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January 2015

Boxart

‘29 Ford Street Rod Blue Bandito
Review Author
Gordon Miller
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$23.95

The Revell/Monogram 1/24th scale kit is a rerelease of a previously available kit known as “The Blue Beetle“. I am not sure of the exact offerings provided in that earlier release of this model but the version that I’m reviewing here was quite impressive . The box art only shows the build up on the side and the drawn box art on the front of the box outfitted in “The Blue Beetle” version. The only way I’ve seen this release come in. So, I was thrilled to open the kit up and see parts for both the pictured version as well as the roadster adaptation listed for these separate parts throughout the very well detailed instruction sheet which includes descriptions of all pieces by their part number and the name of the part. The majority of the parts come molded in a light blue with one white sprig of pieces molded in white which includes snap in white walls and a convertible top.

Box Art

Jonny Quest: The Dragonfly
Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
Scale
Undetermined
MSRP
$34.99

History Brief

The Adventures of Jonny Quest was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Screen Gems. An animated television series, it ran on ABC in prime time on Friday nights for one season from 1964 to 1965. A true original for the 1960s, it was created and designed by comic-book artist Doug Wildey and was inspired by American radio serials, American action-adventure comics and American science fiction genre. Ground breaking for it’s time it featured unmatched realistic art, interesting characters, and a better story line than any previous cartoon seen on television.

The Quest Labs Supersonic Suborbital Aircraft known as The Dragonfly is the iconic Jonny Quest aircraft featured in the episode introductions. It was also featured in some of the best episodes.

Box Art

C-17A Globemaster III
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$38.99

History

The C-17 was funded for development in 1984 and the first one was delivered in 1991 to the USAF for testing. The C-17 was originally designed to replace the C-130 and augment the C-5 and C-141. As we all know the C-130 and the C-5 are still going and the C-141 has been removed from service and has been sent to the boneyard for scrapping. The initial order was for 120 units and that was bumped up in 2002 following the attacks of September 11th to 180. Although the USAF is the main user there are many other countries that utilize the C-17.

The Kit

The kit is molded in light gray plastic. Several of the parts had a grainy texture to them and several of the sprue attachment points were thick and difficult to remove. The construction is fairly straight forward.

Box Art

M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III

Review Author
Chris Graeter
Published on
Company
Meng Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$74.00

History

In 1980 the US Army formally took delivery of the new M2 Bradley IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and M3 Bradley CFV (Cavalry Fighting Vehicle). The M3 CFV had a wielded aluminum hull. It was powered by a 500hp Cummins VTA-903 diesel engine with an HMDT-500 automatic transmission at that time. Its two-man turret had positions for the commander and gunner. The turret consisted of a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, a 7.62mm M240C coaxial machine gun and a two-tube TOW anti-tank missile launcher. Firing ports and periscopes on each side of the hull, and the two firing ports on the rear ramp were eliminated on the M3 CFV.

Packaging

F-16CJ Block 50 Exhaust Nozzle
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

One of the latest releases from Eduard in their Brassin line is an exhaust nozzle meant to replace the kit provided one in the Tamiya 1/72 scale F-16CJ Fighting Falcon. The set consists of two resin parts and a photoetch fret that can be used to dress up the appearance of the Tamiya kit. The F-16CJ Block 50 release by Tamiya follows their impressive renditions first rolled out in 1/32 scale, and later in 1/48.

Package

F-16CJ Block 50 Ejection Seat
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.95

One of the latest releases from Eduard in their Brassin line is this ejection seat meant to replace the kit part in the Tamiya 1/72 scale F-16CJ Fighting Falcon. The Eduard set consists of one resin part and a photoetch fret with eight items that can be used to dress up the appearance of the cockpit of the Tamiya kit. The F-16CJ Block 50 release by Tamiya follows their impressive renditions first rolled out in 1/32 scale, and later in 1/48.

Package

AIM-9D Sidewinder
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.95

Developed as a follow up to the B and C models of the Sidewinder, the AIM-9D featured a Nitrogen cooled Infrared (IR) seeker and utilized the Hercules MK 36 solid-fuel rocket motor. Philco-Ford and Raytheon produced about 1000 of the missiles between 1965 and 1969. The missile was 9 feet, 5 inches long; 24.8 inches across the rear fins, and had a diameter of 5 inches. Weighing in at 195 pounds (25 pounds belonging to the warhead), the missile could travel at over Mach 2.5 with a range of 9.7 nautical miles. The AIM-9D is credited with aerial victories over twenty-two aircraft during the Vietnam War (8 MiG-21 and 14 MiG-17’s) being launched from F-8E/C/H Crusaders and F-4B and J Phantom II’s of the US Navy.

Box Top

W.W.II British Airborne Weapon & Equipment Set
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$47.00

This is a very comprehensive accessory set for British WWII Airborne vehicles or dioramas. The parts are well molded, and have very good detail. There are many very small parts that will require care to assemble, but will result in nice accessories.

The kit includes a Welbike that can be assembled unfolded or folded for transport, a Welbike container that can be either open or closed, a collapsible trolley cart, BSA military bicycle that can be assembled either unfolded or folded, No. 18 Wireless Radio, various weapons, pigeon container, PIAT, several PIAT ammo containers, wicker pannier, airborne helmets, airborne rucksack, and type B airborne container.

The weapons include Sten MK IVs, PIAT gun and ammo, Webley revolvers, Lee Enfield rifles, and Bren guns.

Box Art

M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III Interior Set (US Calvary Fighting Vehicle)
Review Author
Chris Graeter
Published on
Company
Meng Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$44.00

History

The M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III CFV is the very latest model fielded by the US Army. The Cavalry Fighting Vehicle’s (CFV) primary duties are reconnaissance and scouting. The CFV Bradleys are normally assigned to Tank Battalions or Cavalry Divisions. The Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) Bradleys are used to transport troops into battle and out.

MENG has followed their kit of the successful M2A3 Bradley (IFV) w/BUSK III with the new M3A3 Bradley (CFV) w/BUSK III. They have separated the main vehicle and the interior into two kits and packaged both separately. This gives modelers the option to build the vehicle kit without the interior at a cost savings.

This review covers MENG’s M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III Interior Set. The vehicle itself is reviewed separately at: M3A3 Bradley w/BUSK III