Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
December 1, 2012
Company
Minicraft Model Kits
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$26.99

The Aircraft

The C-118 was the military version of the Douglas DC-6A. Probably the most famous C-118 was President Truman’s VC-118, named “Independence,” which still resides at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

I am lucky enough to know a crew member from a C-118. Bill Mathay was an Air Force Navigator who served in World War 2, Korea, and even passed through Vietnam during the war there. In the late 1950s, Bill was stationed at PACAF Headquarters, Hickam AFB, Hawaii. Bill told me that he was very impressed by the comfort of the C-118 and the size of the passenger compartment windows compared to the other planes he flew in.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
December 1, 2012
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$29.95

Recently, Eduard released photoetched detail sets for the 1/72 scale Hobby Boss F-14A, and these included both an interior as well as an exterior set. Having been fortunate enough to receive both sets for review, I will begin with my evaluation of the interior detail set. Upon opening this set, you will find two frets of photoetched parts, one being pre-painted and self-adhesive, the other being unpainted metal with no adhesive, along with a single-sheet page of directions. This was my first experience with an Eduard self-adhesive detail set, and I greatly enjoyed the encounter. I will mention here that if you are modeling on a budget and needed to choose between the interior and exterior sets, that I would recommend the interior set.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
December 1, 2012
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$26.95

Recently, Eduard released photoetched detail sets for the 1/72 scale Hobby Boss F-14A, and these included both an interior as well as an exterior set. Upon opening this set, you will find a single, bare metal fret of photoetched parts along with a single sheet of directions. The items in this set, as one would assume from the title, are made to enhance the exterior of an F-14A Tomcat, and they do this most impressively by adding detail to the landing gear, gear doors, access covers, engine inlets and outlets, missile launch rails, and the missiles themselves.

Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
December 1, 2012
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$6.00

Bottom Line: Perfect to-scale 6” (152mm) barrels for Littorio and Garibaldi WW2 Italian warship classes

The latest secondary, or anti-torpedo boat, armament for new construction (Littorio battleship and Garibaldi light cruiser classes) was the 1936 model 152mm/55 caliber gun. This new gun was derived from the earlier 1926 and 1929 versions in use on then-current Regia Marina light cruisers. Two different versions were made – a monobloc construction by the original designer, Ansaldo, and heat-forced tubular element construction from OTO (used only in Vittorio Veneto and Roma battleships). Twin and triple turrets with independent cradles for each gun were made. Rate of fire was one round every 14 seconds. The guns were considered as satisfactory, but dispersion at long ranges was wide, attributable to the ammunition.

The Parts

Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
May 8, 2021
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$13.99

AMT has now released another package of pad printed tires, this time eight 11.75" M&H Dragmaster slicks. The printing is sharp in a flat white color, and the lettering is not raised above the surface. The tires are hollow vinyl and can accommodate any number of wheels from various drag model kits. In the attached picture, I've fitted wheels from the following kits with no trouble:

  • AMT: '70.5 Camaro, '66 Nova, Pontiac Tempest AWB
  • Revell: '41 Willys gasser, '32 Deuce
  • MRC: Cragar wheels
  • Modelhaus: resin steel wheels
  • Polar Lights: Plymouth funny car

I look forward to using a pair on my next dragster! Thanks to Round 2 for the parts pack, and thanks to IPMS USA for the opportunity to review this detail set.

Review Author
Randy Robinson
Published on
December 1, 2012
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$27.99

The Kit

This review is for the AMT “Phantom” custom Ford van. The model is based on the Ford E-150 Econoline van. The kit comes packaged in a standard box with an artist rendering of the model on the top and sides. Inside you find the sprues molded in white and chrome, with a clear sprue and two sets of soft rubber tires. Also there are optional custom port windows molded in clear and a smoke tint.

The kit can be built as a stock service type van or a custom. For the stock version, you get chromed stock-looking wheel covers and narrow no-name tires. The custom option has wide Goodyear tires, Keystone ranger spoke wheels molded in white, custom bar grille with rectangular headlights, side mount exhaust, front spoiler, wheel flares, a mural of a graveyard at sunset, and three styles of custom port windows molded in clear and smoke tint. The port windows are teardrop, diamond, and kidney shaped.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
February 10, 2020
Company
Sword Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$32.99

The J2M5/6 Raiden interceptors were introduced into combat in small numbers by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the last year and a half of the war and proved to be good defense against American B-29 missions over the Japanese homeland. There were less than 50 operational J2M5s and only two J2M6s, and they served in units along with J2M3s (since there were only two J2M4 prototypes). Sword’s new kit offers a better way of reproducing these aircraft in 1/72 scale than modifying one of the older Hasegawa J2M3 kits. The J2M5 and J2M6 were similar in appearance, with the same style of bulged top canopy, but they differed in a significant way…the J2M5 had a mechanical driven supercharger that decreased power by approximately 30%. The J2M5 did have a smaller under-cowl air intake scoop than the J2M6 and Sword provides both air intake options, so either version can be built.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
December 1, 2012
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.50

THE KIT

You get two finely done brass parts in a plastic envelope, which is inside another plastic envelope. Good plan – loose parts of this size would be a disaster, not to mention impossible to find. I liked the instruction sheet, it was simple, to the point, and uncluttered.

ASSEMBLY

I had some problems with this project. I had originally planned to replace the pitot on my Jaguar T.2 with this pitot. Wrong part, I had to build a Jaguar GR1. And then the paint job. I had run out of RAF Operation Granby Sand paint, and didn’t have any around. So I decided to mix my own. Been a while since I mixed paints, and I got it entirely too reddish the first try. Threw it out and retried. Much closer on the second try. I am proud and happy that the RAF decided to go single colour on their Jaguars.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 2, 2012
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$8.50
  • QB 32130 Late exhausts $8.50
  • QB 32131 Early exhausts $8.50

Quickboost has a pair of great detail sets for the Trumpeter 1/32 F/A-18E/F kits. The parts reviewed here are the ECS (Environmental Control System) exhausts which are located on the back of the new Hornets. There are two sets. First is a late version which is a direct replacement of the kit parts. Simply sand the kit parts smooth and sand off the casting block and attach. The Quickboost parts have more of a correct angle to them and deeper intakes and are very well cast.

The second set allows you to backdate the kit to one with the early set of ECS exhausts. In this case, a little surgery will be needed to allow the part to sit into the kit. There is a picture included to show the needed cuts. The casting is again flawless.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
December 2, 2012
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.95

One of Scale Aircraft Conversion’s latest releases is a nice metal landing gear set for the Monogram 1/48 T-28 series. I was currently reviewing the Roden T-28D and, miraculously, this was a nice fit on that kit, too. The set contains the three gear struts, the additional part for the front gear, and the gear door attachment linkages for the bottom gear doors. All the parts are well cast in white metal with small seams which are easily sanded off.

Fit is excellent, as you can see from the pictures. I can say that having the front landing gear in metal is good as there is a fair amount of weight in the kit to keep it on its gear and metal is much more stable.

This is another great set from SAC for a reasonable price. Recommended especially with the weight over the nose gear. My thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions for the review sample and to IPMS/USA for the change to review it.