Walt Fink
Reviews By Author
|
'58 Thunderbird Convertible 2' N 1Published:
Monogram’s venerable ’58 Thunderbird kit---first released in 1964---has been updated and re-packaged under the “Car Show” banner, meaning it can be built stock or with extra customizing parts in the kit---including a double-bubble clear top of really heroic proportions. Moilded in white plastic, the kit has just a couple of fit issues, but is generally an easy build, and despite its age, can hold its own with today’s releases. Since I grew up “back in the day” with these classic cars, I opted to build the kit stock. I had some questions with the instructions’ colors for the engine components, so eventually consulted a website for “Squarebird” enthusiasts (www.tbirdranch.com) and though there was a bit of conflicting info there too, I… more |
|
2002 Camaro 2'N1Published:
Monogram’s re-released their 2002 Camaro kit as a two-in-one offering in the “Motor-City Muscle” series, with decals and extra parts for a stock SS or Z28, or optionally, the 35th Anniversary SS Edition. It’s molded in white plastic, and for the most part is a pretty easy build, though scraping mold lines from parts as well as cleaning up edges and mating surfaces will go a long way to help things fit better. Planning the build: on my sample, dry-fitting things at the beginning of construction revealed that both the front clip and rear bumper were a little too wide for the body shell, so rather than waiting to attach them until final assembly as the instructions specified, I glued the front to the body shell first and faired it in so the parts matched. I reasoned… more |
|
Corvette ZR1Published:
The KitRevell's new release of Chevrolet's uber-Muscle Car is molded in white plastic, and is a modification of their basic Corvette mold, with extra parts included specific to the ZR1. A little reference to part numbers is needed because the regular Corvette C6 ones will fit on the ZR1, but I’m not sure things like the exhausts and headers would match up if they were interchanged. The build is straightforward with no vices, though a little parts cleanup helps things fit together better. The four-lobe Eaton supercharger isn't a great fit to the engine block unless the top of the block is sanded flatter along its seam. On the plus side, the headers have real locating pins to fit into the block, not just nubs which sit in shallow depressions. Among the ZR1-… more |
|
F-8K/F-8A CrusaderPublished:
Platz has re-released their F-8C kit as a dual build F-8K/F-8A---molded in light gray plastic with excellent detail and recessed panel lines. Two complete kits are included in the box, with three choices of markings. A little reference material comes in handy, as a couple clues on the kit are subtle and the instructions, though complete, are in Japanese except for the part numbers and color callouts. Some parts in the kit aren't for use on the A and K variants. |
|
Mitsubishi Zero A6M5c Model 52cPublished:
Sweet's 1/144 scale Zero is molded in light gray plastic and features beautifully-done recessed panel lines typically seen on much larger kits. (See photo #1) Dare I say "exquisite"? That was my overall impression of the finesse and crispness of all the parts. Two complete kits are included in the box, with seven choices of markings given on the Cartograf decals. This kit was a big step (in a smallish sense) for me. I had never built a Sweet kit before, and don't know much about Japanese subjects other than airliners. There are multiple parts in the kit -- some not for use -- so I had to watch the part numbers pretty closely. I was really favorably impressed with the fit of everything. The only place I needed to use putty was on the belly where the trailing edge of the one-… more |