all 2014

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$18.95

Again, thanks very much to Ross at SAC for doing the hard work for us on this gear. We at IPMS USA sincerely appreciate your contributions for review!

This is a simple drop fit for the Heller 707 or E-3 models. If you want to build the AMT/Heller/Italeri KC-135A/R with SAC gear, they provide that as item 72001. The packaging says 72072 can be used on a KC 135 as well. I did not hold them up to each other, but I’m certain they could be used for either kit. You’ll have to modify the nose gear for the KC-135, as that gear is different than the E-3 or 707; and the actuator arm for the KC-135 is longer on those kits.

Historical note once again: The KC-135 came first, not the 707. The KC is based on the “Dash 80” airframe, and is different than on the 707 or E-3, which is a larger, more robust airframe with a totally different wing and fuselage. An error made by many, including famous authors. Those of us who have worked on both know the difference.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$16.50

MiniArt is a Ukraine company that was established in 2001 and released their first kit in 2003. They are well known for their Diorama series, but the have released many armored vehicles, figure sets and accessory sets over the past several years.

This set comes in an end-opening cardboard box and it contains four sprues of parts molded in a light gray plastic. The molding is clean with no flash, but there are a few minor mold lines that will need to be removed on some of the parts. The attachment points on the parts to the sprue have been well thought out even though some are on the large side. This should make clean up easy. These pieces have a high degree of detail even though some are relatively small.

What comes in the kit is as follows:

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
GasPatch Models
MSRP
$23.00

WWI aircraft model builders will be interested to know that GasPatch’s line of aftermarket detail parts also now includes cast metal turnbuckles for rigging late war and between-the-war RAF aircraft. As previously noted in IPMS/USA product reviews, the Gas Patch aftermarket details represent “…a significant and notable advance in the quality of aftermarket parts for WWI aircraft”. These turnbuckles certainly are further proof of that statement.

Book Author(s)
Gregory Alegi
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$21.95

The name Macchi is often associated with flying boats and one of the reasons for that is the subject of Windsock Datafile No.162. The Macchi M.7 was one of the most successful biplane flying boat designs to come out of WWI and it enjoyed a phenomenally lengthy and active career from its introduction in 1918 well into the mid-1930s. Serving with other nations in the post-WWI years, examples of this speedy flying boat were also entered into Schneider Trophy races. Noted Italian aero historian and researcher Gregory Alegi presents the full story of this classic Italian Flying boat in this final Datafile for 2013.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$15.00

The Nov/Dec 2013 issue of Windsock Worldwide (now branded ‘WINDSOCK World War Centenary’) is the last issue of Volume 29 and it’s pages continue the publication’s tradition of delivering some of the most interesting, accurate and unique information about WWI aviation to be found anywhere.

As an example, this issue initiates a new mini-series titled 100 Great Warplanes, that promises to profile some of the lesser known and/or poorly chronicled WWI types. The first to be featured in an eleven-page article in this issue is the 1916 German two-seat Rumpler C.III. Eleven pages are devoted to this reconnaissance aircraft with a historical description, 27 period photographs (many previously unpublished), full 1/48 scale plans of all versions and an exclusive color profile of the prototype C.III by Ronny Bar.