Greg Wise
Reviews By Author
Chrysler 300Published: July 16, 2012 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… more |
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TBD-1 DevastatorPublished: June 11, 2012 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… more |
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TBD-1 Landing GearPublished: May 15, 2012 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… more |
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Bf109E-1Published: May 15, 2012 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… more |
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German Z-38 DestroyerPublished: April 19, 2012 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… more |
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Bf-109E Upgrade Detail SetPublished: April 18, 2012 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,… more |
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German Military Car 170V 1937Published: March 19, 2012 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… more |
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Building the P-51 MustangPublished: March 14, 2012 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… more |
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Tempest Mk. VPublished: March 13, 2012 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… more |
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Soviet Motorcycle M-72 with Sidecar and CrewPublished: January 30, 2012 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… more |