Rob Booth
Reviews By Author
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Lockheed Martin C-130J C5 Hercules, Part II – The BuildPublished:
Check the “What’s in the Box” prequel to this build review. To set the stage for the build, recall from the initial look that surface detail on the plastic is raised, reflecting the age of the moulds for the base kit. However, the styrene feels a little softer and more “oily” then Italeri’s previous offering of these mouldings. My example of the previous kit issue seems very brittle in comparison. AMS superdetailers will have a much easier go at re-scribing panel lines and surface detailing with this material, than the… more |
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Werner’s Wings Night Stalkers Part 2 – GOTHIC SERPENT to PresentPublished:
Werner’s Wings is a Baltimore, MD based firm that offers decals and resin detail parts for scale modelers. Floyd Werner has been around scale modeling for many years, and is one of the hobby’s leading authorities on US Army rotary wing aircraft (not just through modeling, but from years of very personal experience!), and WWII Luftwaffe fighters. A quick search of the IPMS Review or other modeling-related sites will yield plenty of background on his considerable modeling skills and knowledge. Floyd’s passion for modeling modern rotary aircraft subjects is evident in this latest decal release of Night Stalkers, Part II - Gothic Serpents to present. The subjects of these sets continue Werner’s Wings documenting the history of the 160th SOAR. This set picks up at the Gothic Serpent… more |
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Hawker Typhoon Mk. IB Early Type Cannons with Uncovered BarrelsPublished:
Master Model is a scale model metal detailing parts manufacturer located in Poland. Their lines include exquisitely detailed photo-etched and white metal replacement parts for aircraft and ships in the most commonly produced scales. Master has produced replacement cannons of the early type, with uncovered barrels for any 1/72 Hawker Typhoon early Mk Ib kits. This item is intended to completely replace the plastic kit parts. My example kit (a Maquette issue from Russia) is a Mk Ib, and my research indicates it is the correct version that this particular part issue would be appropriate for. These cannons should generally be fitted to the earlier “car door” version of the Mk Ib as used early in WWII by the RAF. Later Mk. IB versions had full cover extensions over the cannon… more |
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US Navy Blue Angels C-130Published:
ATTENTION!!! Those of you with that huge box of plastic labeled “1/48 Testors or Italeri C-130 E/H in your stash, languishing in the dust because you’re bored with monotone gray, SEA or European One camouflage schemes. Here is your chance to buy a couple of extra bottles of liquid cement and get after it! This decal sheet offers up beautifully rendered markings for “Fat Albert” the USMC C-130T that provides support logistics transport, in addition to it’s own amazing solo performance featuring rocket assisted take-offs for the US Navy’s “Blue Angels” aircraft demonstration team. In the plastic sleeve on a typical 5-1/2” X 8-3/4” decal sheet you will find two large Blue Angels shield markings for the giant vertical stabilizer, along with the yellow staff names, “Marines”… more |
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Lockheed Martin C-130J C5 Hercules, Part I – What’s in the BoxPublished:
What aviation enthusiast doesn’t have a soft spot for Lockheed Martin’s “Herky Bird”? This successful airframe has been around for decades, and will likely be in production for many years to come, despite recent competition from Airbus and other manufacturers. The aircraft’s history is well known and extensively documented, so, let’s get on with impressions of this plastic version. Italeri has updated and reissued an exciting new packaging of its C-130 family. This issue (#2746) is based on previously issued fuselage, flying surfaces and interior molding sprues, with a new, updated engine and prop sprue. A new instrument panel reflecting the J model’s glass cockpit is also included on this sprue. This kit will take some time to build, so I’ll give you my initial impressions in… more |
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F-4C/D Air National Guard Part 3Published:
Caracal Models is an Austin, Texas based firm that offers high-quality decals and detail parts for scale modelers. Their subjects include a variety of military aircraft from post-World War II to the present. I have purchased several of their decals sets on my own, and their offerings are typically well-researched and interesting subjects not usually addressed by other manufacturers. The usual 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales are well represented. Shipping/mailing to US customers is free. If there is a subject that is not currently covered you would like to see done, visit their website at www.caracalmodels.com, and drop them a line via email or snail mail, and while you’re there, sign up for their email list to be notified of new issues. Ordering… more |
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Mitsubishi A6M Zero Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Hasegawa 1/48 scale A6M Zero kits. The white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kit plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts, and one tail gear strut with integrally molded wheel. Some other SAC replacement gear packages have included replacement wheels for the main gear, as well, but not the case here. You will need to use the Hasegawa wheels for your build. A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. For those without basic modeling experience, be sure to use CA (Superglue) for the gear installation, as the usual plastic glues will not… more |
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F-14A Tomcat Weighted WheelsPublished:
Wheelliant is a sub-brand of Aires, a scale model resin detailing parts manufacturer located in the Czech Republic. Their lines include fine and accurately detailed cast resin replacement parts for model kits in the most commonly produced scales. Wheelliant has produced replacement wheels and weighted tires for 1/48 Academy F-14A kits. The website indicates other sets (with different stock numbers) that are to be used with Hobby Boss and Hasegawa Tomcat kits. This set is intended to dress up and/or supplement the plastic kit parts. The easily assembled rims and tires are clean glue-on replacements for the kit plastic parts. Also included is a length of fine copper wire for use as hydraulic brake and/or electrical connection lines. A side-by-side evaluation (see photos… more |
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F-4 Phantom II White Metal Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Hasegawa 1/72 scale F-4 Phantom kits. The white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kit plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts, and one nose gear strut with a separate oleo scissor and retraction strut. Some other SAC packages include replacement wheels, as well, but not the case here. You will need to use the Hasegawa wheels for your build. A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. In some cases where original equipment was left in a natural metal finish, painting may not be necessary. As always, check your reference photos … more |
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A-10 Thunderbolt II GAU-8 Avenger Gun Tip and Pitot TubePublished:
Master – Reality in Miniature is a scale model metal detailing parts manufacturer located in Poland. Their lines include exquisitely detailed photo-etched and white metal replacement parts for aircraft and ships in the most commonly produced scales. Master has produced a replacement gun tip and nose pitot for 1/72 A-10 Thunderbolt II (that’s the “Warthog”, for those not in tune with “official” USAF nicknames) kits. This goodie is intended to dress up and/or supplement the plastic kit parts. The easily assembled gun nose and turned metal pitot are clean plug-in replacements for the kit plastic parts. A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that provides a much more realistic scale-detailed assembly with a significantly improved abuse… more |