Editor's note: This review is for four related products: Spoked Wheels 700 x 175 Smooth Tires, Stock #- 48228; Spoked Wheels 700 x 175 Smooth Tires, Stock #- 48228; Spoked Wheels 700 x 175 Smooth Tires, Stock #- 48228; Late Style Wheels 700 x 175 Treaded Tires, Stock #- 48231. Price is in Canadian Dollars which at current writing is almost par with U.S. Dollar.

The Focke Wulf 190 has been kitted by every major kit manufacturer. Often times the kit wheels leave a bit to be desired, whether they were anemic or lack detail on either the hub, tread or brake side. Ultracast has provided an answer for both early and late model FW-190s. Molded in light cream colored resin the wheels are perfectly molded with no blemishes or imperfections. This is the typical quality that I’ve come to expect from Ultracast.

Introduction

When Monogram released the T’rantula in 1968, I was interested - another Tom Daniel design of a cool but hot rod. Problem was, I would have had to mow an extra lawn or two for the money (probably a whopping $3 or $4 back then) since my budget was quickly spent on Vietnam era aircraft and armor kits that I could watch on the news. I was pleased to see Revell re-release this kit in December 2010 so I could finally satisfy my curiosity.

My thanks go out to Revell for re-releasing and providing this kit for review and to IPMS USA for letting me do the review.

The UH-60 Blackhawk is the primary transport helicopter for the United States Army and Air Force. The UH-60 fills almost every need for transport, search and rescue, re-supply and even armed combat. The UH-60L is the National Guard version of this machine.

The Kit

Minicraft Models has had a niche market in helicopter models. I have built the 1/48 CH 46 Bull Frog and I was very impressed. When I received the Blackhawk kit I tore into it right away. The first thing I noticed was a date embossed in each tail boom of 1985. Well that dates it for me.

There is, of course, a bit of flash around the small parts but they are not insurmountable.

Kevin Dallimore’s book might be the one-stop shop for the figure painter. It briefly covers the basics of figure preparation and painting (showing step-by-step pictures of the 3-color method) on the first 30 pages and then dives into different painting styles and projects. Some of the techniques described in the book include: 5-color method, dry-brushing; diluted washes; non-metallic paint for metallic looking finishes; textured leather; ancient shield painting; skeletons and more.

The above techniques are applied to a wide range of subjects, from Napoleonic figures, to Ancient Romans, Sci-Fi, Fantasy figures (Orcs of all kinds and colors), WW2 paratroopers, Old West characters and animals. Step-by-Step pictures clearly explain and show how to achieve realistic finishes by methodically applying the techniques described in the book.

Although not as ‘famous’ as other U.S. aircraft of the Vietnam war, the B-57 Canberra was the first jet-powered American attack aircraft committed to the conflict. It carried out daily interdiction missions against enemy activity on the Ho Chi Minh Trail and also participated in classified ‘Black’ missions into Laos and Cambodia. The aircraft and her crews performed gallantly during the famous ‘Rolling Thunder’ missions. As well as being there at the beginning, the B-57 soldiered on for the duration of the Vietnam War from the basic B and C models (which did not even have control boosts or hydraulic aids to make maneuvering the aircraft easier or radar and advanced navigation systems for night bombing missions) all the way to the state-of-the-art G models.