The first question on every rotorhead’s mind: Is this kit worth the time and money? The answer is assuredly “YES!” Making comparison to the previously released H-34 kit from Revell (which, BTW, was originally released in 1988), Gallery is far and above a better option. Shape is spot-on; the rotor head on the Gallery kit (not to mention the rotor blades) is dimensionally far and above that of the vintage Revell item. (Their rotor head and blades were approximately ¼ smaller than they should have been). There are many parts not used in this build, which indicate follow-on efforts; I don’t have the Marine version, but the parts include armor plating and weapons appropriate for other aircraft, so we’ll see how this goes.

Lockheed was awarded the contract for development of the S-3 Viking in August, 1969. The S-3 started being delivered to squadrons in 1974 as a replacement for the S-2G. The phase-out of the Viking began in late 2003, with the last Viking squadron VS-22 disestablished in January, 2009.

Squadron/MMD printed their first In Action series book in 1971. This one follows in the long line of its predecessors. The book covers the S-3 Viking from development through the disestablishment of the last Viking squadron. There is a great mix of color and black and white photos, along with plenty of good captions. In addition, included are pages of colored drawings.

I highly recommend this to fans of ASW or Naval aircraft. Squadron again has done a great job with printing of this book and presenting this information to aircraft fans.

I would like to thank Squadron, Squadron Signal Publications, and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this fine book.

Background

Conceived originally as a high-altitude, high-speed interceptor to counter an anticipated Soviet strategic bomber threat (YF-12) and a strategic reconnaissance platform replacement for the U-2 (SR-71) in 1959, Lockheed’s “A-11” platform has become one of the most recognizable and awe-inspiring aircraft designs of all time. Setting and holding world speed and altitude records for decades, the SR-71 variant came to symbolize America’s manned strategic reconnaissance program from the mid 1960’s until its retirement in the mid 1990’s – when, ironically, it was retired in favor of the more cost-effective U-2.

The Kit

This kit from Dragon features four German Waffen SS infantrymen as they would appear in the early years on the Russian Front. The term “elite infantry” is used as a euphemism for the SS, and while some of the SS divisions could fit into the elite category, some could not, such as the 4th SS Polizei Division, represented by one of the figures on the box art. These figures do not have to be painted as SS soldiers; you could do them in markings of army troops, and the sniper could be painted as a member of the Luftwaffe’s Hermann Goering Division, which used SS camouflage clothing.

The figures include a sniper in camouflage smock, an NCO with MP 40 machine pistol in winter dress, a machine gunner with MG 34 from the 4th SS Division, and an infantryman loading his rifle.

Archer Fine Transfers has and always had the best and largest variety of transfers than any other company. I would venture to say over 90% of us in the scale modeling hobby have used an Archer product in one way or another. Some modelers I have met only use transfers and will use decals only when it is absolutely necessary.

Archer’s transfers are always of the highest quality and detail, and so simple to apply. However, there should be a high degree of concentration when applying them to the model because any movement while burnishing the transfer will ruin it. Whenever possible, I always cut out the particular transfer that I am going to apply from the sheet because it is very possible that another transfer, too close to the one that is being applied, can accidently adhere itself to the model. This is one of the downfalls, but very easy to avoid. Also, with transfers there are no do-overs, so proper placement of these transfers is of utmost importance.

Squadron has done it again. They have provided us with another volume included in their outstanding Walk Around series. This particular one deals with the F9F Cougar and all its variants. It is written and laid out in the typical Squadron Walk Around fashion.

The book introduction starts with a brief but comprehensive history of the development and deployment of the Cougar. There are tables that show the differences between each version and a section on the different nose and canopy variations. The rest of the book is high quality black & white and color photos with captions. The majority of pictures are color. All photos have a very comprehensive caption that explains what you are looking at. I would say that half the photos are from display aircraft and the other half from archive photos.

Windsock Datafiles from Albatros Productions are very familiar to most of those who have been building WW I aircraft models for some time. And, a number of those who have been awakened to that era by the recent introduction of 1/32 scale kits from Wingnut Wings, Roden, Special Hobby, and others have discovering the value of collecting these publications. Number 156 in the series has just been published and it is the second Datafile about the AVRO 504. However, it is a companion to the earlier title because, unlike Datafile 28, this volume focuses attention on the types that preceded the 504K.

I recently built and reviewed ICM’s 1/144 Tupolev Tu-144 "Charger". When the opportunity came to review the SAC metal landing gear for this plane, I jumped at the chance.

The white metal landing gear is obviously far stronger and better suited to large models than the injection molded parts you get in a kit. I have a number of finished models on the shelf or in storage which could use a new set of gear legs. And I thought I’d save the Tu-144 from this fate. There’s only so much you can do with CA and sprue to fix broken gear, especially with missing parts.

I first took photos of the landing gear on the model as it was. There might be a set of instructions for the kit somewhere in my workroom. Or not. I bet on the latter, and took reference photos to show where the parts went.

This kit is a combination of the Bronco gun kit and the Dragon 6275 crew kit. The gun can only be presented in the firing position as the travel bogies are not present. The crew can be depicted in either anti-tank mode or anti-aircraft mode. However, the crew instructions included with the Bronco instructions only show them in the anti-tank mode. You can get Dragon 6275 instructions and build the crew in different poses, and even in the anti-aircraft mode, which is what I did.

The basic point to remember when building this kit is that there are numerous small plastic and PE parts. Care should be exercised during the build, and you may even want to delay attaching certain parts until almost the end of the build.

History

The Fairey Swordfish, while appearing to be outdated at the beginning of World War II, actually became one of the outstanding airplanes used by the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. While most were land- or carrier-based with wheeled undercarriages, a significant number of Swordfish Mk. I’s were operated as twin-float seaplanes, mainly from battleships and cruisers, or from shore bases such as Gibraltar, where they were used for fleet reconnaissance, gunfire spotting, and anti-submarine patrol. Probably the most famous action in which Swordfish floatplanes took part was the April, 1940, Second Battle of Narvik, where they spotted gunfire for HMS Warspite, resulting in the destruction of seven German destroyers, plus the sinking of the submarine U-64 with bombs.

A while back (a couple of years?), I built ICM’s 1/72 Su-27 for a review. I can’t remember the reason, but I wound up using a cut-off straight pin for the pitot on the kit. Well, here’s the fix for that.

I had to pull the pin out of the nose of the ICM kit, then clean up the end of the nose where some CA had built up. Then, all that was necessary was to insert the new pitot, check its fit, remove it, put some gel-type CA on the pitot, and insert it. I kinda lucked out here, as the hole for the straight pin was as large as I needed for the new pitot. Master Model also gives the correct angle for the pitot, which is lacking in the kits.

After the CA had set, a matter of minutes, I painted the new pitot. DONE!!

Overall Evaluation

Highly recommended. It’s an easy fix, it fits nicely, and I had zero problems with this add-on. I’ll have to pick up another one of these to fix the Hasegawa Su-27 on the shelf next to the ICM kit.

Dust off all those Eduard Albatross DV and DVa kits that you have, because Lifelike has released two new decal sheets with new markings not previously produced. And, one is very colorful, in typical Bavarian fashion. The title says DIII, but the markings included on the sheets are for three DV’s and one DVa. With each of the aircraft views is a history of the aircraft and its pilot and various color notes and conjectures about any differences from the markings included.

AMS Resin, Advanced Modelers Syndrome, specializes in resin sets for aircraft from the 50’s to 70’s in 1/32, 1/35 and 1/48 scale. Their products are available through Sprue Brothers.

Their offering of this 1/32 F-86 cockpit is intended for the F-86F-40 kit produced by Hasegawa, but there are cockpit color descriptions for many variants. Included information is provided on a small CD. I stress the small CD because it may not work in all CD drives. It contains 20 excellent color photographs of operational cockpits as well as instructions for installation, with painting and historical information.