Background

The Electronic Aircraft (EA) EA-18G Growler is a modified version of the F/A-18F Super Hornet that is used in a naval strike package to jam enemy radar to make the strike package virtually invisible. The EA-18G Growler had its first test flight in August 2006, the later entered service in the U.S. Navy in September 2009. Our Australian allies later adopted the Growler in March of 2015. This aircraft is also able to provide self-defense with AIM-120 medium range air to air missiles, along with the Super Hornet’s speed and maneuverability. With this advanced technology, the Growler blinds the radar and the strike package is able to deliver its weapons with pinpoint accuracy with little or no resistance.

IPMS/USA again thanks the Eduard team for sending us more of their prolific output targeted toward improving already great kits. Thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team…

This set for is for the Wellington Mk 1/b Flap and is the now-expected as a norm high-end upgrade to the 2018 release of the new-mold Airfix 1/72 Wellington 1a/c. I consider this an EXPERT level of detail, and I failed BUT read on…

I primer painted the unpainted fret, in retrospect, not smart, as the superglue tended to not bond the paint as well as the actual metal. I don’t have a good option here, as the glare and requirement to cover up the brass color will come up and require priming after the build. Sigh. Of course, if I had not kept having the tweezers wick up the superglue, then the problem would not be there. Maybe Gator glue would be a better option, as you can at least clean up a bit with water!

Introduction

This book is a fascinating account of the Central Pacific campaign and one of the most stunning comebacks in naval history when in 14 months the US Navy went from the jaws of defeat at Pearl Harbor to the brink of victory in the Pacific. The book’s emphasis is on carrier operations and on the air groups of the various fighters and dive and torpedo bombers that were instrumental in sending the Japanese fleet to its watery grave and ensure an end to the Pacific Theater of Operations. The chapters include:

IPMS/USA again thanks the Eduard team for sending us more of their prolific output targeted toward improving already great kits. Thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team.

Eduard is a company that has truly come of age. They seem to go from one success to another, and there is not a part of their range I have not used or tried. In this case, I have the “BIG ED” set for the new ICM HE-111H3, and it fills a major niche.

Thanks to Eduard and the IPMS USA team for joining forces to make sure I have this set on my workbench!

In the “Big Ed” format, Eduard provides one each of the following photoetch frets:

If you are looking for some improved detail, and a quick way of handling cockpit controls painting for your F-14D, then Eduard has once again come to your rescue! This set consists of two PE frets, one being the Zoom set for the cockpit placards and one for additional cockpit and canopy details. Modelers with experience adding photo-etched details will have no issues utilizing this set.

When Tamiya released their 1/48 scale F-14A (kit 61114), which I immediately had to add to my stash, the parts layout led me to believe that a “D” model would likely follow. Just in time for the 2018 IPMS Nationals, Tamiya did indeed release kit 61118, of the ultimate F-14, which was also quickly added to my stash. While Tamiya did a fine job in rendering the cockpit and canopy details in plastic, this PE set makes quick work for representing the various panels with pre-painted items, and improves and also adds details to the canopy.