Roger Rasor
Reviews By Author
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Pre-War Spitfire DecalsPublished:
Iliad Design continues to add interesting decal sets to their line. They have selected seven unique early Spitfires for their most recent 1/72 set #72009. Any of the markings will make a 1/72 Mk.I (actually, Mk.1a) stand out among the usual fare. Included on a single sheet are markings for:
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Windsock Worldwide Vol. 28 No. 4Published:
The July/August 2012 issue of WINDSOCK Worldwide continues to demonstrate why the periodical can be relied upon to deliver accurate reference material for model builders interested in World War I aviation. The cover features a Ronny Barr profile of SE5a F8983 of No. 85 Squadron, RAF in 1918 and a photo of Lance Krieg's 1/48 Roden RAF SE5a to hint at what’s inside. Before getting to the main articles, the issue kicks off with an extended Reader’s Gallery that features three outstanding models: a 1:4 scale AMC DH1, a 1:5 scale Bristol Boxkite and a 1/32 scale Fokker F.I. Next up is the FRONTLINE NEWS column, followed by LOGBOOK ENTRIES that presents reviews of five new WWI books/journals. Following that, Lance Krieg continues his ‘Modelling Master Class’ with Chapter Seven:… more |
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J2M3 Raiden, 352 Flying GroupPublished:
Among the most un-Japanese looking fighters of WWII were the rather chubby J2M Raidens that were designed and built as bomber interceptors for the Imperial Japanese Navy. They were reasonably successful in defending the homeland against U.S. high-level bombers in the final year of the war. And, over the years, many kits have been offered by Hasegawa, Tamiya, and Oataki (later marketed under a number of other brand names) to build various versions of these interesting interceptors. They are appealing subjects and many of us probably have a few of these kits salted away for a rainy day. Hasegawa has released a new boxing of their 1/48 J2M3 Type 21 in a limited edition kit. The parts will look familiar to anyone who has looked at the contents of previous releases of this model… more |
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MiG-21SM/M/MF Fishbed J Pitot TubePublished:
Master Model from Poland has earned the reputation as the source for exquisite metal pitot tubes, gun barrels, and numerous other machined metal detail parts for all scales. As the promotional message on their packaging suggests, their products provide “reality in miniature”…and they are miniature masterpieces. Master Model also is proving to be very prolific. They now have added to their growing line of detail parts a 1/72 scale version of their beautiful multi-part pitot tube for the MiG-21. It is virtually a downsized version of those they offer in both 1/48 and 1/32 scales. And, like the larger scale versions, this one comes packaged in multiple plastic pouches, stapled to a display card, and includes two turned metal parts, a thin photo-etch fret, and a small instruction… more |
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D3A1 Type 99 Val Dive BomberPublished:
If you are looking for a head-scratching challenge…this is the kit for you. Cyber Hobby’s new 1/72 scale kit of the Aichi D3A1 Type 99 Val is guaranteed to provide you with hours and hours of the same kind of entertainment you anticipate when buying a die-cut puzzle...but, this one carries a MSRP of $41.75. The colorful box top painting shows a pair of wartime Vals about to deliver their payload, and the many state-of-the-art CAD illustrations and profiles on the other box panels suggest this is the best kit to reproduce the aircraft in miniature. I had hoped I would get to review this one and soon learned why my mother often said, “Be careful what you wish for.” A good-looking model is certainly possible, but only if you have reference material to consult, and begin the project… more |
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Trytool TweezersPublished:
From time to time, Hasegawa blesses us with a new high quality tool that seems like just the thing that model builders need to make their tasks a bit easier. The most recent item in Hasegawa’s Trytool line is exactly that. It is a set of precision stainless steel tweezers with a pair of small flat tips that should hold anything firmly during parts assembly or painting. The tweezers Hasegawa identifies as Finish Tweezers come in a clear plastic folding carton with a soft plastic protective sleeve covering the tip. The information printed on the back of the package is in Japanese, but the use of the tool is universally known, so instructions really aren’t necessary. The tweezers are on a par with those manufactured by Xuron and Dumont. They are machined to a high tolerance… more |
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Soviet KM-1 Ejection SeatPublished:
As might be predicted, with Eduard’s numerous MiG 21 releases on the market, Aires has now added a highly detailed 1/48 scale Soviet KM-1 ejection seat to their line of aftermarket parts. By incorporating both cast resin components and numerous small photo-etch parts, Aires has come up with a remarkably accurate rendition of this style of ejection seat. So many parts are involved that one might describe this aftermarket seat as a kit in itself. The photos below show the components and the finished product. With a little care, each of the p/e parts can be removed from the fret and formed as required to fit their respective roles. Some of them require folding to position them correctly. A photo or two of a real KM-1 seat (with its tangle of belts and straps) will be a valuable… more |
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Junkers Ju-52Published:
If you are tired of big building projects and long for a quick and easy fix…Zvezda has just the right medicine. It’s a 1/200 scale snap kit of the venerable old Junkers Ju 52, complete with a model stand and a war game playing (movement) card. Yes, the main reason this kit exists is as something to be used by the war game segment of our hobby. The Junkers Ju 52 (nicknamed Tante Ju – "Auntie Ju" – and Iron Annie) was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. During WW II it was used by the Luftwaffe as a troop and cargo transport and served briefly (earlier, during the Spanish Civil War) as a medium bomber. This 1/200 scale kit can be assembled in a few minutes to serve its primary… more |
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Japanese Road RollerPublished:
1/48 model builders now have a way to include a Japanese Road Roller in their WWII Japanese aircraft dioramas or to display as an unique stand-alone subject. Belcher Bits offers a mixed media kit of the IJN road roller that U.S. Marines found on the unfinished airfield construction site when they landed on Guadalcanal in 1942 and captured what would later be named Henderson Field. The kit is packaged in a zip-lock bag and includes 14 cast resin parts, four metal parts, and five pieces of styrene strip and channel stock. The resin parts are well detailed, generally free of pinholes, and remarkably tolerant of flexing. Casting blocks are minimal and easy to remove with an X-acto blade or saw. A folded instruction sheet tells you how long to cut the styrene pieces and where to attach them… more |
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Messerschmitt Me 109 Decals Part 5Published:
I must admit that I had not carefully examined any 1/72 Lifelike decals before I received two sets to review. When they arrived, I realized I’ve been missing something…something rather impressive. If Lifelike set # 72-020 is typical of other sets (and the other set I received indicates it is)…they will almost make you want to peal the stretch wrapping off a new kit box and start clipping parts. Lifelike decals appear to come from people who know something about the subjects they cover, are focused on delivering high quality…and, who have figured out how to do it right! The sets include careful research, the original artwork looks accurate, the print registration is excellent, the colors are vivid, the film is very thin and the subjects covered are most appealing. This… more |