Roger Rasor
Reviews By Author
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Cross & Cockade International Winter 2014 Vol. 45/4 JournalPublished:
The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International - Winter 2014 Vol. 45/4 - is the last of the journals that make up Volume 45. C&C I is the quarterly publication of the non-profit UK based organization known as The First World War Aviation Historical Society. They have continuously published these journals since 1970 with the objective of furthering the study of First World War Aviation History. This journal continues the organization’s mission by providing considerable information on a wide range of WWI aviation subjects…this time delivering an interesting and lengthy feature article about operations of the RNAS’s 3 Wing & 3 Squadron along with 203 Squadron RAF under the title ‘JUST ABOUT COURT MARTIALLED’. The journal’s cover image ‘Red-Nose Pup’, a painting by artist… more |
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Cross & Cockade International Autumn 2014 Vol. 45/3Published:
The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International is Autumn 2014. It is the third of four journals that make up Volume 45. C&C I is the quarterly publication of a non-profit UK based organization known as The First World War Aviation Historical Society. This organization has been publishing these journals since 1970 with the objective of furthering the study of First World War Aviation History. This journal continues the organization’s mission by providing a wealth of information on varied WWI aviation subjects…this time venturing into the realm of WWI Italian aviation before covering a substantial number of more typical Allied and Axis subjects. The cover of this journal features a painting by Ken Farmer of a pair of First… more |
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Eight Gun Melody (Part II) – Republic P-47D ThunderboltsPublished:
The second Republic P-47D Thunderbolt decal set recently released by A.M.D.G. Decals is #A48-006. It provides markings for one Razorback and three Bubbletop P-47Ds from four different fighter groups flying in the European theater. If a Thunderbolt is not already on your bucket list, this set may force you to reconsider the omission. As a matter of fact, it may motivate you to pencil in more than one P-47 project because all four schemes are very tempting candidates, and this set provides everything needed to complete each of the tempting subjects. ‘Everything’ in A.M.D.G. Decals’ vocabulary means ‘Everything’. There are two decal sheets in this set and they are packed with about as much as anyone could hope for (See the photo below to verify that). Bundled with the decalsheets… more |
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The RAF Be2E At War!Published:
To coincide with the display in the UK of two airworthy BE2E reproductions from New Zealand's TVAL earlier this year, Albatros Productions fortunately decided that Centenary Datafile 165 would continue telling the story of the first WWI British two-seater to see action in the Great War. This Datafile picks up where the story left off in Centenary Datafile 163, giving a chronological account of the sequential development of the BE2/BE2A/BE2B versions into the up-powered E version. Paul Hare (who also authored Datafile 163, devoted to covering the BE2/BE2A/BE2B versions) authored this well-researched and heavily illustrated monograph. Hare has made a special study of Royal Aircraft Factory designs in WWI and is recognized for his knowledge of the BE2 type. In this Datafile, his… more |
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Windsock World War Centenary Autumn 2014 - Vol.30, No.3Published:
Windsock World War Centenary Autumn 2014 is the third issue of Volume 30. Albatros Productions bills it as their “packed Autumn edition” because it provides readers with a great variety of top-notch modeling know-how and unique reference material. Packed is not a boast; this issue delivers a wealth of WWI aircraft modeling information along with historical and technical references. A dramatic close-up photo on the cover of a Wingnut Wings Hannover CI.II built by David Hardie kicks things off by spotlighting one of this issue’s main articles and a presentation of numerous Hannover CI.II color profiles featured in a two-page spread. Inside the cover the regular sections, Front Line News, covering a variety of current topics, Our Readers' Gallery, featuring color photos… more |
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US 500lb BombsPublished:
In this BRASSIN detail set, Eduard provides modelers with a quick and easy way to add a pair of highly realistic looking AN-M30 “general purpose – high explosive” 500lb bombs to a 1:32 scale aircraft model. The set includes resin and photo-etched brass parts and a small decal sheet for the color bands and stenciled identification. Two resin parts and three photo-etched parts make up each bomb and the decals add all markings needed for finishing the assembled and painted models. This multi-media combination promises realistic looking results. A folded full-color instruction sheet is included that provides all information needed to assemble the parts into highly detailed models of a standard 500lb bomb (and then paint & decal them). The assembly process is not difficult, but… more |
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Stearman PT-17Published:
Revell surprised model builders earlier this year by announcing they would be releasing a new Stearman PT-17 in 1:48 scale. It didn’t take long for some of those on the Internet who delight in predicting things to rumor that Revell was just going to rebox the long-standing Lindberg kit. Well, the predictions were wrong. Revell has presented us with a very nice…let’s say, state-of-the-art kit that is definitely a new tooling and offers a very nice alternative to the Lindberg kit at a very reasonable retail price. Originally known as the Model 75, the twin-seat Stearman biplane (also known as the “Kaydet”) became the primary trainer for most US military pilots during WWII. Thousands were built in Wichita KS beginning in the mid-1930s and continuing through the war years. After… more |
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USN N2S-3 (Yellow Peril) NAS Corpus Christi & NRAB DallasPublished:
Yellow Wings Decals has released the first aftermarket decal set for the new Revell 1/48 scale Stearman PT-17 kit. (Obviously, the decals in this set also are applicable to the long-standing Lindberg 1/48 scale PT-17 kits). There are no markings for an Army Air Force PT-17 in this set however. Instead, set 48-082 provides colorful markings for two of the U. S. Navy’s version of the PT-17…the N2S-3 ‘Yellow Peril’:
Both of these aircraft are finished overall in vivid Orange-Yellow #4 with lower landing gear legs left in natural metal. #317 sports 36” red fuselage and wing bands, identifying it as a Corpus Christy-based aircraft. The corresponding bands for #103 are willow… more |
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P-40E Warhawk Undercarrage CoversPublished:
Quickboost has recently added 1/32 scale undercarriage covers for the P-40E to their aftermarket parts line. They are specifically designed to replace those in the Hasegawa 1/32 scale kit. They are designed as drop in replacements for the kit parts. With some adjustment, they should work on the Revell kit as well. Detail is marginally better than the Hasegawa kit parts, but they offer one advantage: there are no seam lines or ejector pin marks for the modeler to eliminate. The parts are cast in Quickboost’s familiar gray resin on a single mold block. Parts can be separated easily from the casting block with a razor saw or a sharp #11 X-Acto blade. Since there is no flash, prep work is minimal. Installation of the doors is pretty simple as well; again, they are direct… more |
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Eight Gun Melody (Part 1) – Republic P-47D ThunderboltsPublished:
A.M.D.G. Decals has now set its sights on the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt…releasing two new decal sets for Razorback and Bubbletop versions. The first, A48-005, provides markings for four P-47Ds from four different fighter groups flying in the European theater…and they provide everything needed in this set to decal each of the subjects. When I say everything, I do mean everything. The set includes two decal sheets and both are packed with about as much as possible. Check out the photo below to verify that. Also, as the photos below show, the fold out instruction sheet and supplement that are included demonstrate how complete this set is. They are printed on both sides and not only provide full-color profile and plan view illustrations for each subject covered in the set with… more |