1. Home

Reviews

Product Picture

Messerschmitt P-1103
Review Author
Jason Holt
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.98

History

So the Messerschmitt Me P.1103 was designed in 1944as rocket-powered short-range interceptor. There were two variants proposed, the P-1103-I in which the pilot controlled the aircraft in a prone belly position, whereas the P-1103-II is where the pilot is in a seated position. The construction of the aircraft was kept simple due to the lack of available metals so it was constructed of wood.

Product Picture

German Guided Missiles of World War II
Book Author(s)
By Steve Zaloga Illustrated by Jim Laurier
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$19.00

Here’s another interesting and informative book by Steve Zaloga. He has done a few books for Osprey. By my count (from Wikipedia) this is his 27th Osprey title. He’s doing it right.

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Antiship Missiles
    • Fritz-X
    • Hs 293
  • Flak Missiles
    • Unguided Flak Rockets
    • Flak Missiles
      • Rheinmetall Borsig Rheintochter
      • Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling
      • Messerschmitt Enzian
      • Wasserfall
  • Air-to-Air Missiles
  • Antitank Missiles
  • Further Reading

Since Mr. Zaloga has already done Osprey books on the V-1 and V-2, these missiles are not covered in this book. But what is covered are those projects which barely made it to operational status, or weren’t quite ready when VE day occurred.

Package

MA-1A Start Cart

Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
CMK
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$33.35

The MA-1A Start Cart (also referred to as a “Huffer”) was used by the United States Air Force as an auxiliary jet engine providing a source of high pressure, high volume air (called bleed air) to start aircraft without starters, and to start aircraft that have inoperative starters. The F-4, A-4, T-38, F-104, and A-7, just to name a few, had to be started using this cart. I have used the MA-1A many times to both start the above aircraft, and to troubleshoot/operationally check the bleed air system on the C-130 aircraft.

The kit comes with 17 resin parts and 10 photoetched parts, with molding in crisp detail. I found no fit problems with the parts, and the kit went together fairly quickly. Be careful with part number 2 with its long “tongue” at the top - I accidentally broke mine but was able to easily repair it. The body of the cart is molded in one piece.

Box Art

Messerschmitt P-1103
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.06

History

The Messerschmitt Me P.1103 (12/09/1944) was one of a series of experimental projects developed by Messerschmitt and other German manufacturers as desperation types designed to combat the heavy bomber offensives of the U.S. 8th Air Force and Royal Air Force towards the end of World War II. The aircraft was classified as a Bordjager, a fighter meant to be carried or towed aloft and released by a fighter aircraft, either a Bf-109G or ME-262. Powered by a liquid propellant rocket motor, the P.1103 was armed with a single MK-108 cannon mounted in the forward fuselage. Earlier developments had the pilot in a prone position, but the December 1944 version used a regular pilot’s seat and regular one piece canopy.

Package Contents

SUU-30 (CBU-54) H/B Late
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Videoaviation
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$11.10

Videoaviation.com has been producing superb aftermarket diorama accessories and munitions for a fair amount of time. One of its latest offerings is the SUU-30 (CBU-54) H/B Late cluster bomb unit. The SUU-30 is the actual canister holding all the smaller cluster bomblets. This unit was used from post Viet War, late Cold War until 1991 Gulf War.

Inside the package, you will find parts to make six complete cluster bomb dispensers. The bomb units are broken down into front and back parts (six of each), a photoetch fret to add the fins at the rear of the bomb and a set of decals and instructions. Casting is superb with cream colored resin being used.

Cover

Intruder Airframe Stencils & Markings (High-Viz)

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.00

Never one to rest on their laurels, AOA Decals has rereleased their 32002 stencil sheet for Hi-Viz A-6 Intruders in 1/32nd scale. Not only have they rereleased the sheet but they have also upgraded it to include: main and nose landing gear placards, walkway outline stripes, red engine intake warning markings, "A-6B" identifications, original style fuselage formation lights, radome latches (red & white), & tail hook stripes. And it gets a new number- 32026. This is also in addition to the following from the original sheet:

Product

Precision Sprue/Wire Round Cutter 02
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
MSRP
$10.00

UMM-USA is one of the premier tool makers in the modeling market. John Vojtech has made many of these based upon his needs for his award-winning models. This is the Precision Sprue & Wire Cutter. This version, 02, has a rounded end. The piece comes in a plastic sleeve for easy storage.

So, let’s take a look at the cutter. I personally like the rounded end version as it allows great vision for cutting. The end comes to a sharp point and that allows a fine cut on smaller parts. The part is “springy” and acts like tweezers. Because of the action at the cutting end, it allows for a very flush cut and leaves almost no clean up necessary.

Product

VA-75 Sunday Punchers (2) USN A-6E TRAM Intruders Decals
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.00

AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale and complements with VA-75 SUNDAY PUNCHERS (1), Sheet 32-027 and covers a spans of almost 20 years of the A-6 Intruder in service with one Navy squadron - VA-75 Sunday Punchers - from Vietnam to Desert Storm. This review is for Part 2 and covers the low visibility period with coverage of the late 1980s into Operation Desert Storm in 1991. There are two markings included for the following:

Product

VA-75 Sunday Punchers (1) USN A-6A/A-6E Intruders Decals
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$22.00

AOA Decals specializes in Vietnam to modern era planes and covers all the major scales. This sheet is 1/32nd scale along with VA-75 SUNDAY PUNCHERS (2), Sheet 32-028 covers a spans of almost 20 years of the A-6 Intruder in service with one Navy squadron - VA-75 Sunday Punchers - from Vietnam to Desert Storm. This review is for Part 1 and covers the high visibility period including coverage of their third and final deployment to Vietnam in 1972-73 and also their better known postwar white-tail markings. Markings are included for the following:

Product Picture

F-5 Cannon and Pitot Probe (Standard Nose Version)
Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.95

The F-5 series of aircraft comes armed with two 20mm, M-39 cannons, each with 280 rounds of ammunition. The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy both used the F-5 in a training role, with different paint jobs and tactics to simulate enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat training.

Master Models has come up with brass replacement gun barrels and a turned brass pitot probe for the nose. Four parts are included, two gun barrels, one gun fairing, and a pitot probe. Each of the gun barrels has a realistic barrel shape, open at one end and faired closed at the other. The gun fairing is slightly larger than the two gun barrels and gives you the option of having just one gun in the nose.