Roger Rasor
Reviews By Author
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Yankee Merlin Roars!!! (Part 1)Published:
I’ve heard some modelers say they can’t have too many Mustangs. For those who believe that, there is a decal company that seems to believe it too. A.M.D.G. Decals is a new company from Poland that is off to a great start…releasing four P-51 decal sets titled YANKEE MERLIN ROARS!!! (Parts I – IV), and they provide everything needed in each set to decal four different a/c. When I say everything, I do mean everything. The decal sheet included in each set is packed with about as much as anyone could hope for. Check out the photo below to verify that. The ‘ABOUT US’ tab on A.M.D.G Decals website provides modelers with an idea of the company’s dedication to quality, accuracy and completeness…a philosophy that is certainly reflected in their product. But, while… more |
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P-40 Tomahawk Early Square Back Export Seat with British Sutton HarnessPublished:
Ultracast has released a series of four highly detailed resin seats for early P-40s. This, the third one in the series (#48257) correctly represents the early square back export style seat with British Sutton harness that was standard issue for Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters that were in service with the RAF, RAAF and SAAF. One seat comes packaged in a zip-lock bag stapled to Ultracast’s familiar folded card. The seat is cast in a light tan color resin and comes on a small casting block with a minimum amount of casting flash that is easily removed with a sharp #11 blade. The review sample was first airbrushed with Mr. Color Interior Green and details were hand brushed with Vallejo acrylics. As the photo below shows, the finely cast details sculpted into this seat come alive… more |
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P-40 Tomahawk Early Square Back Export Seat with Wide Lap Belt HarnessPublished:
Ultracast has released a series of four highly detailed resin seats for early P-40s. This, the second one in the series (#48256) correctly depicts the early square back style seat with a wide lap belt harness that was installed in the Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters that were flown by the AVG. One seat comes packaged in a zip-lock bag stapled to Ultracast’s familiar folded card. The seat is cast in a light tan color resin and comes on a small casting block with a minimum amount of casting flash that is easily removed with a sharp #11 blade. The review sample was first airbrushed with Mr. Color Interior Green and details were hand brushed with Vallejo acrylics. As the photo below shows, the finely details cast into this seat come alive when painted. This aftermarket… more |
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P-40B/C Seat with Wide Lap Belt HarnessPublished:
Ultracast has released a series of four highly detailed resin seats for early P-40s. This seat (#48255) correctly represents the early style curved back seat that was installed in both pre-war and early-war USAAF Curtiss P-40 B/C fighters (as well as D and early E models). It comes packaged in a zip-lock bag stapled to Ultracast’s familiar folded card. The seat is cast in a light tan color resin and comes on a small casting block with a minimum amount of casting flash that is easily removed with a sharp #11 blade. The review sample was first airbrushed with Mr. Color Interior Green and details were hand brushed with Vallejo acrylics. As the photo below shows, the finely details cast into this seat come alive when painted. This seat is a fast and cost… more |
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Ernst Udet, WW1 Flying AcePublished:
The kit of Ernst Udet is one of three German World War One pilots currently offered in MiniArt’s 1:16 scale Historical Figures Series. Udet was the second highest scoring WWI German ace serving in the Great War (and the youngest), who later went on to become a world famous postwar air show performer and light plane manufacturer. He flew for the movies, was instrumental in the development of the Luftwaffe, advanced the concept of dive bombing and was a driving force in adopting the Stuka dive bomber. He lead a very colorful life, becoming a member of the Nazi party and struggled for years with alcoholism until he committing suicide after Germany invaded Russia in 1941. There have been (and currently are) numerous kits of his brightly colored Fokker D.VIIs available from… more |
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The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang Part 1 - Allison PoweredPublished:
Modellers Datafile #21 might arguably be considered the most complete reference book available for anyone intending to build a model of an early version of one of the best-known fighters of World War II, the North American P-51 Mustang. Later versions of the P-51, equipped with the Packard built Merlin 60 series engine, possessed excellent range and maneuverability that contributed to Mustangs being known primarily as a long-range escort fighters and ground attack fighter-bombers in nearly every combat zone during WWII (and later serving in that role in the Korean War). However, the early version of the Mustang, as originally designed, was built around the Allison V-170 engine, which had limited high-altitude performance that resulted in a different primary role for this iconic fighter… more |
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F4U-1 Corsair FlapsPublished:
Since Tamiya now has three 1/72 Corsair releases on the market, Aires has added a highly detailed set of F4U-1 Corsair dropped flaps to their line of aftermarket parts. This set enables modelers to build a 1/72 Corsair with flaps dropped without the need to carefully remove and modify the non-dropped flaps molded into the Tamiya kits’ wings. Complete flap units are provided for the left and right wings to make adding them to the model a fairly manageable task. The parts are designed to fit onto the wings as complete units once the modeler has carefully removed the non-dropped flaps molded into the kit wings. The instruction sheet says to trim and dry fit parts during assembly. That is good advice. I found it necessary to thin the trailing edges of the upper and lower wing… more |
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Cross & Cockade International Autumn 2013 Vol. 44/3Published:
The Cross & Cockade International is the quarterly publication of a non-profit organization known as The First World War Aviation Historical Society. The UK based organization has been publishing these journals since 1970 with the objective of furthering the study of First World War Aviation History. The Company overview on its Facebook page says “Cross and Cockade International can trace its history back to the 1960s. We have always attracted some of the premier historians in the field. Our current President is Air Vice Marshal Peter Dye (Rtd), Director-General of the RAF Museum. We publish a high-quality quarterly journal of original research into the subject.” NOTE: The journal… more |
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US WWII Era ParachutesPublished:
MMD-Squadron has added a 1/48 scale US WW II era parachute to their True Details resin aftermarket parts line. The parachute is sculpted to represent a chute in pre or post-mission repose with integral pack, cushion, harness and hardware visible. It is well sculpted with an amazing amount of detail for such a small item. This parachute would be a perfect diorama accent for any US WWII aircraft model, posed the way parachutes were typically placed on the wings or stabilizers of aircraft prior to a mission so pilots could quickly ‘suit up’ for a takeoff. Two parachutes come packaged on a blister card with a foam pad backing to protect the fragile features of the casting. They are molded in gray resin on a very thin layer of molding scrap. No assembly is required. They just need… more |
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Fokker D.VII F - Part 2Published:
The Build (Continued)The assembled engine dropped in place with little drama…but, because of the rather complex way the engine, engine bay framing and multi-part cowling align with the fuselage, I first carefully dry-fitted everything (and temporarily taped parts in place) to make sure there were no gaps between panel lines. Doing this also ensured that the front of the engine was centered in the opening in the cowl front. I cemented the engine in place and removed the engine panels to make the necessary adjustments as called out in the instructions. I had decided to finish the model in the markings of Ernst Udet (one of the schemes provided in the kit). Since Udet’s aircraft was one of the earlier versions of the D.VII F with the extra lower front cowling vent holes… more |