Franklyn Cook
Reviews By Author
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Soviet Air Force Pilot - Winter SuitPublished:
A wonderfully detailed 1/72 Soviet air force pilot! He stands in a blue flight suit, leather jacket, leather boots, sidearm, and white flight helmet. His arms are crossed behind him. One imagines him attending a pre-flight briefing or a post-flight discussion, or posing proudly beside his aircraft while someone snaps a photo. Be sure to add some snow at the edge of the tarmac! The figure arrived in a clear package with insert. It is a single piece on its resin casting block. All you have to do is carefully remove it from the casting block and perform some light cleanup. There was some flash around his hands and under his nose, but the mold seam was easily cleaned up. On the insert you’ll find a simple color illustration with paint suggestions. No specific paint… more |
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USAF Fighter Pilot - Vietnam War 1960-1975Published:
A nicely detailed 1/72 USAF Fighter Pilot! He stands in a USAF flight suit, harness, helmet in his right hand, and wears a USAF flight cap. Missing is a g-suit and the distinctive “bulletproof” mustache worn by USAF fighter pilots during the Vietnam War. However, with some careful painting, you can suggest these things at this scale. The figure arrived in a clear package with insert. On the insert you’ll find a simple color illustration with paint suggestions. No specific paint manufacturer is suggested. Refer to references for correct colors. The figure consists of separate pieces attached to a resin casting block: main body, left arm, right arm, and helmet. All you have to do is carefully remove them from the casting block and perform some light cleanup. Use… more |
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JGSDF Type 60 APCPublished:
The JGSDF Type 60 APCThe Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) is the main branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the de facto army of Japan. Development of the Type 60 armored personnel carrier (APC) began in 1957. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Komatsu Ltd. were tasked by the Ministry of Defense to develop prototypes for an APC that would see use exclusively in Japan by the JGSDF and could keep up with their main battle tanks. From 1958-60, several prototypes were evaluated. In 1960, the Type 60 was selected and production began. There was no amphibious capability, nor was the vehicle protected from biological, chemical, or nuclear contaminants. It was capable of a top speed of 28 mph and weighed 11.8 tons.… more |
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German Tank Crew, Normandy, 1944Published:
MiniArt’s German Tank Crew Normandy 1944 contains five figures wearing their German uniforms under bad weather leathers. The commander figure is posed as if he’s standing in a vehicle hatch, scanning the terrain. The other four are depicted during moments of relaxation and revelry. An accordion player appears to tap his toe in time with the music. An NCO stands with his jacket open and an amused look on his face. Perhaps he’s listening to the music or a joke. His jacket has a nice undercut behind him. A crewman wearing a scarf is posed sitting somewhere on the tank (turret, hull) or a stack of boxes, perhaps listening to the music or posing for a photograph. A smiling crewman is posed to lean on the main gun, the hull, or stacked supplies/equipment. Examining the pieces on the… more |
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Masks for Tamiya's A6M2b ZeroPublished:
Eduard Mask CX337, A6M2b, is intended for Tamiya’s recent Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter (Zeke) (Tamiya item no. 60780) in 1/72 scale. The package consists of one sheet of diecut masks for one model and a set of instructions. The masks are for the aircraft’s canopy and main wheels. The kit comes with a closed canopy (1 part) and open canopy (3 parts). The masks may require careful cutting at some corner points to ensure they separate cleanly from the paper backing. Use a sharp hobby knife, preferably with a new blade. With the exception of the masks used in the center section of the canopy (the portion that slides open), all of the masks fit well within their panes. The masks for the center portion were too large, requiring some careful cutting down to size. If your… more |
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Soviet BTR-70 APC Early VersionPublished:
About the BTR-70The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier. BTR stands for Bronetransportyor (literally "armored transporter"), originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies. Introduced as a successor to the earlier BTR-60, it most closely resembles a BTR-60PB. Other improvements include heavier armor plating and tires less prone to puncture. In other respects, the vehicle is very similar to the BTR-60PB, with a more powerful petrol engine configuration and armament of a primary heavy machine gun and secondary PKT machine gun on a roof-mounted turret. The vehicle's designers moved the side troop… more |
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Hungarian 40/43M 105mm Assault Gun Zrinyi IIPublished:
From award-winning Bronco Models of Ningbo, China, comes a very interesting subject and an enjoyable build, the Hungarian 40/43M Zrinyi II assault gun. Armed with a 105mm gun, this AFV had limited production (between 44 and 66 vehicles) and served on the eastern front in a similar capacity as that of the well-known German StuG III assault gun. Only one intact Zrinyi II is known to exist today, and it is kept at the Kubinka Tank Museum just outside of Moscow, Russia. The kit features good fit and ingenious engineering. It doesn’t include any figures. This kit is not suitable for beginners, who will be frustrated by the enigmatic assembly instructions and overwhelming number of parts, especially the tiny pieces and photo etch. When looking at my photos, please understand… more |