Michael A. Turco
Reviews By Author
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The History of Science Fiction and its Toy FigurinesPublished:
“The History of Science Fiction and Its Toy Figurines” by author Luigi Toiati is a substantial and weighty hardback of 528 glossy pages with 470 pictures (See Photo 1). Although it may feel like one, the author claims in the Forward that it is not an encyclopedia or boring treatise or catalogue, but instead the reader should “consider it a promenade through sci-fi and the toy figurines linked to the subject.” And while the author doesn’t necessarily agree with those science fiction (SF) authorities he cites who trace the origins of the genre back to the ancient times of the Bible, Hinduism, Plato, or Lucian of Samosata (a 2nd-century Syrian satirist and rhetorician), his review of the aforesaid genealogy is extensive and at times tedious. The book’s back cover states… more |
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Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 3Published:
This Report 3 covers the completion of the build from Steps 49 through 64. As stated in the previous two reports, the fit of plastic parts was excellent. Issues encountered involved the handling and attachment of small plastic and thin PE parts, particularly where there is little if any gluing surface, and with lack of detail in the instructions. None of the issues are deal killers. Each can be handled if you are aware of them in advance and plan accordingly. Parts and Photoetch IssuesOverall, the thinness of the PE caused some headaches, as it was easy to damage or bend some parts out of shape in the routine handling and cutting of the parts off the sheets. Examples
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Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 2Published:
Report 2: Midway through ConstructionThis second report covers the build from Steps 26 through 48 of 64. It is essentially the assembly of the upper decks prior to attachment of the stacks and their associated appurtenances. Through this point in the build, most of the parts fit exceptionally well, to the extent that some can be press fit together. When you encounter one that doesn’t fit as well, like the life raft stacks, it makes you wonder if you are doing something incorrectly. The life rafts did not stack up evenly when placed one on top of another, so I used more glue than usual and clamped them in place after assuring they were parallel. Although good overall, one drawback of the tight fit is that a mere paint layer could interfere with making a tight joint or… more |
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Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 1Published:
This is the first of three reports on the Hobby Boss 1:350 USS Missouri model kit. Two subsequent reports are planned, the second report at approx. the mid-point of the build and the third upon completion. The USS Missouri was the third Iowa class battleship built for the US Navy and was completed in 1944. It is famous for being the ship on which the Japanese surrender was signed to end WWII. It was an impressive vessel, and this model captures its splendor. This is a large model that, per the manufacturer, contains over 1,590 parts. The box measures 31.5” x 10.5” x 3.4” (Photo 1). Opening the box reveals a very well packed kit with compartmented sections holding separately wrapped 30”-long hull and main deck, 20 sprues in ten individually wrapped bags (multiples of… more |
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Lockheed Martin F-22A RaptorPublished:
This review is of the Italeri 1:48 scale Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor, kit #2822, a 2022 reissue of their 1999 kit with new decals. The kit claims to represent the F-22A production version. See Photo 1. The box contains two large bags of parts, one small bag with the slightly gold-tinted canopy and clear head up display screen, the decal set and a 12-page instruction booklet with sprue diagrams printed in black and white. Decals are provided for three different aircraft. No pilot figure is included. The model’s surfaces have finely engraved panel lines, which after painting I decided to highlight with pencil or wash. This would have been made easier had I pre-scribed the lines so the acryl painted areas would not obscure the lines to the degree that they did. I ended up using a… more |
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SR-71 Blackbird Landing Gear (Revell)Published:
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) is a Texas based company that has been marketing resin and white metal parts for scale model aircraft for well over 20 years. In perusing their website, it’s hard to find an aircraft kit for which they don’t make a metal landing gear set. There are currently about 228 available sets in the 1/48 scale jets list alone. I’ve used them at least a half-dozen times in the past and they have proven to be of high quality with excellent fit. This review if for one of their more recent issues, the gear set for the Revell 1/48 SR-71. It’s one of Revell’s Level 5 kits with 204 parts and a 40-page instruction booklet, issued in 2021 and 2022 boxings. The gear are made of white metal, which is typical for SAC. These replacement gear sets offer a number of… more |
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Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor 3D Quickset Instrument PanelsPublished:
My modeling experience detailing aircraft cockpits includes:
While the latter is the most realistic of the aforementioned methods, none provide the realism of the 3D printed panels that are now coming to market. Being unfamiliar with these aftermarket products, I was anxious to get a close look at one. The one I was fortunate enough to evaluate is produced by Red Fox Studios, a company in… more |
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Bottled Lacquer Paints, LP-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -9Published:
I’ve used Tamiya lacquers in spray cans for years and they are my go to paints for the bulk of my car and aircraft models. Their quick drying and smooth coating, especially the gloss lacquers, provide show-level finishes. Now, after anticipating them for almost two years, Tamiya’s bottled lacquers have finally arrived. Why I can’t say, but as with most model paints, especially the more recent Testors paints, the colors on the jar labels are somewhere in the fine print. These Tamiya lacquers are better in that respect with colors listed at the bottom center of the label (see Photo 1). Glosses aren’t so… more |
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Single No. 25 – Lockheed F-104G StarfighterPublished:
This book is as single-minded as one can be. Don’t look for a title page, a table of contents, an index, or any text for that matter. They are not to be found. It is an 8-1/4” x 11-3/4” glossy paperback with 24 pages of nothing but information and pictures of the -G model Starfighter as flown by non-US licensees, i.e., the “Single” subject.. The publisher’s catalog (Mushroom Model Publications) states this book is “a compilation of 4-view color profiles, scale plans and photographic details of the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter, featuring scale plans in 1/72 and 1/48 scales plus drawings from wartime technical manuals and also photographs of the details in black and white and color.” Note that the scale plans of the F-104G are only in 1/72 scale. It’s the… more |
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F-104G/J, CF-104 Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) is a Texas based company that has been marketing resin and white metal parts for scale model aircraft for over 20 years. They endeavor to be accurate in their moldings, claiming to correct inaccuracies if found. I have bought about a half dozen of their metal landing gear sets in the past, all of which have turned out to be excellent replacements for the plastic kit parts. SAC’s two-piece landing gear set #72180 is labeled for the ‘60s vintage 1/72-scale Hasegawa F-104G/J, CF-104 kit but I find that the set matches the more recent 1990-issued F-104G/S landing gear as well. A comparison photo of the metal SAC main gear with the F-104G/S gear is shown herewith. The main gear piece has what appears to be curved, protective outer framing… more |