designed to have its right foot standing in the seat, with the left foot on the cockpit edge and both hands on the canopy framing. The pilot is wearing a parachute, but no life vest. Aires Aerobonus provides a resin figure with separate arms and head on one pour stub with side bars to protect the figure. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. The supplied instructions provide color drawings for painting. Aires Aerobonus has molded the figure in light grey resin with no bubbles that I could find.… more |
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SR-71 BlackbirdPublished:
This is at least the second in this as yet un-named series from Osprey. The first that I’m aware of was Spitfire by Tony Holmes published in the same hardback format in August 2015. This appears to be a ‘handy’ size book that is possibly derived from earlier books by Paul Crickmore on the SR-71 Blackbird. Paul Crickmore has quite a history photographing and writing about the Lockheed Blackbirds leaning on his time as an Air Traffic Controller in London. Following the termination of the SR-71 program, Paul Crickmore produced a very detailed book, Lockheed SR-71: The Secret Missions Exposed that won praise from the aviation press, SR-71 crews, and the late president of the Skunk Works, Ben Rich. The front cover features a painting of SR-71 61-7976 fling along the Korean DMZ when… more |