Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
November 6, 2022
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$14.10

As an airplane builder, one of the necessary but boring parts for me is sanding smooth and then restoring panel lines and rivets. UMM-USA has the solution for the rivets with multiple sets. We will look at MN-006 (1/48th scale rivets), MN-021 (1/32nd scale rivets) and MN-049 (for 1/32nd and 1/24th scale rivets). Each riveter comes with a comfortable plastic handle with a wheel containing cuts with the raised pegs representing the rivets.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
November 8, 2022
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

This set is designed to provide replacement parts for the Hasegawa/Hobby 2000 SBD Dauntless kits. The package includes two complete sets of gear, consisting of the two main gear struts and two options for the tail wheel assembly – one with the small hard rubber tire used for carrier operations and the other a larger pneumatic tail wheel used for shore-based operations by Navy and Marine aircraft and the Army Air Corps A-24.

As with most of SAC’s landing gear sets, the metal parts are intended to be one-for-one replacements for the kit parts. The parts are well cast and need just a little clean-up of the casting seams with a sharp Xacto blade. I recommend taking your time removing the tail wheels from the casting tree or you will end up with a very flat looking tire as I did on the smaller wheel. Also, be sure you do not trim off the long extension pointing aft above the tail wheel as it is supposed to be there - it is a tow bar used to help move the plane.

Book Author(s)
Martin Smisek
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
November 8, 2022
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

The book is volume 39 of Helion & Company’s Middle East @ War series and, as noted in the title, is the first volume of its coverage of Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East. It examines the re-birth of the Czechoslovakian arms production business in the aftermath of World War II and Czechoslovakia’s first attempts to find a market for its products

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
November 8, 2022
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$9.77

Contents Description

  • The first two pages are introductory paragraphs.
  • Page 5 covers the MiG acrylic colors and chipping fluids, providing brief how-to paragraphs for each. Each product section includes QR codes for the products page from the Mig website plus how-to videos. The QR code feature is typical for most of the products described.
  • Page 6 Washes.
  • Page 7 Streaking brushers and Oilbrushers.
  • Page 8 Pigments and splashes.
  • Page 9 Heavy mud and engines, fuel and oil.
  • Page 10 Enamel odorless thinner.
  • Page 11 One Shot primers and Titans Hobby Paints.
  • Page 12 Extra thin and medium density cements, and Colle 21-slow dry cyanoacrylate.
  • Page 13 Arming Putty and Ultra Decal Set and Fix. Neither of these products were used in the weathering process covered in this publication.
  • Now for the modeler, such as myself, many of the products listed above are items may be new.
Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
November 9, 2022
Company
Avonmore Books
MSRP
$42.95

I first discovered this publisher and series at an IPMS Nats a few years ago. As the title says, they specialize in WW2 Pacific aircraft, and do an excellent job covering some lesser-known subjects.

This is a softcover publication, with 120 pages in a nice, high-quality semi-gloss finish and a stiff outer cover. Publishing quality is first-rate, as is the content itself.

The introduction to the book describes the author’s intent, which is primarily to detail and clarify the various markings of Airacobras in the South and Southwest Pacific theater. This contains a brief explanation of the deployment of the type, and some explanations as to the differences between the various models of the P-39, as well as the P-400. The author is very concise and clear in spelling this all out. This is immediately followed by tables showing the various bases used by the squadrons flying the Airacobra in this region, as well as a brief glossary.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
November 9, 2022
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) specializes in white metal replacement landing gear parts for aircraft kits. This review is for the 1/72nd scale Hasegawa F-104 Starfighter from the 1989 original mold and its reissues (which there are several). Two full sets are in the blister pack, so two kits can have metal landing gear. These are drop-in replacements for the F-104 (parts D7, C12, B11 & B12) and TF-104 (parts F15, C12, B11 & B12). Attached pictures are for the F-104 comparison.

Book Author(s)
Richard Marmo
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
November 9, 2022
Company
Richard Marmo
MSRP
$3.99

Marmo’s Model Building Guides

Richard Marmo publishes model building guides for specific kits that provide greater insight than is usually included in the kit’s basic instructions. Richard uses photographs plus thorough written descriptions of his actual build to aid the modeler step-by-step building the kit. Richard‘s writing style is very informative and often includes humorous advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of model building. His written narratives go into much more detail than can be provided in the basic kit instructions. The photographs are high quality and because they are in a digital format can be zoomed in to magnify detail. This is particularly useful when a kit has many small parts like the one reviewed here. The guides provide additional tips on modeling techniques, tools, and materials, to expand the modeler’s knowledge. At four bucks each these model building guides are a must have for modelers.

Book Author(s)
Bert Kinzey
Review Author
John Shimek
Published on
November 16, 2022
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$21.99

Attack Aircraft of The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by Detail and Scale Aviation Publications was published 17 June 2022. This is the fourth publication by Detail & Scale that covers aircraft flown by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the end of WWII through the deployment of the AV-8B Harrier II.

The book covers 13 aircraft – Vought AU-1 Corsair, Grumman AF-2 Guardian, Martin AM Mauler, Douglas AD / A1 Skyraider, North American AJ Savage, Douglas A2D Skyshark, DouglasA3D / A-3 Skywarrior, Douglas A4D / A-4 Skyhawk, North American A3J / A-5 / RA-5C Vigilante, Grumman A2F / A-6 Intruder, Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II, Hawker SiddleyAV-8A / AV-8C Harrier and the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
November 16, 2022
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$7.00

For modelers, in the one true scale (1/144), Brengun has added an especially useful photo-etched set of WWII armor tools to their catalog. Associated with the U.S., that label shouldn't prohibit anyone for using them in any setting where appropriate.

The small, metal sprue contains four examples each of the following:

  • shovel
  • starter crank
  • pickax handle
  • pickax head
  • sledgehammer
  • axe
  • hex wrench
  • two styles of pry bar.

Quite the variety. The choice by Brengun to 'etch' the pick as two parts is a bit curious. Maybe a test of ones skill level? Then again, spares were sometimes stowed separately. Owing to the diminutive size of these tools, removing the parts from their attachment points may be problematic. Caution and a new hobby knife blade are recommended.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
November 17, 2022
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$8.50

“Communication Chief Lizbeth informed me that we were receiving an automated distress signal from a terra forming station on the planetoid LV-426. While not exactly on our current flight path we were the closet ship available to investigate....”

AMMO by Mig Jimenez offers a plethora of finishing and diorama accessories for just about any modeling need: paints, static grass, scenic plants, and pliable terrain among others. One such item is from their Terra Form Premium Textures line of acrylic base ground textures. Case in point is item 2178: Road Sand.

For those that are not that familiar, AMMO's line of products has previously produced a series of ground textures (mud, concrete, etc.) that trend toward a somewhat course texture. The products in the Premium Textures line are similar to those, but with what appears to be a finer grain. When applied, these products make for a much smoother and, for me, more realistic surface.