Frank Landrus
Reviews By Author
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Fire DrumsPublished:
A perfect addition to your diorama or display base is this Aires Aerobonus fire drum set. Aires Aerobonus provides two resin fire drums and a set of decals: “ For Fire Only”. Of note is the Quickboost re-sealable packaging making the parts easy to review and stuff back into the package securely. The supplied instructions provide color and decal placement drawings. Aires Aerobonus has molded the fire drums in light grey resin with only a few bubbles that are easily filled. There are no mold seams to sand off and the resin plug is easily removed from the bottom with a razor saw or Dremel. The inside rim had a small resin protrusion, but that was easily removed with a swipe of a scalpel blade. Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you… more |
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Fire BucketsPublished:
A perfect addition to your diorama or display base is this Aires Aerobonus fire bucket set. Aires Aerobonus provides you with four resin fire buckets and a set of decals: “Fire”. 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 and decal placement drawings. Aires Aerobonus has molded the fire buckets in light grey resin with no bubbles that I could find. There are no mold seams to sand off and the resin plug is easily removed from the bottom with a razor saw or Dremel. Use care in removing the plug resin plug though as the bucket bottom is quite thin (ask me how I know). Also be very careful with the handle tabs. They are quite thin as well and… more |
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Po-2 Landing Light and Venturi TubesPublished:
Quickboost provides one landing light assembly, three large venturi tubes, and two small venturi tubes. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff securely back into the package. 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 parts found in the ICM kits 48251 and ICM 48252, but for comparisons the photos also show the AZ Model kit parts, left to right respectively. Quickboost has molded the venturi tubes perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost venturi tubes provide no mold seams to sand off on these tiny parts, along with the superior detail for… more |
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Lavochkin La-5 Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Eduard 1/48 Lavochkin La-5. Of course this set will also work with the Zvezda kit since that is what the Eduard kit is based on. The supplied items include two main gear legs, two main gear retraction struts, and one tail gear. (Photos 1016, 1005, 1018, 1020) This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not have to be concerned with that perceived hazard. There are no… more |
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Mezek a Turbina: Messerschmitts in CzechoslovakiaPublished:
Bohumir Kudlicka follows the transition of Czechoslovakian production of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G “Mezek” and the Messerschmitt Me 262 “Turbina” from underground facilities for the Luftwaffe to production by Avia for the Czechoslovakian Air Force. Mr. Kudlicka weaves an interesting tale of how and why the Czechoslovakian Air Force came to use the ‘hated’ German designed aircraft in lieu of English and Russian aircraft that their returning pilots had been flying during the war. There are many unpublished photos that describe in detail the selection, modification and production of these two aircraft. The text and photos are complemented with color profiles, 3-D plan views, 1/48 scale plans, and period scrap illustrations. The Table of Contents focuses on three major… more |
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YF-23 Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Hobby Boss 1/48 Northrop YF-23. The supplied items include two main gear legs, two main gear retraction struts, one nose gear leg and one nose gear retraction strut. This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not have to be concerned with that perceived hazard. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white… more |
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A6M Zero (2008 Tooling) Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Tamiya 1/48 scale A6M Zero kits that were tooled in 2008. The supplied items include two main gear struts, and one tail gear strut with integrally molded wheel. (Photos 1004, 1005, 1009) This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Indeed, make sure that you adjust the gear parts to align with the Tamiya parts before using as they can be slightly bent in their packaging. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not… more |
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Sukhoi Su-2 Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Zvezda 1/48 Sukhoi Su-2. The supplied items include two main gear legs, four main gear retraction struts, and one tail gear / wheel. (Photos 140916_1002, 140916_1005, 140917_1015) This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not have to be concerned with that perceived hazard. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with… more |
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Me 410 Propellers with ToolPublished:
Quickboost provides you with two spinners, six blades, and an alignment tool. Of note is the resealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. If you are ready to build the Meng LS-001 Me-410 B-2/U4 kit (or simply want to pop these on to your already finished kit), you will want to have had the improved spinner and propeller blades offered in this detail set. Personally, it looks obvious that the tool makers continued the arc of the nacelles into the spinners that match up very nicely to many side profiles and drawings on the internet. Examining period photographs, it quickly becomes clear that the spinner has a longer arc that does not match that of the nacelles. If you wish to compare the sole real… more |