Review Author
Fred Wilms
Published on
November 7, 2012
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$49.95

Items in the Box

The model is made from injection molded plastic, gray in color. The plans were made up in book form, printed on both sides. Decal sheet, photo-etched, cable and hose, as well as simulated glass parts were included.

Construction

I started with the lower portion of the tank body, adding running gear and springs. Next, the back and front cover plates, with details, hooks, and exhaust system were added. I pre-painted, as the assembly progressed. Next came the interior details, seats, transmission, and drive shaft, with pre-painting as the assembly progressed. The overhead cover was added next, with machine guns, turret, cannons, and ammo storage container. The tank treads were then assembled to the body. I then assembled the fuel trailers – note: there were enough extra parts for a second fuel trailer, with the exception of the wheels, axles, barrel, and barrel straps. These items were scratch built.

Review Author
Fred Wilms
Published on
November 7, 2012
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$82.00

History: The YA-12 light artillery tractors were developed by NATI Designers and launched at the Yaroslavskiy Avtomobilniy Zavod YaAZ-Yaroslav Automobile Plant. In 1943, the United States supplied a large quantity of the U.S.-made GMC-4-71 four cylinder, two stroke, 110 horsepower engines under lend-lease contract. Production started in 1943, and within 12 months a total of 285 units were built. In 1945, production of YA-11s and 12s reached 1,270.

Items in the Box: The model is made from injection molded plastic, gray in color. The plans were made up of a book form, printed on both sides. Clear molded plastic windows, photo etch, and a decal sheet were supplied.

Review Author
Fred Wilms
Published on
November 7, 2012
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$39.99

History

The Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship, for and by the U.S. Navy in the mid-1910’s. The ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of “super dreadnoughts” battleships. The Arizona had an overall length of 608 ft., beam 97 ft, and draft of 29 ft, 3 in. The ship had four direct-drive Parsons steam turbines, each of which drove four 12 ft. 5 in. diameter propellers. The Arizona’s designed speed was 21 knots. The Arizona carried 12 .45 caliber 14 in. guns in four triple gun turrets. The Arizona took part in several exercises, escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference, was regularly used for training exercises, assisted in the Long Beach earthquake of 1933 with disaster relief, and was featured in the Jimmy Cagney film Here Comes the Navy.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
November 8, 2012
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$37.00

A few years ago, Tamiya released an all new 1/35th scale version of the Matilda Mk.III/IV, having produced an earlier kit of this venerable British tank back in the 1970’s. Those who build in 1/48th scale hoped that eventually Tamiya would downsize their new 35th kit and allow the modeler to have an alternative to the 35-year old Bandai 48th scale Matilda, which was selling on the collectors circuit for upwards of $100. Tamiya has kindly obliged!

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
November 8, 2012
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$15.00

The July/August 2012 issue of WINDSOCK Worldwide continues to demonstrate why the periodical can be relied upon to deliver accurate reference material for model builders interested in World War I aviation. The cover features a Ronny Barr profile of SE5a F8983 of No. 85 Squadron, RAF in 1918 and a photo of Lance Krieg's 1/48 Roden RAF SE5a to hint at what’s inside. Before getting to the main articles, the issue kicks off with an extended Reader’s Gallery that features three outstanding models: a 1:4 scale AMC DH1, a 1:5 scale Bristol Boxkite and a 1/32 scale Fokker F.I. Next up is the FRONTLINE NEWS column, followed by LOGBOOK ENTRIES that presents reviews of five new WWI books/journals. Following that, Lance Krieg continues his ‘Modelling Master Class’ with Chapter Seven: Armament, Pt.

Review Author
Chip Jean
Published on
November 8, 2012
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$75.99

What's in the Box

The box, with a very nice photograph of one of the featured aircraft in pristine condition on the top, is crammed full of plastic and is a typical example of Hasegawa's practice of getting the most out of their molds. There are two sprues specifically identified for the TA-4, one labeled "A-4M,” with the remainder of the plastic sprues being labeled "A-4." There is an additional sprue of a material, identified as "UR," that has a tail pipe extension and blade antennas specifically for an Israeli TA-4. The kit instructions recommend CA glue for these parts, so they're probably not plastic, yet they come on a sprue and feel and cut softer than resin or plastic. For purposes of this review, right or wrong, I'll call them urethane. Since there are parts for different A-4 versions, there will be parts left over.

Book Author(s)
John Brennan
Review Author
Howie Belkin
Published on
November 8, 2012
Company
Hellgate Press
MSRP
$31.95

The most visited site in Washington DC continues to be the Vietnam Wall, listing the almost 59,000 young American men and women who died as a result of serving there. The interest in that War continues unabated for many reasons. For modelers, the many aircraft, military vehicles and ships that served offer many interesting subjects to model. The abundance of excellent 35mm cameras and color film made that war’s camouflage and markings the best documented to that time. The predominance of helicopters earned it the moniker “The Helicopter War,” and indeed, it revolutionized warfare.

Book Author(s)
John Brennan
Review Author
Howie Belkin
Published on
November 9, 2012
Company
Stackpole Books
MSRP
$26.95

Most modelers prefer that the camouflage and markings on their models be historically accurate, but we rely on someone else to do the grunt research work. Before I went to Vietnam, I was already a modeler and IPMS member. I had a WWII modeler friend and mentor, Joe Lynch, who advised me to take lots of photos of anything I might want to build a model of when I came home. He said there was no way I’d remember serial numbers and exact colors and so on, and he was right. Luckily, just before coming home, I remembered, bought a camera, and took photos from every angle of the helicopter I flew in the most. I didn’t get to take many other photos, as I got the camera too late into my tour. I don’t think it mattered as I didn’t really have many photo ops since my eye was supposed to be looking thru a gunsight, not a camera lens. At this point, I was “getting short” – I only had a couple months left to my tour.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
November 9, 2012
Company
Happy Medium Press
MSRP
$23.85

Nothing makes for a great day than to get a fantastic magazine in the mail and no big plans for the evening! Issue number 27 of Sci-fi and Fantasy Modeller, which is published by Happy Medium Press in the United Kingdom, covers in-depth builds and reviews of Sci-fi subjects from vehicles to figures and back again.

In Volume 27, there are 13 distinct articles covering this area of modeling and they are:

Review Author
Jack Kennedy
Published on
November 10, 2012
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.25

This is a beautiful set of undercarriage doors for the Kinetic (Italeri) 1/32 F-86F Sabre. While the kit doors are nice, these are just wonderful. They are scale thickness and have great detail. They are molded in grey resin and have no seams or flash.

I haven’t started any of my many 1/32 Sabres, but I am looking forward to using them on all of them. I also liked the price of $ 10.25. That is quite a deal.

I would highly recommend this set to put your F-86 over the top. I wish to thank Quickboost and Steve Collins at IPMS/USA for giving me this detail set to review.