The AN-2 “"Annushka" (NATO designation “Colt”) is a throwback from a very earlier age as a biplane STOVL cargo aircraft. Hobby Boss makes a nice replica of this plane which captures it rugged appearance.

Produced by Aries Quickboost, whose products can be obtained directly through their website https://www.modelchoice.net/catalogue the two exhausts are a direct resin replacement for the kit supplied exhaust parts for the Testors 1/48 scale OV-10A kit. Cast in a light gray resin the two exhausts are well cast and offer details not found on the kit parts.

The two kit parts are molded as a solid unit, devoid of any open area. I modeled this kit a number of years ago; the kit is after all well over 30 years old (!!) and had to carve out the solid end on both parts to replicate the open look of the actual aircraft parts. It wasn’t a difficult job and really enhanced the look if the model. The Aries Quickboost parts not only have the open ends on the exhausts as found on the full sized versions, but also have the interior baffles found on the real ones.

Introduction

This is one of the all time great car designs with smooth lines and the free-flowing curves of the fenders. This classic has always been popular with hot rodders. The Revell kit of the ’37 coupe has been issued and re-issued many times, and this is the latest version. This version seems to be mostly a repackaging, as most of the parts and options were available in previous releases.

The kit is showing it’s age with soft detailing, some fit issues, and a completely confusing front suspension. In spite of the shortcomings the kit still builds into a nice hot rod model. The kit would be frustrating for an inexperienced modeler and would be better suited to an avid car modeler.

Kit Contents

Revell’s description:

Academy's first release in a new series of 1/48 scale Phantoms is an F-4B in VF-111 "Sundowners" markings. There are 15 spectacular sprue with one being clear. The rest are colored to the specific areas of the plane. the bottom parts are white, the top gray and metallic parts black. Panels lines are fine and there are some real innovations. For example, the engine exhausts are molded as a complete tube so there are no seams to fill and they look great. There is also a complete set of weapons with the needed bombs and missiles and a full set of drop tanks.

This is part two “The Build”, of my review; the kit review can be seen in an earlier posting.

I followed the instruction sheet using Fishers guide for colors and building sequence. The first thing I did was take inventory of all parts. I found I was missing a couple of struts. I emailed Paul Fisher of Fisher Models and within a few days had the replacement parts in hand. Excellent customer service. As suggested, I thoroughly washed all parts using Dawn soap and warm water and let them dry overnight. It took about an hour to “clean up” the parts; this involved some molding lines and a little flash to be removed. One thing about Fisher kits, his molding is excellent and you should have very little clean up to do.