Robert Folden
Reviews By Author
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F-16C Florida Makos Shark Attack Decal SetPublished:
First let me start off by saying if you have never bought/used a set of TwoBobs decals, you are missing out! Twobobs Aviation Graphics are the makers of some of the best, and arguably most interesting, decals sets. They like to tackle the rarer paint schemes and the new Florida Makos set is no exception. The set includes marking/choices for 4 aircraft of the 482nd Fighter Wing out of Homestead, Florida [otherwise known as the Florida Makos]. Not only do you get three standard aircraft, but they have also included the Commanding Officer’s plane. The set allows you to mark up two full aircraft, so you can easily do the CO plane and one other. The markings are beautifully done, with very little film around the edges, and bright colorful printing. The artwork features the signature… more |
Panther Ausf. A Late Production, "Black Knight"Published:
“Die Erzählung des Schwarzen Ritters”, translated as The Story of the Black Knights, is a popular comic book series set in WWII. The series follows Oberleutnant Ernst von Bauer and his 8th Tank Company known as the Black Knights. The series begins in the fall of 1943 on the Eastern Front, and follows the unit through the end of the war as they change vehicles several times (the unit uses Panthers, Panzer IVs, StuG IIIs, and even Jadgpanzers). The Panther A enters the story early on, after the unit loses their Panzer IV’s in a battle with the Soviets. By luck, they find several Panther A’s and fight back, repelling the “Reds”. Dragon has released numerous offerings of the Panther A over the years, and now under the Cyber Hobby brand comes this latest special edition… more |
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Sd.Kfz 222 Leichte PanzerspahwagenPublished:
Dragon’s 1/72 scale line of Armor Pro models has become the standard by which all 1/72 armor kits are gauged. Dragon’s detail in such a small scale, including photo-etched detail, is what makes modelers flock to the local hobby shops to get the latest in the Armor Pro series. Dragon’s newest addition to this series is the Sd.Kfz 222 Leichte Panzerspahwagen. Dragon has released this little WWII German Armored scout car in a 1+1 pack, similar to their 1/72 Humvee series. The box contains two complete kits, photo-etched parts, decals, and a single instruction sheet with color paint guides. The molding is clean with crisp detail and Dragon has done their best to hide injector marks and sprue attachment points. I decided to build these side by side as they are very easy kits.… more |
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Vulcan Shuttle Surak w/Warp SledPublished:
For Star Trek fans [trekkers], the recent re-releases of the AMT line of Star Trek models has been welcomed with open arms. The re-releases feature all new decals, and in some cases, some new tooling. The Vulcan Shuttle is no exception. First seen in "Star Trek: the Motion Picture", the shuttle Surak is most known for delivering Cmdr. Spock to the newly refitted USS Enterprise NCC-1701. The original release of the Surak featured only a few decals, leaving the modeler the task of masking and painting the complex paneling. Round 2’s new release of the shuttle has solved this. To start things off, Round 2 went back to the film and retooled the model to more accurately match what was shown on screen. Correcting both size, as well as details such as the docking… more |
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Flakpanzer V "Coelian" w/Panzer RidersPublished:
So what’s better than a 37mm FlaK 43? How about twin FlaK 43s. And how about mounting them in an enclosed, armored turret and mounting them to an armored chassis? In 1943, the German military contractor Rheinmetall-Borsig started designing the Flakpanzer 341 to be just that, an armored, mobile twin 37mm air defense platform. Commonly referred to as the Coelian [Flakpanzer V], the vehicle mounted twin FlaK 43’s in a powered turret which featured the ability to fire near vertical. The turret found itself mounted to a Panther chassis that had been slightly modified. Although the Coelian never made it past a wooden mockup [on actual Panther chassis], several experts over the years have speculated that the design would not have been effective due to the enclosed turret. Many believe that… more |
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F-16N Engine setPublished:
Well known for their exceptional photo-etched parts, Eduard recently crossed over to the resin world with the introduction of the Eduard “BRASSIN” line. The sets under this line consist of high quality resin castings with Eduard’s exception photo-etched parts. [Some sets also contain color photo-etch and/or mask sets.] The latest in this new product line is a 1/48th scale engine set for the F-16N. The set consists of the exhaust and the intake fans for F-16’s powered by the F110 GE-100 engine. While billed for the Tamiya kit, the set can be used for any F-16 featuring this engine. The set comes as five resin pieces and a small fret of photo-etch holding three more pieces. While the photo-etch is the always the high quality we’ve come to expect from Eduard, the resin… more |
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F-14D Tomcat Weighted WheelsPublished:
Aires has long been known for their superb resin detail sets. Recently, Aires launched a new detail set line known as Wheelliant. The new line uses a smooth cast resin that captures even the minutest details. Sculpting in multi-piece, highly detailed sets, the new line offers modelers an excellent alternative to kit parts. Part of this new Wheelliant line is a detail set for the 1/32 F-14D Tomcat featuring weighted wheels. The set is billed as being for the Trumpeter kit, however could be used on any F-14 [provided the rivet counters don’t catch you]. The set comes as 12 resin parts and a length of soft copper wire. Each tire features highly detailed sidewall including manufacturer’s information such as name and wheel specs. The hubs are made from front and back pieces, which… more |
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SH-3 Interior Set SAPublished:
Anyone who has ever worked with photo-etched parts knows the most frustrating part is attaching it to the model part. Especially if it is very nice color photo-etch. Well, Eduard, the leading photo-etch maker, has come to the rescue. Eduard started the color photo-etch revolution, and now has taken to making those same color parts self-adhesive. Two new sets in this S.A. line are for the 1/48 Hasegawa SH-3 Sea King helicopter. This set [FE511] is part of Eduard’s ZOOM line and contains just the color cockpit parts. The set is S.A. and featured amazing printed detail that, at least for me, could not be reproduced by hand. The set includes the instrument panels, control levers, and seat belts. The fret comes on a waxed paper backing and adheres well to the plastic part. Eduard’s… more |
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SH-3 Interior SAPublished:
Anyone who has ever worked with photo-etched parts knows the most frustrating part is attaching it to the model part. Especially if it is very nice color photo-etch. Well, Eduard, the leading photo-etch maker, has come to the rescue. Eduard started the color photo-etch revolution, and now has taken to making those same color parts self-adhesive. Two new sets in this S.A. (Self Adhesive) line are for the 1/48 Hasegawa SH-3 Sea King helicopter. The includes the color cockpit details, as well as a second fret containing detail parts for rest of the cabin interior including jumpseat, grab handles, equipment stacks, and various panels. As with all Eduard products, the detail is well rendered, and the parts are cleanly etched and easy to work with. I highly recommend these… more |
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Black-It Out WashesPublished:
As any modeler knows, a good wash can pick out details and set a model apart from the crowd. There have been a lot of tips, tricks, and formulas over the years for the perfect wash. But The Detailer may have finally done it. The Detailer has created a line of twelve pre-mixed washes in various colors. The washes come in 1-oz. bottles and are available in colors ranging from black through grey and white to greens and even purple. There are several uses for the washes, whether you’re a car modeler or a military modeler. The liquid is slightly thicker than water, and can be used straight from the bottle or thinned with water. The Detailer website shows some of the automotive uses such as blacked out grills, chrome tinting, lens and glass tinting, and various anodized metal looks… more |