Pablo Bauleo
Reviews By Author
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Intruder Sandbox ReduxPublished:
AOA Decals has released a decal sheet (#48022) that updates and supersedes their own #48-007 sheet covering A-6 TRAM Intruders during Operation Prairie Fire (Libya, 1986) and Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991), including markings for five aircraft in the Libya strikes and four aircraft in the Iraq strikes. Provided markings are:
All the… more |
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Hurricane Mk.IICPublished:
Italeri has re-released its Hurricane Mk.IIC in 1/48 scale. The original release was from the early 2010’s and included a Hurricane Mk.I, Mk.I/Trop, Sea Hurricane Mk.I and Hurricane Mk.IIC. Inspecting at the parts (the photoetch sheet) you must wonder if at some point there the plan was to include a Mk.IIB in the family but to my knowledge it has never been released. Based on the engineering of the wing, you can probably model a MkIID and, if you get a replacement oil housing probably a Mk.IV as well, assuming you know your way around the Hawker Hurricane (there are plenty of online references). Upon opening the box you find 5 sprues (two of them are duplicate of the same sprue), while one of the 5 of sprues is clear for the canopy, landing lights and navigation lights. Plus,… more |
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F-16C/D Wild DucksPublished:
Two Bobs has released a decal sheet covering an anniversary scheme for the 309th Fighter Squadron “Wild Ducks” back when it was flying the F-16 C/D. Two paint schemes are provided in this sheet. The first one is a striking mix of blue, grey and white strips with Donald Duck holding a lightning bolt on the blue rudder. The second one is a great looking desert camouflage for the first F-16 to claim a kill on an Iraqi Mig-25 with an AIM-120 (although at the time of the kill the airframe was wearing the standard two-grey livery). I want to point out that both schemes are special commemorative schemes for the 80th anniversary of the 309th FS. Both schemes were designed by Ssgt Michael Cichonsky (portrayed in the instructions sitting on the tail of the F-16C) and both look… more |
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BCATP AnsonsPublished:
Illiad Design continues to expand its line of 1/48 scale decals, this time with a set of markings for the Avro Anson. The decals were designed for the recent Airfix model This decal sheet covers 6 airframes from the BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). All markings cover airframes that saw service in Canada: Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Some of the airframes are in camouflage of Dark Earth and Dark Green with lowers in Sky, plus some high visibility markings in yellow, others are fully painted in yellow and there is everything in between (yellow bottom and camouflaged tops, yellow bottoms, and partially camouflaged tops, etc). The instructions are very clear on what camouflage scheme to apply for each aiframe with top and port side views. If… more |
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Polish Armored Trains 1921-1939, Vol.2Published:
Right up to the mid-1940s, armored trains played the role of self-propelled artillery, often in a highly mobile environment. They were equipped with infantry and light tanks, that could be deployed for reconnaissance and harassment of enemy units. They rarely operated alone, often there were supply trains and other support units making runs to keep the armored train unit ready for combat. This review covers the 2nd Volume of the “Polish Armored Trains 1921-1939” by Adam Jonca. This volume is focused on the “1st Armored Train Group” as such, all their trains started with a number “1”. The book has a chapter devoted to the peace-time bases and further split into chapters devoted to Train 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and a special Independent Draisine Platoon attached to the 1st… more |
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Beaufort Mk.1 – WWII British Dominions Air ForcePublished:
ICM from Ukraine has reboxed its Bristol Beaufort Mk.1, this time for service with the British Dominions. In the box you get their already known Beaufort, including a torpedo and torpedo cart. There are markings for Royal New Zealand, Royal Canadian and South African Air Forces. The New Zealand aircraft -one marking- was based in the UK, as well as one of the two from the Canadian forces. The other Canadian aircraft saw service in British Columbia. The South African options (two) saw service in Cape Town and, while not explicitly listed in the instructions, they also saw service in Operation “Ironclad” (the Madagascar invasion). Being brand new molds (released in 2023) the overall fit and surface detail is excellent. Construction is relatively simple, but with the high part… more |
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Tru-Color Paints – Selected ColorsPublished:
Tru-Color Paint is a manufacturer of model paints based in the US. They have an extensive line of railroad and car paints and they are continuously expanding their military line (aircraft, naval, armor). This review includes the following colors, all of which are part of recent releases:
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Agusta Westland A109 and the Belgian Air Force A109 Display TeamPublished:
HMH Publications has released another installment of the Duke Hawkins series and it is being distributed in the US by Casemate Publishers. The 24th installment of the series is devoted to the Agusta Westland A109 helicopter. In particular this book includes images of helicopters serving with the Belgian Air Force Demonstration Team, plus images of Italian, New Zealand, South Africa and British examples. The book is organized in the following sections: Types, Belgian Air Force (BAF) Demonstration Team, Forward Fuselage, Fuselage, Main Rotor, Tail Rotor, Cockpit, Main Landing Gear, Vertical Tail, Horizontal Tail, Maintenance and Action. Most of the sections are of the walk-around type, focusing on a specific area of the airframe. The Maintenance section… more |
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F-35 B Lightning IIPublished:
Italeri has released a brand new mold F-35B, the STOVL (short-take-off and vertical landing) version of the F-35 family currently in use by the Italian Navy, Royal Navy and US Marine Corps. Current military planning assumes that in any conflict, stealth capabilities are needed during the first few days of combat which will see action against enemy radars and later on aircrafts can trade-off “stealthness” for payload by using external pylons. When the F-35B is carrying a full payload -ie with external pylons-, it is known as “Beast” mode and Italeri provides you everything you need to have your model in “Beast” mode, even adding a couple of trolleys to show the extra ordnance in a mini-diorama or vignette, but no figures are included. Upon opening the box, you find 11… more |
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Focke Wulf Ta-154 Detail SetPublished:
Brengun continues to expand its line of accessories this time with a photoetch set for the Revell 1/48 Focke-Wulf Ta-154 The fret includes a single fret focused on details for the cockpit of the aircraft with a photoetch seat, seatbelts, instrument panel (including a piece of clear film used for the dial faces) side console details and gunsight. In addition, this set includes the dipole from the radar antenna and other radar-altimeter and navigational antennas. Replacing the plastic parts by this PE set will provide a more-to-scale looks, while simplifying the overall assembly of the radar antennas given that the dipoles and braces are a single piece. Well done Brengun! Recommended. I would like to thank Brengun and IPMS/USA for the review sample… more |