Book Author(s)
Artur Juszczak
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
February 10, 2022
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$31.00

Considered by many to be the most famous aircraft used by the Japanese in World War II, the Zero is the subject of hundreds of books. And yet, with all of the information already available on the A6M this book, illustrated and authored by Artur Juszczak will make an excellent addition to your research library.

The advertising literature for this publication indicates that drawings and data have been pulled from original technical manuals, with dimensional details and images gathered from surviving airframes located in museums. These pictures and details cover the aircraft inside and out.

I found that the advertising for this book was quite accurate. The images are outstanding and will prove very helpful to the modeler, showing interior and exterior colors, color demarcation lines. The book goes far beyond what one would expect after having read the advertising.

Review Author
Ron Verburg
Published on
May 26, 2015
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$14.96

History

Here is a little history about farm horse drawn wagons. Four-wheeled vehicles have many names – one for heavy loads is most commonly called a wagon.

Wagons can be pulled by donkeys, ponies or mules and other smaller animals are occasionally used, such as large dogs, llamas and goats. Heavy wagons, carts and agricultural implements can also be pulled by other large draught animals such as oxen, water buffalo, yaks or even camels and elephants.

Vehicles pulled by a pair (or by a team of several pairs) have a pole which attaches between the wheel pair.

Kit

The kit is produced by HauleraulerHauler, a European company who in partnership with Brengun produce a wide range of kits. They produce construction kits, universal kits, photoetch parts in a variety scales to accentuate other manufactured kits. The box artwork shows a photo of an assembled farm horse drawn wagon.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
May 26, 2015
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$40.99

Trumpeter has released the M1082 trailer, which is a welcome addition to military vehicles and dioramas alike.

The kit includes over 180 parts on 5 sprues (1 clear), plus a small PE fret and a plastic string, likely to make tie downs for a tarp -which is not provided-. Decals are provided for two finishes: tri-color “european/Nato” and a sand/desert one.

Construction follows the typical breakdown of most vehicles, that is, it starts with the frame. Careful alignment of the parts at this stage will pay off latter. Construction them moves to the trailer bed itself and finally to the wheels (with tires provided in rubber). It also includes a trailer jack foot, which would allow the trailer to be shown on its own.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
May 26, 2015
Company
Mirror Models Ltd.
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$49.95

Mirror Models has released a full plastic kit of the Artillery Tractor T-20, which saw service with the Finnish, German and Russian and Romanian Armies (Decals provided for the first 3 armies).

This kit has over 450 plastic parts and it includes some small PE details. The tracks are of the “individual link” style. I don’t think they will “click” to each other; rather glue should be used in each link.

The kit includes a complete engine, engine bay, firewall and transmission. There is no “hull”, it is built from individual pieces, and so careful alignment there will be needed. Once the engine and engine bay plus basic hull is completed, assembly moves into the interior, with nicely detailed seats for the artillery gun crew.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
May 27, 2015
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.99

This new item from Quickboost is a direct replacement for the control stick for Bf 109E models. They recommend it as a replacement for the new Airfix kits but I am sure it would work in any 72nd scale Emil. One nice aspect is they give you 3 new sticks and as I have two of the Airfix kits and a Tamiya one, I am sure all 3 will get used. The detail is a bit finer than the Airfix version and it includes the boot at the bottom of the stick.

No instructions are provided as all you need to do is cut them off the runner and use as a direct replacement for the kit part.

Another simple and quick update for your modeling pleasure.

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review kit.

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
May 27, 2015
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.99

This item from Quickboost is a direct replacement for the control stick for Trumpeter F-105 kits and should be compatible for their D and G models. They should also be useable on the Hasagawa or Monogram/Revell kits. Three new sticks are provided in the package. The detail is a bit finer than the Trumpeter version but they are a bit fragile. As you can see in the pics, I broke off one of the grips just while handling it for the pictures. So use some care when you are removing the sticks from the runner and the flash from the stick itself.

No instructions are provided as they are a direct replacement for the kit part.

So, just be a little careful and you will have a nicely detailed stick for the pit.

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review kit.

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
May 27, 2015
Company
LPS Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.00

LPS Hobby has been producing many decal sheets of previously unavailable markings, previously incorrect markings and some unusual markings. This particular sheet is no exception. This sheet provides markings for three camouflaged P-51’s which were over-painted with what is believed to be RAF Dark Green and Medium Sea Gray. The decal sheet is printed by Microscale and is in perfect register.

The first aircraft is P-51D-5-NA, “Tangerine”, piloted by LT Henry A. Pfeiffer, 364FS, 357FG, Leiston, England, Autumn 1944. The second is P-51D-10-NA, “Master Mike”, piloted by Lt. Col Joseph E. Broadhead, 362 FS, 357 FG, Leiston, England, January 1945. The last aircraft, and the one I chose is P-51D-15-NA piloted by Major Howard D. “Deacon” Hively, 334 FS, 4FG, Debdon, England, December 1944.

Review Author
James Binder
Published on
May 27, 2015
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$37.50

The AIRES Mig-15bis engine replacement is a model kit in and of itself. It replaces the 3 part “engine” of the Eduard 1/72 kit. The AIRES kit is made up of 30 resin and 19 photo etch parts. The kit gives you a complete Klimov K-1 engine! The resin is fantastic with great detail and is very easy to remove from the pour plugs. The photo etch is very fine but has strength, so it doesn’t feel flimsy at all.

Build-wise this engine goes together very well and the instructions are pretty easy to follow. The only thing they don’t provide is a list of colors to paint the parts. There are many photos though on the web of Klimov K-1s, so it isn’t too hard to find the color scheme, but it would be nice if they told you what colors each part needed. I used Alclad aluminum, burnt iron, steel and, dark aluminum along with Model Master flat black.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
May 30, 2015
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.95

History

The Junkers J.1 (Company Model J.4) was one of the most advanced airplanes produced during World War I. When most other plane were of wooden construction with wire braced wings, the J.1 was all metal, with cantilever wings and tailplane, and featured a .20 inch armored shell structure which served as the forward fuselage, protecting the engine, fuel tanks, and crew. The structure was covered mainly by corrugated aluminum, which was to become a Junkers trademark later copied by Henry Ford for his Tri-Motor. Powered by a 200 hp. Benz Bz IV 6 cylinder in-line water cooled engine, the aircraft had an empty weight of 3,885 lbs. and a gross weight of 4,787 lbs. This resulted in a very heavy and underpowered aircraft, but given the role of the aircraft and the state of the art at the time, it was still an impressive airplane. Comparing the type with modern lightplanes, a 65 hp.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
May 30, 2015
Company
Hasegawa
MSRP
$38.00

This is the first kit of what I expect will be a number of F-35 kits from Hasagawa and represents the U.S. Air Force version of the Joint Strike Fighter. The Marine F-35B and Navy F-35C are sure to follow.