The History of Science Fiction and its Toy Figurines

Published: April 23, 2024
Book Author(s): Luigi Toiati
Company: Pen and Sword Books Ltd

“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… more

Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 3

Published: June 28, 2023
Company: Hobby Boss

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.… more

Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 2

Published: April 30, 2023
Company: Hobby Boss

Report 2: Midway through Construction

This 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… more

Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 1

Published: April 12, 2023
Company: Hobby Boss

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… more

Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor

Published: February 14, 2023
Company: Italeri

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… more

SR-71 Blackbird Landing Gear (Revell)

Published: February 4, 2023
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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… more

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor 3D Quickset Instrument Panels

Published: January 23, 2023
Company: Red Fox Studio

My modeling experience detailing aircraft cockpits includes:

• Laboring over kit-supplied embossed instrument panels that need to be painted by hand and/or dry brushed;
• Giving in to using instrument decals, either the kit-supplied panels or individual gauge decals; or
• Using photo-etched panels backed by film pieces with gauge faces that need to be back painted… more

Bottled Lacquer Paints, LP-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -9

Published: February 13, 2022
Company: Tamiya

• LP-1 - Black
• LP-2 - White
• LP-3 - Flat Black
• LP-4 - Flat White
• LP-5 - Semi-Gloss Black
• LP-9 - Clear

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,… more

Single No. 25 – Lockheed F-104G Starfighter

Published: June 24, 2021
Book Author(s): Dariusz Karnas
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

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… more

F-104G/J, CF-104 Landing Gear

Published: April 8, 2021
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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… more