Frank Landrus
Reviews By Author
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SAAB J 21 A-3 Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement landing gear for the excellent Pilot Replicas 1/48 SAAB J 21 A-3. The 13 parts supplied include the nose gear, main gear, torque links, and main gear retraction arms. A side by side evaluation of all the SAC parts shows the similarity with the kit parts. Ross McMillan has combined two parts by securing the nose gear wheel fork to the nose gear, eliminating a potential point of failure. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white metal items. You do need to be very careful to assure proper alignment on all three axes. The SAC landing gear may need to be slightly adjusted to be straight (a benefit of using metal is that you can bend it slightly). Smooth jaw needle nose pliers… more |
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Polish Wings 20: Yakovlev Yak-1, Yak-3, Yak-7, Yak-9Published:
Wojciech Zmyslony and Wojciech Sankowski author the latest in Mushroom Model Publications’ series of aircraft used in the Polish Air Force. This volume’s focus are the piston engine Yak fighters deployed by the ‘People’s Polish Air Force’ during WWII and the late 40s. The front and back covers are by Marek Ryś of a Yak-1b, one of three aircraft adorned with a presentation inscription. I counted 177 black and white photos along with 2 color photos of museum aircraft. Thierry Vallet contributes 42 color side views as well as top and bottom views as appropriate. Colors are even called out with Russian AMT and US FS numbers. The great part of these color side views is they are backed up with period photos of the aircraft that is being portrayed. Wojciech Zmyslony and… more |
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Consolidated B-36: A Visual History of the Convair B-36 "Peacemaker"Published:
This is Ampersand’s second aviation book, both in the Visual History Series, and follows the same format as David Doyle’s “Flying Wings”. Ampersand got their start in 1993 when Pat Stansell distributed a free issue of Military Miniatures in Review at the IPMS Nationals in Atlanta. Ampersand joined forces with HobbyLink Japan in 2008 and have continued to expand their military AFV publications ever since. 2015 saw Ampersand dive into aviation books and 2016 marks their first dive into nautical books with the Visual History Series on the USS California. True to the series name, the focus of this book in on the visual with a mere… more |
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F4U-5 Corsair Night Gun BarrelsPublished:
The Vought F4U-5N Corsairs were delivered from the factory with four 20mm cannons with installed flash suppressors. Quickboost provides you with a set of Vought F4U-5N 20mm cannon fairings with flash suppressors. 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. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the Hobby Boss provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. Although these cannon fairings with flash suppressors could be used on other F4U-5N kits with modification, Quickboost already has a set out for the Hasegawa F4U-5N kit (QB 48 680). Quickboost has molded the cannon fairings with flash suppressors perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles… more |
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Gloster Gladiator Air IntakesPublished:
Want an easy upgrade the new tool Airfix kits of the Gloster Gladiator? Step right up to the new Quickboost Gloster Gladiator air intakes that provide a beautiful replacement to the kit parts. The supplied instructions identify which Airfix kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. Quickboost has molded the air intakes perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost air intakes are supplied on a single resin sprue with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup. Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal… more |
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Vought F4U-5 Engine ReductorPublished:
Quickboost provides you with a F4U-5 engine reductor, distributor covers, and engine pump. 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. There supplied instructions note the swap out of the kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. One part, the magneto is not used with the F4U-5’s R-2800-32W Series E engine and appears to be a carryover for a F4U-4B R-2800 engine (QB 48 045). The F4U-5’s R-2800-32W Series E engine was a fairly unique engine and was not used in any other aircraft. Quickboost has molded the parts perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhausts provide you with no mold seams to sand off. Although most paints… more |
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Vought F4U-5N ExhaustsPublished:
Quickboost provides you with one set of Vought F4U-5N flame dampener exhausts. 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. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Quickboost replacements. These Quickboost parts are specific replacements for the kit exhausts which replicate a standard F4U-5 without the flame dampened exhausts. If you wish to do a post-war F4U-5N that had its flame dampener exhausts removed for the standard F4U-5 exhausts, I would point you to the Quickboost 48 661 set that is gorgeous. Quickboost has molded the exhausts perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost exhausts provide… more |
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Model Art Vessel Model Special No. 58, 2015 WinterPublished:
Model Art Issue 920 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 Vessel Model Special is a quarterly issue that focuses on naval subjects. Advertising comprises the inside covers (and back cover) along with another 4 pages showing what is available and new, always useful for building up that wish list. I counted 410 photos (mostly in color) along with 21 side view or top view drawings. Additionally there are a lot of scrap drawings highlighting details. The Feature article is on two builds of a 1/350 IJN Shimakaze that goes for twenty-one pages. After a 1 page build of a 1/20 anime figure, you’ll find eighteen pages of three different build-ups in 1/700 scale.… more |
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MiG-23 MF ML Correct Tail FinPublished:
Aires has come out with a nice upgrade for the Trumpeter MiG-23 MF / ML kits with their Correct Tail Fin set. This set is specific to early MF / ML variants that did not have the leading edge extension (LEX) added to the front of the ventral fin. There are two parts in all, cast in a durable resin material. The Aires parts provide improved ventral fin detail especially for the pivot point that is exposed when the ventral fin is folded (landing gear extended) There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Aires replacements. I’ve included photos of both the Trumpeter and the Aires ventral fin inserted in the Trumpeter fuselage. Aires has molded the stabilizer and elevator perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles.… more |
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Su-9 Fishpot Air ScoopsPublished:
Quickboost provides Su-9 air scoops consisting of eight parts. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses making the parts easy to review and then stuff securely back into the package. The supplied instructions address the replacement of the corresponding Trumpeter parts. Quickboost has molded the air scoops perfectly in tan resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost air scoops provide no mold seams to sand off on these tiny parts along with the superior detail. Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the… more |