Roger Rasor
Reviews By Author
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WWII Luftwaffe Aircrew Parachutes (3 types)Published:
MMD-Squadron continues to release unique parachutes in their True Details 1/32 scale resin aftermarket parts line. The latest are three WWII Luftwaffe aircrew parachutes, sculpted to represent how aircrew chutes would appear in pre- or post-mission repose with integral pack, cushion, harness, and hardware seen in something of a heap. These parachutes would be a perfect diorama accent for any WWII Luftwaffe aircraft model, posed in the way parachutes were typically placed strategically on the wings or stabilizers of aircraft prior to a mission so pilots could quickly suit-up for a takeoff…or the way they would appear casually left on… more |
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Focke Wulf Fw-190A Control SurfacesPublished:
Quickboost has released a complete set of replacement control surfaces for modelers who wish to finish their Tamiya’s 1/72 Focke Wulf Fw-190A-3 with the rudder deflected and stabilizers dropped. These parts were available previously in two Quickboost sets (QB 72 309 – Stabilizers & QB 72 311 – Rudders). But, now Quickboost offers everything in one set. The parts are cast in the typical Quickboost medium gray resin that is both flexible and resilient. Detail is crisp, with recessed panel lines that are curiously close to those found on the kit parts. It looks like Quickboost started with the Tamiya kit parts, cut them apart, and added a groove in the stabilizers so the elevators will fit properly in whatever position the modeler desires. It also appears that Quickboost added… more |
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Bf-109F (early) Replacement SeatPublished:
Quickboost now offers a 1/48 scale early-style conversion seat to replace the two-part injection molded seat parts found in the Zvezda Bf-109F-2 kit. The seat provided on the sprues in Zvezda’s kit builds into a replica of what was fitted into the late-model Bf-109F-2 and, to add to the matter, it has a conspicuous ejection pin depression in the center of the pan that must be filled and smoothed out. The Quickboost resin seat represents the earlier style seat that includes an integrated seat back. Quickboost’s seat also offers superior detail than what’s provided in the kit, a thinner profile, a separate armor back plate...and there is no ejection pin cavity that needs filling. Note that the model builder must add seat belts to either seat. The parts are molded in Quickboost’s… more |
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Windsock Datafile 160, Nieuport NighthawkPublished:
Many aviation history buffs and WWI model aircraft builders know it is not unusual for Albatros Productions to come up with something relatively unknown for a 2-4 page article in their quarterly Windsock Worldwide magazine. But, occasionally Ray Rimell and his team collect enough information to justify an entire publication on the subject, and that publication is known as a Windsock Datafile. That appears to have happened in the case of the latest one. In Datafile 160, Author Colin A. Owers has amassed and delivered a wealth of information in words and pictures (70 in total) in his study of the frontline fighter that never was: the Nieuport Nighthawk. The interesting presentation includes the story of the various often-forgotten types that were generated from… more |
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Windsock Worldwide Vol.29, No.4Published:
The July/August 2013 edition of Windsock Worldwide is the fourth issue of Volume 29, and the multiple images on the colorful cover foretell three of the features in this issue. A photo of a pilot astride an Albatros D.Va suggest this issue’s ongoing coverage of 1/32 scale WWI figures. A close-up photo of a bare bones Camel promotes a preview of the new 1/16 scale Hasegawa kit, and a colorful SE5a/E side profile is a sample of one of this issues’ main features. Also of note is the cover masthead declaration that this edition begins the recognition of next year’s World War One Centenary. It all sets the stage for another excellent edition of Windsock Worldwide. Before getting to the main features, this issue begins with a wealth of relevant news and other reports… more |
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Bf-109E-3 Paint MaskPublished:
Eduard now offers a mask set for Cyber Hobby’s recently released Bf-109E-3 kit. The set provides multiple pieces for masking the clear parts and wheels. Like other Eduard mask sets, it is made of Kabuki tape (similar to Tamiya’s masking tape) and provides precut masks for the kit’s windscreen, canopy, and wheels. The masks will adhere well to any flat or curved surface, so masking is easily accomplished and the masks can be removed after paining is completed. A simple instruction sheet is included to guide the masking process. This set should make masking most parts and painting a reasonably quick process with little or no drama. The masks for the wheel hubs fit nicely. Those for the center section of the canopy also fit well, as do those for the windscreen (with a little… more |
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Lockheed Hudson Mk. IV/V Correct CowlingsPublished:
Quickboost now offers a pair of resin engine cowlings for the 1/72 scale Italeri Mk.IV/V Hudson kit. The Quickboost cowlings are one-piece moldings that are designed to be drop-in replacements for the kit’s two-piece cowlings. After the engines are attached to the nacelles, the one-piece cowlings simply slide over the engines. There does not appear to be any effort on Quickboost’s part to improve upon the excellent details molded into the kit parts. Instead, the purpose of these replacement cowlings is simply to ease kit construction by avoiding the need to assemble the pieces and clean up the two seams along the centerline of each of the cowlings when the kit parts are used, thus avoiding the need to replace/rescribe details. See the comparison photo below of the Quickboost cowling (… more |
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Ki-27 ‘Nate’ AcesPublished:
Volume 103 in Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series details the interesting story of the Nakajima’s Ki-27 and the pilots who prevailed while flying the little fighter. The “Nate,” as it became known to most Westerners, contributed to a prevailing myth among aviation experts during the early years of WWII that Japanese aircraft were almost impossible to best in a dogfight. The nimble aircraft was fast enough and agile enough to give well-trained Japanese pilots the edge over almost any adversary as quickly as the fighter could be supplied to the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF). The Nate achieved its first successes during the campaigns in China in 1938. More advanced than its opponents in that theatre, the Ki-27 quickly gained supremacy as its pilots found the aircraft… more |
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Sea Hawk Ejection Seat with Safety BeltsPublished:
Quickboost now offers a 1/48 scale three-piece resin ejection seat to replace the nine-part injection-molded seat found in the Trumpeter Sea Hawk kit, or the resin one found in the Classic Airframes kit. The multi-part ejection seat found on the sprues in Trumpeter’s kit builds into a nice, but somewhat unconvincing, replica of what you would see in the prototype. The resin seat in the Classic Airframes kit is much nicer, but requires the modeler to add PE belts to the seat, and the kit is now out of production. The Quickboost seat offers superior detail than what’s provided in either detail set, plus it includes nicely molded safety belts (the photos below show the level of delicate detail molded into the parts). The Quickboost seat also appears to be better proportioned. In the… more |
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F-86F Ejection Seat with Safety BeltsPublished:
Quickboost now offers a resin 1/48 scale three-piece resin ejection seat to replace the injection molded seat found in the various F-86F kits marketed by Hasegawa (also should fit Academy kits). The Quickboost seat offers a more correctly proportioned seat with superior detail than provided in the kits, plus it includes nicely molded safety belts (the photos below show the level of delicate detail molded into the parts). See the comparison photo below to determine the difference in the Quickboost seat (on the right) to the Hasegawa kit’s rather basic seat part (on the left). The parts are molded in Quickboost’s familiar gray resin on reasonably small casting blocks. The quality of the molding is flawless, with no bubbles, pinholes, or flash to deal with. A sharp #11 X-Acto blade… more |