When Airfix released its new kit of the Spitfire Mk I the amount of detail in the cockpit was fantastic. When they brought out a new Mk IX everybody wondered, what happened to the interior?
This new set by Brengun will finally give you what you need to update the Airfix kit.
Photoetch is not really my thing but I have seen some stunning details created by it so guess it is time I broke down and joined the 21st Century.
This set is designed specifically for the new Airfix kit which has pretty good detail to begin with so what is on the fret.
If the first two volumes of TANKART didn’t provide enough “eye candy” and inspiration to armor modelers looking to up their game, TANKART 3 provides another potent dose of armor building and finishing “how to” and “why to” for creating true works of scale modeling art – specifically for modern armor subjects.
Consistent with the first two editions, Michael Rinaldi provides an image- and narrative-rich guide for modelers to create jaw-dropping finishes and weathering effects through techniques centered around layering and “artistic scalism.” In TANKART 3, the author shares with the reader his latest learnings in his quest to create fantastic finishes while improving the overall efficiency of the process. Notable examples, and a take-aways for this reviewer, are the reduction or elimination of washes in favor of Oil Paint Rendering (OPR), and improving the execution of the Hairspray (HS) chipping technique.
To say that the appearance of this kit was a surprise to me, is an understatement! Lately, it seems that all we ever get on the ‘new’ kit front is another Panther-this or Tiger-that. A JS-4? Wow! I mean, the JS-4 was a pretty obscure piece of Soviet armor. Originally developed in competition with the IS-3, the JS-4 (or IS-4, but we’ll stick to the kit name) referred to as Object 245, was, like the IS-3, an extensive redesign of the IS-2. The hull was lengthened with an extra set of road wheels added and an improved engine. The turret and hull were both up-armored. While other alternatives were considered, the IS-2’s 122mm gun was retained for the JS-4. Technical data derived from the study of German wartime Panther tanks was utilized in the layout of the JS-4’s engine cooling system. Although the tank was approved for mass production in 1948, only 200 were produced due to disappointing speed and mobility. Can you say “obscure’?
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Tamiya 1/48 scale A6M Zero kits that were tooled in 2008. The supplied items include two main gear struts, and one tail gear strut with integrally molded wheel. (Photos 1004, 1005, 1009)
This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Indeed, make sure that you adjust the gear parts to align with the Tamiya parts before using as they can be slightly bent in their packaging. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not have to be concerned with that perceived hazard.
There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white metal items.
Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement gear for the Hobby Boss 1/48 Northrop YF-23. The supplied items include two main gear legs, two main gear retraction struts, one nose gear leg and one nose gear retraction strut.
This replacement set will provide stronger landing gear that won’t sag over time, and is somewhat adjustable if necessary to obtain proper alignment. Even with zero previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no problem installing. Scale Aircraft Conversions does not use lead in their white metal mix, so the builder does not have to be concerned with that perceived hazard.
There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white metal items.
Scratch building, who does that anymore? Well I do and the latest releases from Eduard are exactly what you would need. The mesh screen is 6x6 which is 5 1/2 x 2 ¾ inches. The uses are limited to your own imagination. I could see this being used for flooring screen doors and radiator faces in a larger scale. Again your imagination is your only limitation.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Eduard and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain your copy by contacting them directly at www.eduard.com . Let them know you heard about it here. They are also available from your local hobby shop or online retailer.
This kit comes to us from Mirage Models out of Poland and is the third boxing of this type of ship, the other two kits in the series being the HMS Anchusa and the HMS Zinnia. The kit itself is molded in a medium gray and consists of three sprues marked A,B,E (more on this in the review). The sprue connection points are a bit thicker than on a Revell or Tamyia kit, but are fairly easy to cut through with a number 11 blade or a breeze for a razor saw. The kit also gives you photoetch railings and main mast ladder and a small decal sheet with the ID numbers for the boat and a British Naval Flag for the rear flagstaff.
The Revell Thames Panel Truck is a cool little kit. There’s some flash, thin hinges, and misalignment of parts, but it’s still a very cool kit.
The engine – maybe an Olds – is set up to be built as with fuel injection. Since I planned to build a street version, I wanted something more street capable so I put a dual quad setup on top.
Not much to the chassis and it has several tiny little parts – especially on the front end. Most of the suspension pieces are chrome so the glue points need to be scraped to the bare plastic. Be careful – some of the parts are very small.
The minimal interior is terrific for a gas coupe but a street rod needs more comfort, so the kit seats went to the parts bin in favor of more comfortable Recaro bucket seats. Flocking was added as well as an aluminum steering column with turn signal lever. The kit butterfly steering wheel was replaced with a different unit.
The Bussing-NAG 5 cm KwK 39/IL/60 four-wheel German armored car is one of two prototypes of this nature built. Historical reference for these vehicles is very hard to come by. However, it is known that they were in fact built but never put into production. It is also accepted that they were in fact field-tested, but it is debated as to which unit actually tested them. Some sources saying it was the 12th SS Panzer division, but again, there is no definitive proof of this as the data does not exist to confirm this information. There were two paint schemes observed in a photo that exists: one dark yellow and one with a yellow and green camo scheme (with a hard-to-discern pattern). The box art depicts a two-tone camo scheme, so I followed that suggestion based on discussions I had on the Axis WWII forum of the Missing-Lynx armor web site.
