Rob Booth
Reviews By Author
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Fw-190 Interior Detail Set for HasegawaPublished:
Brengun Models is a scale model and detailing parts manufacturer located in the Czech Republic. Their lines include limited production run multi-media kits and exquisitely detailed photo-etched, turned brass and white metal replacement parts for aircraft in the most commonly produced scales. They have a knack for producing interesting, off-beat and little known subjects. Brengun has produced a photoetched stainless steel detailing set for the already very nicely appointed 1/32 Hasegawa Fw-190 D-9 kit. The set is packaged in a sealed-fold clear plastic sleeve. There are two plates of photoetch and a clear acetate sheet of instruments dials included. Plate one includes the rear cockpit cover, windscreen frame, gunsight, large instrument panel and bezels. Plate two includes the… more |
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Wheels for C-46 CommandoPublished:
PlusModel was established in 1990 in the Czech Republic. Their product range is primarily made up of 1/35th scale resin kits, conversion sets, and accessories which are vacuum cast from polyurethane resin. A new addition to their line is a set of resin wheels for the 1/72 Williams Brothers C-46 Commando kit. Each wheel is individually cast along with an outside hub cover, and a tail wheel, on casting blocks. The tires are appropriately flattened, but the tail wheel is independent of the support assembly. Some minor surgery of those kit parts will be necessary. Some years ago, I spent many hours sanding down and re-scribing my classic C-46, and then assembling and painting it to represent a USN - Marine R5C-1. The starboard prop assembly fell victim to a nocturnal feline… more |
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Propellers for C-46 CommandoPublished:
PlusModel was established in 1990 in the Czech Republic. Their product range is primarily made up of 1/35th scale resin kits, conversion sets, and accessories which are vacuum cast from polyurethane resin. A new addition to their line is a set of resin props for the classic 1/72 Williams Brothers C-46 Commando kit. Each prop is a six-piece assembly of four individual blades, prop boss and hub cover which, when assembled, attach to the engine prop post. Some years ago I spent many hours sanding down and re-scribing my classic C-46, assembling and painting to represent a Marine R5C-1. The starboard prop assembly fell victim to a nocturnal feline attach somewhere over the years, and I was looking to order a replacement set of B-26 four-bladed props, which were the closest… more |
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Vietnamese Spads (I)Published:
This particular sheet is part one of AOA’s Vietnamese Spads series. They offer this sheet in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale. The subject options on this sheet are:
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P-51D MustangPublished:
Nearly every aircraft modeler has at least one iconic WWII P-51 Mustang in their collection. Based on the quick sell-out of Eduard’s recent 1/48 new tooling at the 2019 ‘Nooga Nats, its popularity is long from over. The subject of this review however is a diminutive 1/144 scale version of the Mustang produced by Japanese model-maker Platz. According to their website, “Platz was founded in April, 2000, and is based in Shizuoka, Japan. PLATZ comes from the term "place" - or to be more precise, a "gathering place" for modelers from various categories to develop and produce something new, something really wanted by the public and moreover, something "we" would also want. Based on the knowledge acquired with a 20-year experience in the modelling business, we would like to… more |
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M29 Weasel Tracked Cargo Carrier and VariantsPublished:
One of my planned retirement builds is a Resolution Island, Labrador winter diorama scene. My father, a retired career pilot and Colonel in the USAF, passes along a magazine he receives each month as a member of the Air Force Association. Several years ago, an article in one issue titled “Life on the Pine Tree Line” captivated me. The article details daily activities at a remote DEW-line radar site on Resolution Island in far North Newfoundland back in the 50s and 60s. In particular, photos of an H-21 Shawnee or “Flying Banana” as it is more commonly referred to in Artic Red conspicuity markings, caught my eye. Other aircraft and vehicles documented in the photos included a C-123, a TWA “Connie”, various cargo trucks and vehicles, and a small WWII utility vehicle known as a “Weasel”.… more |
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Building the Messerschmitt Bf-109 - Model Aircraft Extra #2Published:
Sooner or later, every aircraft modeler builds the iconic WWII Luftwaffe Bf-109. You can find them in every scale from 1/144 to 1/24, and in every version from prototype to A, to K-14, and sub-variants from post-WWII. It is probably one of the top five most popular aircraft modeling subjects ever kitted. To that point, there were 31 examples of the Bf-109 entered in 1/48 Single Engine Prop, at this summer’s 2019 ‘Nooga Nats! Obviously, they garnered their own subcategory split. I felt a bit sorry for, but also somewhat envious of Rich Van Zandt’s judging team as they laboriously examined all 31 examples. They were all outstanding … some were just slightly better than others. They checked that distinct splayed gear stance for consistent alignment. They checked wing and… more |
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Mercedes-Benz SL 230 Series 2001-2011Published:
This publication is one from a series of books covering the Mercedes Benz SL series by Veloce Publishing. It is a 208 page hardcover book, printed in 25cm x 25cm (9.75” x 9.75”) format. Publication date was February, 2015. Other publications in this series are:
Why would an airplane guy want to review a book about cars? About five years ago, my wife completely shocked and surprised me by suggesting that we buy ourselves a convertible sports car for our anniversary that year. After test driving a few uninspiring used car lot models, one of our friends let us borrow his 2002 Mercedes SL 500 for a day. We… more |
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Hawker Sea Fury FB.IIPublished:
I’ve had a couple of Trumpeter and the Hobbycraft versions of the Hawker Sea Fury in my growing stash waiting for a rainy-day project to come around. I really like the brutish appearance of this big five-bladed prop driven monster. I purchased several Barracuda Studios aftermarket goodies for the Trumpy kit to do a colorful Canadian Navy Artic Research version. So, when Airfix announced their version of this aircraft, and it came up for grabs from the kit review stash, I jumped at the chance to do a review build as a warm-up for and comparison to the others. John Noack had been given the Fundekal’s Sea Fury Pt. 2 decal sheet at last year’s Phoenix Nationals for review. He emailed an offer to use them as I was in the middle of the build. You can find my concurrent review of that sheet… more |
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Hawker Sea Furies of the Royal Canadian Navy and Sea Furies Pt. IIPublished:
I have a couple of Trumpeter and the Hobbycraft versions of the Hawker Sea Fury in my growing stash, waiting for a rainy day project to come around. I really like the brutish appearance of this big five-bladed prop driven monster. I‘ve had my eye on the Fundekals Sea Furies sheets for a while, with their collective choice of 18 different sets of markings for the type. I purchased several Barracuda Studios aftermarket goodies for the Trumpy kits, planning to do the colorful Canadian Navy Arctic Research version from the Pt I sheet, and maybe one of the Australian Navy blue birds from the Pt II sheet. When Airfix announced their version of this aircraft, and it came up for grabs from the IPMS review stash, I jumped at the chance to do a review build as a warm-up for and… more |