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Packaging

Fouga Magister Landing Gear
Review Author
Matt Quiroz
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has been around for several years now, and I must say that I love what they have done. A lot of kits that come to us today have rather spindly landing gear legs on them, and over time I have seen some of my older builds begin to show a noticeable sag in their landing gear as the plastic starts to succumb to gravity and the weight of the model.

Well, you can wave goodbye to those days with a set of SAC’s white-metal landing gear. Their products are a direct replacement for the kit parts. Their casting is top shelf and virtually flash free, with just minor cleanup of seam lines being needed.

Box Art

Half Moon Sailing Ship
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/170
MSRP
$10.99

Background

The Half Moon, captained by Englishman Henry Hudson under commission to the Dutch Republic, was charged with covertly finding a westerly passage to China in the early 1600s. In 1609, Half Moon sailed into what is now New York Harbor and later sailed and explored the mid-Atlantic region as far south as the Chesapeake Bay.

The Kit

Originally released by Pyro in the 1960s, Half Moon later found her way into the Lindberg Line portfolio, and finally into Round 2 Models’ fold in 2014 (still bearing the Lindberg brand). Comprised of 22 parts molded in white styrene on hefty sprue trees, instructions, and full color decals, this classic kit has weathered its 50-year life surprisingly well. Conspicuously absent, however, are ratlines and rigging diagrams. Although detail is coarse by modern standards, the basics are present for a decent beginner or nostalgia build.

Package & Contents

Wheels for the Nieuport 28
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Spokes
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$26.95

A quick word about the images included in this review. The wheels sets with the covers (hiding the spokes and the rim) are the original kit wheels. All other items in the images are included in the Scale Spokes product.

Scale Spokes offers a number of high-quality after-market items for 1/48th and 1/32nd wheels for various aircraft. To see a full list, description of each item, and images please visit the Scale Spokes website.

This review features the 32nd scale set for the Nieuport 28. This set is hand-made, and as I’m sure you’ll agree after having viewed the accompanying images, is magnificent! Just like the actual wheels on the Ni-28, these Scale Spokes items have 3 set of spokes. A set connects the inner and outer edges of the hub and another set connects the center of the hub to the rim.

Box art

U-Boat Aces – Limited Edition
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Camden Koukol
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$19.00

Background

Characterized as the longest naval battle in history by British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, The Battle of the Atlantic was conducted from the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 through the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. Crucial to the survival of Great Britain was the island nation’s ability to receive military and general material aid from North America via the sea lanes of the Atlantic Ocean. To disrupt and ultimately destroy this sea bridge, the German navy engaged in a ruthless and relentless campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare against merchant and military shipping carrying aid to the British Isles. Two of the most effective and prominent German unterseeboot (U-Boat) designs of the period were the Type VIIC and Type IXC boats, both providing extremely lethal and efficient fighting platforms for many of Nazi Germany’s celebrated “U-Boat Aces.”

Cover

Spitfire Aces of Northwest Europe 1944-45
Book Author(s)
Andrew Thomas; Illustrator: Chris Thomas
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

Osprey has produced so many different “Aces” titles at this point, that the remaining subjects are becoming very narrow indeed. This new volume, as the title says, covers Spitfire Aces of Northwest Europe during 1944-45, and even more specifically the Spitfires covered are limited to Marks V, VII, IX, and XVI (all Merlin-engined).