Pablo Bauleo
Reviews By Author
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L-19 Bird DogPublished:
Illiad Design has recently released an aftermarket decal set covering Cessna L-19/O-1. The Bird Dog saw service with over 20 air forces so the choice of markings is very varied and this sheet does not disappoint. This decal sheet covers a total of 6 aircrafts and you are provided with enough markings as to be able to model 5 of them (or all of them if you have some extra American markings). You have your choice of
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FuG AntennasPublished:
Brengun continues to expand its line of photoetch aftermarket detail parts regarding all type of antennas used by Luftwaffe aircrafts during World War 2. Typical of Brengun you get an unpainted fret of easy to bend brass. This review covers: BRL 48099 covers the FuG200 antenna in use by Ju-88, Bv-138, He-177, Bv-222, Fw-200, Ju-290 and other long range reconnaissance types. BRL 48100 cover the FuG 227, FuG10, FuBi2, FuG 101 used by too many different airplanes to list. Just to name a few: Ju-88, Me-100, Fw-190, etc. While I have not used these sets, experience with other sets of the same manufacturer indicates that the small connection points of the parts to the fret will make removal and cleaning of the part very easy. Given the small size of… more |
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Soviet Naval Aviation (Pilot and Land Crew WW2)Published:
ResKit from Ukraine has released a two-figure aftermarket set for the 48th scale aviation modelers. The figures are for a Soviet Naval Pilot and a Land Crew personnel, both of them in a military salute standing position in winter clothes. You can see in the pictures that the figures as casted have superb surface details and all the folds in the clothing will render beautifully for shadows. There are no evident bubbles nor holes in the figures, showing the quality of the casting. There are no instructions, but the assembly is straightforward and there is a color image on the box that guides how to paint the figures. The casting blocks are somewhat large, but the casting block connectors are small and delicate and will be easy to remove and clean the… more |
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Models RulersPublished:
Master Piece Models has an impressive collection of tools for scratch building all kind of projects. Among those tools they have rulers and scale rulers (a ruler that reads you the dimension of the model, ‘scaled’ to the real object). In this review I’ll cover two of such rules: The 48th scale ruler and the EZ-Read ruler. Both rulers are clear (that is great for whenever you are looking at drawings) and about 1/16th inch thick. They are slightly flexible, but I wouldn’t try to bend them much. They are laser engraved and very easy to read, given the contrast of the engraved number and the clarity of the material. The MMR-48 scale ruler is 6 inches long and has scaled readings in both meters and feet. The EZ-Read ruler is 12 inches long (only… more |
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Rotachute Mk.IVPublished:
Fly Models has released a multimedia kit of a very obscure subject: The “Rotachute”. This aircraft was a combination of an autogiro and a parachute, intended to deliver airborne soldiers to the battlefield in an alternative way to the parachute. From what I read online, the main reason behind this aircraft was due to a shortage of silk during the war. You can find some other interesting stories about this contraption online, including pictures of the prototypes being towed by different trucks (diorama anyone?). In a diminutive open-side box you get 14 injected plastic parts and 9 photoetch ones. There are no clear parts as the original aircraft had none. The decal sheet is miniscule. While the box calls this model “Rotachute Mk.IV”, it might be possible to build the… more |
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Revell 1/32 Fw 190A-8 Photoetch SetPublished:
Eduard Models has released a PE set to spruce up your Revell Fw-190A-8. Typical of the Zoom line, this set consists of one fret, focused on the instrument panel and a few other cockpit details. The instrument panel fret is pre-painted and would look very good with an open canopy. It will certainly enhance the looks of your Fw-190. The fret also includes all kind of switches, levers, oxygen regulator and rudder pedals. Please note that this set does not include seatbelts. You can get them on the sets 33227 and 33179 (steel version, which are very nice to work with). Given the small size of some of the parts, I will recommend this kit to modelers of all levels except the most novice. Highly recommended. I would like to thank Eduard Models and IPMS/… more |
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Shafrir 2Published:
Eduard continues to expand its Brassin line, this time with the release of the Shafrir 2 missile in 1/48 scale. These Israeli-built missiles have seen widespread service with the IDF, plus it has been exported to many countries in Latin America (I know of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and perhaps other countries as well). I have to say that I like the new packaging of the Brassin detail sets. Now they are released in a clear plastic hard blister instead of a thin cardboard box. This new packaging protects delicate resin parts from being bent in transport. This set provides you with two missile bodies, 8 fins, 2 pylon racks, clear resin for the IR sensor plus resin and photoetch parts for the sensor cover. Also a small decal sheet is provided. Resin parts… more |
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British Escort Carriers 1941-45Published:
Osprey Publishing just released a new book devoted to the Escort Carriers under British Flag during World War 2. Still this book has a few paragraphs devoted to the first two Escort Carriers under Dutch Flag. They had (Dutch) Fleet Air Arm Flights detached to them, under operational control of the British, so I think they count as ‘British’. This book is relatively short at 48 pages but don’t let the relatively small thickness of the book fool you. The book is packed with information. It clearly describes the need for air cover for convoys and how out of necessity many merchant ships were converted to operate as a ‘proof of concept’. Once the value of the Escort Carrier was proven, the larger US industrial capacity provided the vast majority of the Escort Carriers under British… more |
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ShachakPublished:
The Eduard Mirage IIIC is a well-known kit, first released in the mid-2000s. Despite being 15-yr old molds, they hold well the pass of time and it is nice to see it re-released. It sure builds into a nice replica of the French interceptor. The kit comes molded in light grey plastic, with a total of 167 parts in 8 sprues, plus a small sprue of clear parts. The decals are printed by Eduard, they are opaque, shiny and in register. This boxing also includes pre-painted photoetch and pre-cut masks. As an add-on, this kit also includes resin parts for the upgraded airframes which used the ATAR 9C engine. Construction, as usual, begins with the cockpit. The side consoles and instrument panel have raised detail and bode well for drybrushing. There is also the option of a decal… more |
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RP-3 60lb Rockets for Tempest Mk. VPublished:
As part Tempest release, Eduard Models has included different aftermarket sets. This one is for the RP-3 60 lb rockets, widely used by the Royal Air Force during WW2. The set in particular is recommended for the Eduard Tempest Mk V, as the rockets railings are meant to fit that model. I’ve believe the rockets could be used in other RAF models, if you can source your own railings. A total of 8 resin rockets and railings plus a large PE fret arrive inside a box. To prevent the parts from rattling, there is some packing foam in the box. That is good, but in my particular boxing, the parts were packed so tight, that it might have led to some of the resin parts to bend. Actually 6 of the 8 rockets had some level of bending or twisting. Not a lot of bending but noticeable under close… more |