The Ampersand Group, Inc. and David Doyle in conjunction with Hobbylink Japan have published another book on U.S. Army Half-tracks in the Military Modeling Series. Part 2 is a continuation of their previous book, Part 1, with Part 2 covering half-tracked multiple gun motor carriages and gun motor carriages.

What you get is an 8-1/2" x 11" glossy hardbound book covering 448 pages with high resolution black and white glossy, detailed historical photos covering the different variants of the half-track based vehicle. The book is divided into 8 chapters with Addendums, Appendix and a Bibliography:

Aires Quickboost has released an easy set to convert the AMK 1/48 Aero L-29 Delfin to the L-29R reconnaissance version. The major differences were the camera bay that fits under the forward fuselage and the installation of semi-permanent auxiliary fuel tanks on the wing tips. The supplied instructions identify proper placement of the new Quickboost parts. If you have the older Planet Models 12448 resin model kit of the Aero L-29 Delfin, this set will probably work on it as well, although I do not have that kit to test fit.

Quickboost has molded the camera bay and the auxiliary fuel tanks perfectly in light tan resin with no apparent bubbles. The Quickboost auxiliary fuel tanks and camera bay are supplied on two resin sprue with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup.

Aires in their AEROBONUS line has started offering resin aircrew figures. This is a great initiative, because there have not been a lot of quality aircrew and ground figures for those of us who want to add one to a plane or scene; a figure can give a model context and a better sense of scale. This product lines includes pilot which are seated (molded to the ejection seat), standing and in the case of this review, climbing into the cockpit. What is nice about a climbing pilot is that you get the sense of animation as well as scale without the pilot obscuring all of the work you may have put into the cockpit.

Background

The Nord AS-30 is an air-to-ground missile. This two stage rocket propelled missile entered production in 1973. The initial booster section of the rocket motor exhausts on each side of the missile at the rear while the longer running sustainer rocket exhausts at the rear center of the missile. The impact speed is over 1000 mph. The missile carries a 240 kg. warhead of the semi-armor piercing high explosive type. Control of the missile is through the pilot using a small joystick to send signals to the missile. This requires the pilot to maintain sight of the missile. A later version of the AS-30 utilizes laser homing guidance for control. I am not sure if there are any visual differences between these variants. This weapon is used by the air forces of over a dozen countries.

This is a color photo etch set for the cockpit and ejection sets of Trumpeter’s new Su-24MR Fencer E kit. While the kit’s molded in details are not bad, this set really spruces up the cockpit.

This is a difficult kit to assemble with some significant fit issues with many of the parts. An old diecast version of this car was previously issued by Protar, and it looks like Italeri worked directly from the diecast kit. The Italeri plastic parts are identical to the Protar diecast parts, including ejection pins and sink marks. It looks like Italeri used the Protar parts to make their molds. This helps to explain some of the rough spots, lack of crisp decal on the parts, and all the nut & bolt fasteners.

When I first saw that these were released, I was a little confused as they had previously released set 48585 which was a set of scoops. The confusion was solved with a little research. The initial release was for the OV-1 early versions while these scoops are specific to the OV-1D Roden release. Problem solved but there is no mention of which is which on the either set so modelers will need to do the research. On to the parts review.

The set includes three scoops with no seam lines and deep insets. Casting is perfect and removal is simple with a saw blade. Installation is also simple with one scoop on the left by the cockpit and the other two on the top of the fuselage. There is an excellent note explaining which Quickboost parts replace which kit parts. As you can see by the pictures showing comparison, these parts are much improved with better profile and depth in the openings.

Normandie-Niemen were Free French fighters who flew for the Russians following the fall of France. Their exploits while flying Yak-3s is the stuff of legends. Until now, if you wanted to have one of these pilots in your diorama, you had to settle on a Russian pilot in Russian flight gear. Not anymore.

Molded in light grey resin, this pilot figure contains four parts: the body; arm; and two heads, one with a dress hat and one with a flying helmet on. The pose is completely natural with the pilot standing upright with a parachute draped over his shoulder. You can put either head on him. I’m going to put the dress cap on mine, since it is uniquely French. Both faces are well sculpted and very high quality.

Assembly is easy, just remove the parts from the block and assemble. The figure will look really nice next to an Eduard, Zvezda, or Accurate Miniatures Yak-3.

History

The Panzer II was widely used in early campaigns of WWII such as the invasion of Poland, the Low Countries, and France. The main armament of most Panzer II variants was the 2cm Kw.K30 L/55 cannon, and a coaxial MG34, although the main gun was ineffective in the anti-tank role. One interesting conversion of the Panzer II was its use as an artillery observation vehicle (Beobachtungswagen). The armament was retained, and its most obvious external recognition feature was the fitting of a frame antenna on the rear deck. These Pz.Beob.Wg vehicles were successfully used in the target acquisition and artillery fire observation roles, primarily with self-propelled gun units. (sourced from the DragonUSA website).

Ever have one of those things that you just couldn’t do or at least couldn’t do well? For me that is hollowing out exhausts and air intake scoops. That is why I need gems like these from Quickboost.

Molded in light grey resin, these perfectly cast pieces are very thin. They are a direct replacement for the kit intakes which are solid plastic. On this mold block are seven intakes, it is amazing to see how thin they are able to get the lip on these intakes and still cast them. I know I could never do that. The hardest part will be to remove them, but once you get that done adding them is simple.

These intakes will add to the look of your MiG with minimal work. The realistic look of hollowed out intakes are easily seen on the model. Making this set well worth the money.

Highly recommended

The Revell website sums up this vehicle nicely, “The 2013 Camaro ZL1 is the most technologically advanced Camaro ever made. In 1969, the original ZL1 was a custom-built COPO ordered car with an all-aluminum 427 c.i.d. engine. It was a bold move for its time. Stepping ahead more than 40 years, the 2013 ZL1 is even more robust, with a 6.2 liter supercharged V-8 pumping out 580 horsepower.”

Sometimes when you are building a diorama there is that one thing that will set yours apart from the rest. This is one of those items.

Aerobonus has provided unique pieces for the aircraft diorama buffs in the past and these little gems are just what the doctor ordered.

On airfields, regardless of eras, there are always fire extinguishers. They are in the background but always around the engine, just in case of engine fire. Aerobonus provides you with four fire extinguishers cast in blemish free grey resin. The resin encompasses the cylinder, the horn and extinguisher handle. You will have to supply the wire to make the hose. That alone would be quite nice but that’s not all, Aerobonus also provides you with decals to make your individual fire extinguishers. While the item description says US Navy, I’ve seen these fire extinguisher used by the USAAF and foreign airfields.

Dirty clothes? Who would have thought that you’d be able to find resin clothes for a clothes line? Aerobonus now provides you with four sets of shirts and pants to add to a clothesline.

Often seen in South Pacific scenes strung from an aircraft to a tree, drying laundry could be an integral in a diorama. This set includes four shirts and four pair of pants. Each pair of pants and each shirt is different. The end of the pant legs and shirt sleeves are hollowed out. They are all molded in light grey resin without any blemishes. Simply remove them from the pour block, paint and hang up the laundry.

A simple, yet effective, diorama idea thanks to Aerobonus.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review item. You can obtain yours by contacting Aires at www.aires.cz or your local hobby shop or online retailer.