all 2016

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.95

Right on the heels of Eduard’s release of the 1/72nd scale Fw 190A-8 was their Fw 190A-5. When you open the box, you wonder just what kit the parts are for. You see three trees of light gray parts, one clear tree with four canopies on it a great decal sheet, a photo etch sheet and a mask. Of course, many of the parts are for the A-8 and for future variants of the A-8. And, with all of these extra parts, you have to read the instruction sheet for the correct parts number to ensure you don’t go wrong and start building something other than an A-5. Of course you have to decide which of the markings you are going to build, because there are some differences between them.

Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$34.99

Given the long pedigree of Airfix, it is of no surprise that from time to time, they re-release older kits such as the Crusade Mk. III. The vehicle is iconic and was the mainstay of the British armored force in their extended campaign in North Africa. The vehicle’s history is summed up in the instructions:

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$26.95

In 2010 Ford introduced a restyled Mustang known internally as the S-197 platform. The fifth generation of the iconic pony car featured design cues from the 1960s fastback including a body shape with hard edges, scalloped side panels and hooded headlights for a more aggressive look. As it turned out, this generation would mark the return of the Mustang muscle car. In 2011 the GT version featured the return of a much improved 5.0 Liter Coyote V-8. This dual overhead cam 32 valve power plant made over 400hp in its normally aspirated form. The S-197 platform was also the basis for the return of the infamous Boss 302 (2012-2013). This kit represents the last year of S-197 body style that was replaced by the current S-550 body style in 2015. In the last few years I’ve reviewed a number of Mustang models on this site so it’s no secret that this is my all-time favorite car. The only thing that’s changed since then is that after a 30 year hiatus I have one in my garage.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

This is a great photoetch set for the Kinetic Sea Harrier FRS.1Kit. This set adds a lot of extra detail to the interior of the kit and makes a great kit even better.

The photo etch parts are for the:

  • Cockpit side panels
  • Instrument panel and various control details
  • Seat belts
  • Canopy guides
  • Main cabin floor details
  • HUD parts.

In the Packet is:

  • 1 photoetch sheet
  • 1 colored photoetch sheet
  • 1 clear plastic printer sheet
  • 1 Instruction sheet

Summary

The added detail to the seat is impressive and really fills out a very plain vanilla seat. This is yet another great Photoetch set. The side panels really make the color pop as well as the multipart instrument panel.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$53.00

Background

Prior to the start of World War Two, the armed forces of the Soviet Union were lacking in any sort of self propelled artillery. Following the invasion of the Soviet Union by German forces in 1941, Soviet forces suffered massive loses of military material. Hand in hand with these losses came the forced uprooting of many of their key military production plants eastwards, away from the advancing German armies. But these plants were soon up and running again, and with heroic efforts on the part of the workers and plant managers, were soon churning out replacement vehicles in an attempt to cover the initial losses.