Greg Wise
Reviews By Author
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Chrysler 300Published:
History BriefThe Chrysler 300 was so named for its awesome 300 HP FirePower 90 degree V8 Hemi; the name “Hemi” is short for its unique “hemispherical combustion chamber” design. This powerful engine featured dual 4-barrel carburetors, high performance camshafts mated to stiff valve springs, solid lifters, special manifolds and forged crankshaft. Then this bad boy was mated to a modified two-speed “PowerFlite” fully automatic torque converter transmission, sporting Goodyear Special Safety Super Cushion four-ply tires, heavy-duty shocks and leaf springs, front stabilizer bar and brakes. All were above the standard for its time, not to mention a 150-mph speedometer and enlarged dual exhausts. The C300 had the beautiful body styling of a sports coupe and came in three factory… more |
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TBD-1 DevastatorPublished:
History BriefThe early 1930s US Navy needed a torpedo bomber and accepted the all-new monoplane design from the Douglas aircraft company. The TBD-1 Devastator was ordered on June 30, 1934, first flying in 1935 and entering service in 1937. The Devastator was, at that point in time, possibly the most advanced aircraft flying for the USN or any navy in the world. However, the fast pace of aircraft development caught up with it and, by the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the TBD was already outdated. However, it performed well in some of the early battles, such as Coral Sea, where they saw extensive action. But, during the Battle of Midway, six Devastators launched on their mission against the Japanese fleet were all slaughtered save one, and they did not score any… more |
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TBD-1 Landing GearPublished:
The ProductPackaged in what has become the standard aftermarket small parts blister pack and sporting a colorful shield very similar to the USAF SAC shield, we find four small white metal parts making for one pair of gear legs. The parts look very nice and should clean up nicely. The castings themselves are identical to the kit parts and should swap out with no foreseeable problems. The white metal in my sample seemed a bit soft and bent easily without intended manipulation. White metal parts and plastic model kits have a long history and can work well together. The ProblemThe landing gear is cast in the unloaded position making them long legged, in other words the oleo is fully extended. A simple online search reveals several photos of correct examples.… more |
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Bf109E-1Published:
History BriefThe main German fighter at the outbreak of WW2 was, of course, the Bf109E. Playing a vital role in the early Nazi campaigns, the Bf109E was an important instrumental weapon used by the Luftwaffe, easily piercing through well defended countries like Poland and France. Dominating most of the European skies in less than a year, it was the apex leading Hitler’s Blitzkrieg. The ProductInside the familiar Eduard box, we find the standard has been raised again with beautiful, all new tooling, I was impressed with the excellent level of detail, superb fit, and the full-color painting guide. Plus, a color PE detail set and a canopy mask sheet are also included in the Profipack boxing. The instruction sheet is well thought out and presented in a booklet… more |
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German Z-38 DestroyerPublished:
History BriefThe Z-38 was a Zerstörer 1936 A-class destroyer, also known as the Narvik class destroyer by the Allies. These ships carried only their hull number and were not named by the Germans. Constructed by F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel, she was fitted with leftover parts intended for larger ships, including 155mm twin turrets and 5.9inch guns. Closer in size to a light cruiser, her wartime displacement weighed in at 3,691 tons and hosted a crew of 330 souls. She was launched on August 5th, 1941, and commissioned on March 20th, 1943. Soon after completion of her sea trials, she was selected for escort duties and found herself assigned to the battleship Scharnhorst. Her colorful wartime record was extensive and, nonetheless, just as honorable. After… more |
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Bf-109E Upgrade Detail SetPublished:
The ProductArriving on the heels of their all-new Bf-109E in 1/48 scale, the boys at Eduard have already produced an excellent and comprehensive photo etch upgrade set. Considering the beautiful, highly detailed, all-new tooling Eduard kit, I wondered what else they could add to this superb kit. The answer is easy. Starting in the cockpit, we get a new document box, rudder petals, trim wheels, plus all the extra small items that add the finishing touches where needed. The gun bay and engine also benefit by adding ammo box grab handles. The DB 601 benefits from adding lifting-jack points, intake screen, and a top case plate. New cowling formers for the engine bearers and a cap for the header tank are also included. The radiators also get the treatment with new exit doors that… more |
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German Military Car 170V 1937Published:
History BriefGerman military car, type 170V, first appeared in military service in 1937. The car had advanced elements of construction for that time, such as the front and rear suspension system and X shaped oval tube frame. It was because of the excellent suspension system that the 170V was most widely used civilian car in the Wehrmacht. By 1942, a total of 86,615 model 170Vs were pressed into service and remained in production well after the war had ended. Featuring a 4-cylinder, 38 h.p. engine, the car had a top speed of 108 km/h and could seat 4. The ProductPackaged in an end-opening, lightweight cardstock box, you will find four light gray sprues and one clear sprue, five vinyl tires, one decal sheet, and one large fold-out instruction sheet. All the… more |
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Building the P-51 MustangPublished:
What more can be said about America’s all time greatest fighter aircraft, the North American P-51 Mustang? While pondering this thought as a modeler, I realize we have a lot of unanswered questions. As a P-51 crew chief, I am always asked off the wall questions from the P-51 enthusiasts and fellow modelers alike. Lastly, as an A&P mechanic and P-51 restoration guy, I had a few unanswered questions myself. In this well documented, beautifully written book, you will find lots of the gemstones you were looking for, and much more. The factory photos are very high quality, showing the details modelers are looking for. Rare vintage wartime photos document testing weapons, rocket assisted take off development, and more jaw dropping oddities. The text is well thought out and the… more |
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Tempest Mk. VPublished:
History BriefHawker’s next sibling in line following its older brother the Typhoon, the Tempest featured a new, more advanced laminar flow wing, newer and more powerful engines, and other numerous innovations. The first Tempest Mk V prototype flew on September 2nd, 1942. Pressing onward into service, the Hawker Tempest Mk V saw two notable types. Series 1 had the older style long barrel Hispano Mk. II cannon extending past the leading edge of the wing and small fish plates riveted over the joint between the rear fuselage and tail unit as reinforcement. Series II aircraft were fitted with the new short-barreled Hispano Mk. V cannon completely fitted in the wing and were able to carry two 45-gal drop tanks. Famous for defending against the dreaded V-1… more |
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Soviet Motorcycle M-72 with Sidecar and CrewPublished:
History Brief: After the Winter War with Finland, the M-72 motorcycle was built in the Soviet Union as a replacement for the two outdated heavy types already in service with the Red Army. As an odd twist of fate would have it, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact provided the necessary legal, political, and economic environments that allowed the Soviets to build the BMW R-71 that had been rejected by the Wehrmacht as the M-72. The short-lived pact agreement included that BMW provide the design, tooling and training to build the motorcycle and military sidecar. Proposed manufacture was to be in three factories located in Moscow, Leningrad, and Kharkov. Only Moscow produced any M-72s prior to the German invasion. The Moscow factory was moved east to Irbits, a town… more |