Robert Head
Reviews By Author
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BF-109 A/E Accessory SetPublished:
Brengun has issued another photoetch/resin accessory set for small scale aircraft modelers. This set is designed for use by Armory Model Group offering the German Bf-109, specifically the Bf-109A/E. Typically, small scale (1/144th) aircraft kits come with two complete models in the box and Armory Model Group is no exception. Brengun provides detailed bits for two kits. Those bits include the following pieces for the:
While this accessory set is designed for use with the Armory Model Group kit, I don’t believe you would have any issues using it on a sweet or other similar kit. There are a few photoetch bits that… more |
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Messerschmitt BF110D/EPublished:
This 1/48 scale decal set, available from Iliad Design, provides markings options for 5 different BF-110’s. They cover 5 variants from a day, night and desert fighter. Of particular interest is a 110 that was specially painted, designed and equipped as the personal fighter of Rudolf Hess when he flew to Scotland. The five options are:
Iliad’s decals are extremely well-designed and have very bright and vivid colors. Everything is printed on a somewhat thin film. From my experiences with Iliad’s decals in the past, I have found that they will set well with and… more |
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P-47D Razorback, Normandy 1944, Color & Scale 01Published:
One of the most revered World War Two fighters, Republic’s P-47 has long been popular with kit manufacturers and modelers alike. If you favor this machine in its P-47C/D ‘Razorback’ format, Mushroom Model Publishing’s first new book in the Colour & Scale series may be only 16 pages but will have huge appeal in terms of reference… and in directing possible streams of thought concerning potential Colour schemes on your builds. Pages 1-3 are dedicated to side views of all variants along with upper and lower drawings in 1/72nd scale, while pages 4-6 are dedicated to side views of all variants along with upper and lower drawings in 1/48th scale. Pages 8-15 cover the camo/paint and nose art of 14 pilots who flew the Jugg. After careful research, I can… more |
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The Siegfried Line: Then and NowPublished:
The book comes in three distinct sections - the first is an in-depth analysis of the German "Westwall" defense system built between 1936 and 1944. This includes the build phases, the organization of the workforce and the political background. The second section looks at the Allied campaign to overcome the defenses of the Siegfried Line through the winter of 1944/45, focusing on three major operations by the US, British and Canadian armies. The third section deals with the perception of the Westwall in the eighty years since the war and then outlines a battlefield tour guide of those elements that still survive. Germany completed 2,000 bunkers by 1938 (p19) in a series of building programs that shifted emphasis to different places along the border. By May 1940, the… more |
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Hurricane MK IIc TropPublished:
Arma Hobby is a new company to me, so I jumped at the chance to build and review one of their new Hurricanes, the MKIIc. In the box you get 4 plastic sprues (one clear), canopy masks and a decal sheet. Construction starts with the wheel well and continues with the cockpit seat. Then you are guided to kind of cram the wheel well between the upper and lower wing parts and to assemble the rest of the cockpit. There are little slots for the wheel well to kinda slide the part on top, be sure you get that part aligned just right, or you will have trouble with the cockpit and closing the fuselage halves later. While the construction order is different from most other airplane kits, it is neither hard nor difficult. The only part that was a bit tricky was figuring out where the… more |
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SAR Angels & A Fleet AngelPublished:
Another large and informative decal set from AOA yet again with a wonderful decal set for Naval Search and Rescue birds for the US Navy H-60 Seahawk/Knighthawk family that covers, MH-60S helicopter family. This 1/35th scale decal sheet Search and Rescue bird covers the following squadrons for the Kitty Hawk family of kits (now owned by Zimi models in China): MH-60S
In the PackageThere are a total of 2 decal sheets provided that have been printed by Microscale Industries. 9 versions of Search and Rescue birds are in… more |
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Low-Viz Seahawks Family 2nd Edition DecalsPublished:
AOA Decals has done it yet again with a wonderful decal set for low-viz options (Part 2) for the US Navy H-60 Seahawk/Knighthawk family that covers MH-60S helicopters. This 1/35th scale decal sheet of the Low-Viz Seahawk Family, Part 2, covers the following squadrons for the Kitty-hawk family of kits (now owned by Zimi models in China): MH-60R
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MH-60T Jayhawk: CGAS Kodiak & CGAS New OrleansPublished:
This special 1/35 decal sheet is designed for Werner's Wings US Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk conversion set as an add-on sheet and has been approved by Werner's Wings. Four specific CGAS Kodiak MH-60T options are provided, all sporting Kodiak's unique dark blue tails with bear paw print and Big Dipper/Polaris markings, and each option with an aircrew award marking. Also provided are two options for CGAS New Orleans, the most recent MH-60T operator. What does the conversion to MH-60T entail you may ask: refurbished air frames, new digital avionics, communication, navigation and flight instrumentation. Basically, the interior of the aircraft will be new For those that don’t know, Floyd Werner is basically the helicopter guy for just about anything…..in a literal sense,… more |
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F-100 Super Sabre in Detail and Scale (Apple iBooks Digital edition)Published:
Company IntroFor those of us who have been in the game a while, Bert and Rock need no introduction. Detail & Scale has been pumping out great references and books longer than I have been alive (I’m 35 btw). I have a few physical copies of their publications, but this was the first foray in the digital content they provide. This book was already reviewed in its physical form so I will keep it short, sweet and to the point not stealing anyone else’s thunder or sound repetitive The book is broken down in the following sequence:
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Mutina 43 BC, Marc Antony’s Struggle for SurvivalPublished:
So, before we get into the specifics of the book. Here is a little about the author and illustrator. Dr Nic fields is the author of this publication and many others so he is not a stranger to the osprey family or to my memory. He’s a veteran of the Royal Marines, biochemist and historian so I guess you could say a jack of all trades. He does a lot of his research writing and editorials freelance. Peter Dennis is another star contributor of the Osprey book family and is a graduate of the Liverpool art college. He’s has illustrated hundreds of books and I have quite a few examples of them , a sharp eye for accuracy and consistency your not going to find a bigger name than Pete when it comes to the historical art community. Here we breakdown the contents of the book.… more |