German Type UB-1 submarine

Published: February 10, 2020
Company: MikroMir

History

The Type UB I was a class of small coastal submarines (U-boats) built in Germany at the beginning of the First World War. Built to meet the need for small maneuverable submarines able to operate in the narrow, shallow seas off Flanders, the vessels were intended to be quickly constructed, then shipped by rail and assembled at their port of operation. The design effort began in mid-August 1914 and by mid-October the first 15 boats were ordered from two German shipyards. The German Imperial Navy subsequently ordered an additional pair of boats to replace two sold to Austria-Hungary, who ordered a further three boats in April 1915. A total of 20 UB Is were built. Construction of the first boats for Germany began in early November 1914; all 20 were completed by… more

Cyanoacrylate Glue Products

Published: September 6, 2021
Company: Bob Smith Industries, Incorporated

Our friends at BSI sent along a box of current and new releases across their line of CA products. Some of these may be familiar to you, others, like their new Plastic-Cure brush on product, were new to me.

Let’s take a look at the family of BSI products:

BSI-105 Plastic-Cure Adhesive: this new ½ ounce product comes in a bottle with a brush cap. Applied like many solvent based adhesives, it is applied to one of the mating surfaces and cures up in 10-20 seconds. It reacts to the Accelerator product as well, if an instant cure is desired. It won’t fill large gaps but is ideal for joints where the two surfaces make intimate contact (think fuselage seams, upper to lower wing joints, etc.)

BSI-116 IC-GEL Coral Frag Adhesive: Supplied in a 0… more

German WW I Machine Gun Spandau LMG 08/15 (2pcs)

Published: February 25, 2018
Company: Master Model

Master Models’ Spandau product consists of a beautifully etched and rolled set of cooling jackets, 2 exquisitely machined barrels, two tiny muzzles, and a sheet of 3 pairs of photo etched jacket ends – the front incorporating a ring sight, the rear having a bracket. MM considerately includes a spare set of these, which, amazingly, I did not have to use – no sacrifices to the carpet gods this time.

I’m currently building the Eduard DV, which includes PE parts for the Spandau. I think that you will agree with me that while Eduard’s photoetched parts are excellent, the incorporation of the machined brass parts in the MM set really adds to the appearance of the finished weapon.

Assembly is simple (assuming you have fingers that end in surgical instruments). Cut the PE parts… more

F-106A Delta Dart

Published: December 28, 2017
Company: Trumpeter

As the follow-on to the F-102 Delta Dagger and a beneficiary of the area rule applied to later models of that predecessor aircraft, the F-106 was known as the “ultimate interceptor”. Serving almost 30 years in the USAF, various ANG units, and as a NASA research platform, the F-106A saw a production run of 277 aircraft. Equipped with a Hughes MA-1 integrated fire control system designed to link with ground-based SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) equipment, the Dart was fitted out with four AIM-4 Falcon air to air missiles as well as one of several variants of nuclear-tipped rockets, all designed to take out an incoming Soviet heavy bomber. All weaponry was carried internally in a large weapons bay.

Trumpeter’s rendition of the hot rod Delta Dart is all new… more

Bachem Ba-349 Natter M52/M58

Published: December 4, 2016
Company: Brengun

Brengun has been giving us fans of the smaller scales some wonderful products to work with. This 2 in 1 kit is no exception. Housed in a box about the size of a Samsung Galaxy 7 (but less likely to catch fire on your workbench), the Brengun kit of this failed Luftwaffe wonder weapon consists of 2 identical sets of sprues and two clear canopies, allowing you to build 2 different prototypes. Mustermaschine 52 is the earlier version with a horizontal tail the same span as the wings, and Mustermaschine 58 is the later variant that replicates the production version.

In 1/144 scale, this is a diminutive kit of a diminutive subject, measuring little over 1.5 inches in length and a little less in span. The only real variation between the two versions is the horizontal tail. I chose to… more

Shinkai 6500 Manned Research Submersible

Published: November 21, 2015
Company: Hasegawa

First launched in 1991, the SHINKAI 6500 is a manned submersible that can dive to depths of 6,500 meters (20,000 feet). Operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Shinkai has completed over 1300 deep dives in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Sea of Japan.

In 2012, the vessel underwent a major upgrade, including conversion from a single aft prop to two thrusters and the addition of one more horizontal thruster for maneuverability. Hasegawa offers the kit with two build options to reflect the original and upgraded version of the submersible. To clarify the build process and the differences, the instruction sheet includes complete build sequences for each version. It's worth taking the time to go through the instructions… more

Paint Thinner for Enamel Paints

Published: September 15, 2015
Company: Squadron Products

While at this year's National Contest and Convention, Jeff Johnston of MMD-Squadron was kind enough to provide several sample sizes of this new product. As implied in the name, the thinner is designed to work with all brands and types of enamel paints. While my paint collection isn't extensive enough to prove this, I did try the product with several brands of paint (Testor's traditional ¼ oz bottle, their 1 oz Model Master, and an old Humbrol tin). The instructions state to mix a 3 part paint/2 part thinner ratio for gloss colors, and 3/1 for flats. I tried these ratios for airbrushing and found them to work great. I typically use Testor's Lacquer Thinner (black can) for much of my enamel and lacquer spraying. The Squadron product dries a little slower, which may help to level out the… more

Multi-Shape Punch Set and Accessory Packs

Published: September 12, 2015
Company: UMM-USA

At this year's National Convention in Columbus, master modeler John Vojtech provided us with a number of new product samples from his company UMM-USA. UMM, Unique Master Models, lives up to its name by offering an extensive variety of tools, aftermarket detailing supplies, decal sets and the like. (Be sure to peruse John's National Award winning models when you enter the site) .

The Multi-Shape Punch Set is a unique approach to manufacturing small detail shapes with multiple modeling applications. The set comes with a beautifully machined, truncated cone aluminum base that incorporates a soft rubber pad used as the striking surface. Several brass punches (one each of square, round and hexagonal cross section) and a sample sheet of soft, 3mm thick aluminum. At the time… more

VH-34D "Marine One" Helicopter

Published: June 5, 2015
Company: Gallery Models

I've had a hankering to build an H-34 Choctaw for some time now. When the Gallery Models kit was released, I debated which version to build, but I've always had an eye for that distinctive Marine Green under White scheme on the VH-34 variant. When Dave offered up the 1/48 VH-34D Marine One kit, I jumped at it.

This is my first Gallery Models offering, and I am impressed by a number of things. First of all, the careful packaging. Not only is each of the many sprues individually bagged, all of the smaller and delicate parts on a sprue are molded together and protected by additional foam padding (see image). Clear plastic parts get an additional level of protection by being packaged in their own boxes nestled within the other sprues. Other builder-friendly features include a full… more

F-14A Tomcat, VF-111 Sundowners, "Miss Molly"

Published: March 22, 2015
Company: Hasegawa

OK, let me start by admitting it – this one kicked my modeling butt.

But before we go there, a little history of the personal and Tomcat varieties. When Dave and Dick put this kit up for grabs, I made an impassioned plea to be the reviewer. Several drivers – first of all, I worked for Grumman for 21 years, starting straight out of college as a mewling infant of an engineer. I was quickly disabused of any thought that I knew anything about designing airplanes by the curmudgeonly, yet avuncular grizzled old pros who took me under their wings to teach me about aircraft structural design. My first F-14 assignment, several years after the airplane entered Navy service, was designing formed armor plate to be installed in strategic locations inside the engine nacelles. Turns out… more