Thank you to Phil and to Bill for all the work that you do!

History

The JSF Joint Strike Fighter Program was a developmental project to create a new 5^th generation all-weather multirole combat aircraft to replace the existing American and NATO strike-fighter force. The F-35B employs stealth technology and is characterized by its trapezoidal wings and application of the most advanced hi-tech systems, materials and avionics. The F-35B STOVAL (Short Take Off and Vertical Landing) capability has been specifically designed to operate from modern aircraft carriers such as the British H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth or the Cavour, the flagship of the Italian Navy. The U.S. Marines plan to deploy the

F-35B in both attack and ground support roles. From Italeri.

The WWII Soviet T-34 is one of the most recognizable tanks out there. There is nothing about the T-34 that I can tell you that you probably don’t already know.

ICM’s newest release is something that you don’t see too often, and to my knowledge is the first time this variant has appeared in kit form. The ICM #35371 1/35 T-34 “Tyagach” Model 1944 Soviet Recovery Machine. This kit represents the ‘tractor’ version of the T-34 – made by replacing the turret of a damaged tank with a welded plug/hatch. These vehicles were used for towing and recovery operations during the World War II.

The kit comes in a nice study inner box with a hinged lid. The colorful box top comes off from that and has the typical printed information. Inside, this kit has six trees plus the upper and lower hull molded in green, one clear tree, four vinyl track parts, and two vinyl tow cables.

Thank you to Phil and Bill for all that you do managing and providing review opportunities!

Recommended kit: 1/72 F-35B Lightning II STOVAL (1425) from Italeri

Reviewer’s Comments

This landing gear set from SAC is a direct replacement for the kit parts. The only exception being is that you will add some plastic kits parts to the nose landing gear. The white metal casting is superb as is usual for SAC. The kit consists of seven parts: a replacement cockpit tub and six landing gear parts.

Instructions are not provided, but they are not required as they are intended to be direct replacements for the kit parts. Only three pieces need to be removed from the pour runners, and these came off easily with a nipper.

Mission Model Paints Iridescent Colors

Mission Model Paints has added some beautiful iridescent colors to their excellent line of acrylic paints. These luminous paints seem to change color when seen from different angles. The iridescent paints have a silver base and produce a display of lustrous, prismatic, rainbow-like colors. MMP has also issued Pearl paint colors. The Pearl colors have a translucent pearl-like depth, either in color or luster.

The Book

This book provides a lot of information on the P-38L-5-LO. This variant was only marginally different in detail from other P-38’s in the “L” series, so it would probably be useful for anyone wanting detail information on any of the later P-38’s. The book consists entirely of scale drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 scale, a series of captioned color and black and white photos of entire airplanes and details, and a set of color drawings in back. It would serve as a very good reference for anyone wanting to build a model in either of those scales. The detail photos are from existing warbirds or from actual maintenance manuals, and there are even some interior views of the cockpit and engine compartments.

Recommendation

If you are doing a late model P-38 in either of those scales, this book is the one to get. Highly recommended.