Walt Fink
Reviews By Author
Air Do Boeing 737-700Published: March 31, 2014 Hasegawa has been releasing many of its kits as Limited Edition issues during the last few years, and this iteration of its new-tool “advanced 737” kit in the colors of Air Do---the relatively new identity of Hokkaido Airlines---follows suit. The moldings and parts are the same as previous issues, with white fuselage halves and gray for all other parts. (Photo 37Parts.jpg) The kit comes with a… more |
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Mitsubishi F-1Published: September 7, 2021 Retired from active service in 2006, The F-1 was the JASDF’s first Japanese-designed and -manufactured supersonic fighter, and was essentially the same airframe as the two-seat Mitsubishi T-2 trainer, but had a solid “hood” in place of the second canopy, along with assorted weapons capabilities and internal differences. The similarity in appearance to the SEPECAT Jaguar has some merit, though… more |
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Sea Vampire F.20 with Scale Aircraft Conversions Metal GearPublished: September 10, 2021 Included with this review
Cyber-Hobby’s Sea Vampire kit is a variant based on their Vampire FB.5 kit, with the inclusion of additional parts unique to the carrier-capable version. All parts are beautifully molded and… more |
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Vampire Landing GearPublished: September 10, 2021 SAC continues their production of replacement landing gear parts for various kits. This set, engineered for the newly tooled 1/72 Airfix Vampire T.11, is a faithful and delicate copy of the kit parts, but undoubtedly stronger. In the photo below the plastic kit parts are on top with the SAC parts below them for comparison. I was impressed with the thinness of the main gear doors and… more |
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SB2U-2 Vindicator "Marines Go To War"Published: September 11, 2021 Vought’s Vindicator was designed in 1934 in response to the U.S. Navy’s requirement for a new all-in-one bomber, torpedo bomber, and reconnaissance platform, and was first produced in 1937. Ultimately, the SB2U was more successful as a movie star than a weapon of war, being featured in the motion picture “Dive Bomber”. Vindicators were used by the Marines of VMSB-241 at the battle of Midway,… more |
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Lockheed T2V-1/T-1A SeastarPublished: February 10, 2020 Lockheed’s derivative of the venerable T-33 as the Navy’s carrier-capable jet trainer, the T2V/T-1A bears a strong family resemblance to the T-Bird, but was a far different animal. A redesigned and strengthened wing with leading edge droops, different flaps, and boundary layer control was a big item, while a strengthened fuselage and gear, plus the raised rear cockpit for better visibility by… more |
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Douglas C-47 SkytrainPublished: June 27, 2013 The first release of C-47/DC-3 kits from Roden has been issued as a C-47B from the 53rd TCW, 437th TCG, 83rd TCS. The parts have some nicely engraved detail on them, but on my sample it wasn’t entirely consistent. It looked great on the wings, tail, and the sides of the fuselage, but on the top and bottom of the fuselage halves, it faded out and was pretty faint. The rear door is molded as a… more |
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C-46D JASDF Transport AircraftPublished: September 11, 2021 Platz has added to their stable of excellent kits with its issue of the Curtiss C-46D, in their JASDF series. The size of the real aircraft means that even in 1/144 scale, this is a pretty good-size model and doesn’t require micro-surgery to work on. The kit’s molded in light gray plastic with beautifully engraved panel lines and detail. Rather than pins and sockets, the fuselage… more |
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AD-6 Skyraider "VA-65 Tigers"Published: March 7, 2013 Good news – Hasegawa has re-issued its Skyraider kit, too long absent from the hobby store shelves. Their first boxing comes with decals for an aircraft of VA-65 from the USS Enterprise – featured on the box art – plus optional markings for the CAG aircraft of VA-165 aboard the USS Oriskany. You’ll see two models in an accompanying photo, but note there’s only one model in the box – I thought… more |
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1950 Oldsmobile Club CoupePublished: February 10, 2020 Rockets Away! Revell’s new kit of what was essentially the first factory muscle car is a welcome nod to us “longer-lived” modeler-folks who can recall the marriage of GM’s first OHV V-8 and Oldsmobile’s clean styling as being either our first cars or someone in our family’s. The phrase “Not your Father’s Oldsmobile” comes to mind and no…this one wasn’t…exactly…but my Dad did have a ’51 Eighty-… more |