Scott retired from the commercial nuclear industry with over thirty years of experience in Maintenance, Engineering, and Training. Prior to that he served on two aircraft carriers during his time in the U.S. Navy. He has been building models for over 50 years with his first kit being purchased with money from his grandparents for his sixth birthday. With a stash that consists of more aircraft than anything else, Scott still enjoys building a little bit of everything (including but not limited to tanks, cars, show cars, military vehicles (aside from tanks), ships, figures, real space, and some science fiction), which keeps his stash growing. Scott and his wife Fern reside in southwest lower Michigan, not far from South Bend, Indiana, and have three adult children and currently three grandchildren as well as a small dog and a large cat.
Scott Hollingshead
Reviews By Author
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AIM-4DPublished:
With development beginning in 1946, the Hughes AIM-4 Falcon, or more precisely, a version of a missile that would become the Falcon, was first launched for testing in 1949, and would become the first operational air-to-air missile of the U.S. Air Force. The AIM-4D, or GAR-2B, was the final version of the original missile, and around 4000 of these missiles were built with the first of them entering service in 1963. The missile had a less than spectacular combat record in Vietnam claiming five aircraft (four MiG-17’s and a single MiG-21) for 54 missiles launched, and by 1973, the AIM-4D was no longer operational. The missile was 79.5 inches long, had a 20-inch wingspan, and weighed 135 pounds. Travelling at Mach 3 on its solid fuel Thiokol M58 rocket, the missile had a range of six miles… more |
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Rest on MotorcyclePublished:
As the late Yogi Bera said, “it’s like déjà vu all over again.” In case you read my previous review on the MiniArt Harley Davidson WLA (kit 35080), some of this may look familiar as the kit includes the same motorcycle, but with a relaxed soldier onboard. The motorcycle and rider are both rendered well in this kit, which will add a unique model for those interested in a World War II motorcycle with a distinctive figure. Although I would recommend the motorcycle to more experienced builders, the kit is very nice overall once constructed, and will look great in any collection. Developed in 1940 by Harley-Davidson, the WLA model motorcycle was designed for use by the Army, and by the end of the war, over 90,000 bikes were produced. With its 3 3/8 gallon gas tank, the bike could… more |
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Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning IIPublished:
This kit was my first experience with a product from Orange Model, and to my knowledge, this was the first kit that they introduced, at least it was the first one that I noticed. This was actually a fun kit to build, as the engineering was on par with some of the manufacturers known for kits that are nearly flawless to assemble. The plane itself built up with very few issues, the tow tractor that was included provided some challenges with the small parts, and photoetched items, and the photoetch tie downs require the most experience to complete. If you are interested in adding a 1/72 scale copy of the US Navy’s newest jet to your collection, this is currently the only one available, and it is a great kit. As I had the privilege of reviewing the F-35C in 1/48 scale produced by… more |
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AIM-9J SidewinderPublished:
Developed as another Sidewinder for the U.S. Air Force, the AIM-9J was the follow-up to their E-model, and was based on the U.S. Navy AIM-9B. The AIM-9J first saw service in the skies over Vietnam in July 1972 during Operation Linebacker. It introduced the use of some solid-state components, and being equipped with a longer burning motor, the AIM-9J could remain in flight for 40 seconds. Hercules/Aerojet produced 6700 of the missiles, both new, and from re-purposed AIM-9B missiles. The AIM-9J measured 10 feet in length, 22 inches across the rear fins, had a diameter of 5 inches, and weighed in at 170 pounds. The AIM-9J was considered the first missile capable of use in a dogfight as it could be launched at up to 7.5g. This missile is credited with aerial victories over one MiG-21, and… more |
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German Motorcycle and SidecarPublished:
Adding to their line of detail parts for military models, Hauler has recently released a resin and photo-etched parts set for the Tamiya 1/48 scale German Motorcycle & Sidecar (Tamiya kit 32578). The set is comprised of seven resin and seventy photo-etched items. I would highly recommend the small photo-etched parts for experienced modelers, as removing the parts from the fret is a delicate process in itself, and maintaining control of these items through installation can be a challenge. In the end however, the results can certainly be worth the effort. Along with the aforementioned 77 parts, the set also comes with a single page set of instructions that show what to remove from the kit parts as well as how to install the detail parts. I will caution the builder to pay… more |
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A-10C Thunderbolt II "184FS Flying Razorbacks"Published:
In one of the latest additions to the Hasegawa line of modern military jet aircraft comes the venerable A-10C in a special release that includes markings for Fighter Squadron 184, the “Flying Razorbacks” as depicted on the box top. Also included are markings for the 163rd Fighter Squadron, the “Blacksnakes”, who operate out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. The kit builds up reasonably well, as I have often found to be the case with Hasegawa products, and will make a fine addition for those wanting to add an updated Warthog to his or her collection. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, more commonly known as the Warthog, first entered service in 1976 after the first prototype flew in 1972. Designed for close air support for ground troops, armed with the 30 mm General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger cannon… more |
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AIM-9E SidewinderPublished:
Developed as a Sidewinder for the U.S. Air Force, the AIM-9E was based on the U.S. Navy AIM-9B, but with some enhancements, based on early combat challenges of the B- model. The cooling for the detector used Peltier thermoelectric cooling, and the forward canards were changed. Ford produced 5000 of the missiles from re-purposed AIM-9B missiles. The AIM-9E measured 9 feet, 10 inches long, 22 inches across the rear fins, had a diameter of 5 inches, and weighed in at 164 pounds. The AIM-9E is credited with aerial victories over six MiG-21 aircraft during the Vietnam War being launched from F-4D and E Phantom II’s of the US Air force. This Eduard Brassin set consists of four missiles and optional nose covers that are cast in gray resin, a single photoetch fret that holds the… more |
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German Soldier-Bicyclist, 1939-1942Published:
If you read my previous review on Master Box Limited’s release of the German Army bicycle (kit 35165), some of this will look familiar. If you are looking to add something unique to your collection of 1/35 scale German military vehicles, or to spice up your next diorama, Master Box Limited has now released their bicycle kit with a rider figure. Although it is a challenging build, those modelers with photo etch parts experience will be able to turn out one of the rarely seen implements used by the German Army throughout World War 2. As the onset of WWII approached, most nations were putting the simple bicycle to use as a means of faster transportation for troops and messengers that did not rely on anything but the power of the rider. In researching my build, I found a multitude… more |
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F4F Wildcat Landing GearPublished:
Scale Aircraft Conversions is marking their Silver Anniversary this year, with twenty-five years of supplying resin and white metal parts to model builders. This is the fifth landing gear set from SAC that I have reviewed, and once again, they have provided an excellent metal option for kit-supplied landing gear. This set is intended for the 1/32 scale F4F Wildcat that was released by Trumpeter in 2002. The purpose of this replacement set is to provide stronger landing gear that is adjustable if necessary to obtain proper angles. Even with no previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no issue installing. The beauty of the white metal used by Scale Aircraft Conversions for their gear is that it will hold up to… more |
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F3H Demon Cockpit Detail SetPublished:
If you are looking to improve the cockpit, both inside and out, for your 1/72 scale EMHAR F-3H Demon, I would direct your attention to this cockpit and canopy set from Pavla Models. Recommended for the EMHAR kit released in 1991, this set provides a new front end for the plane in detailed resin, which is a step above the old plastic detail provided in the kit. Modelers with some experience in using resin parts should have no issues with utilizing this set, and experience with vacuum-formed canopies will be very important if using the windscreen and canopy included in the set. From my perspective, Pavla Models continues to quietly add new items to their product lines in order to add detail to existing kits; many of these lines are intended for aircraft modelers, but there are… more |