Reviews

Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$11.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Airfix Boeing 727 kit. The white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kit’s plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts and braces, and one nose gear strut. Some SAC packages include replacement wheels, as well, but that’s not the case here. You will need to use the Airfix shoes for your build.

A side-by-side evaluation (see photo) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength of assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. In some cases, painting may not be necessary.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the opportunity to review this item.

Book Author(s)
Claude GIllono
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
ADH Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

ADH Publishing is a UK-based magazine company that produces a multitude of model related magazines. Some examples are Military Illustrated Modeler, Model Military International, Tamiya Model Magazine International, and Model Airplane International, along with a host of RC magazines.

This magazine covers the units of the German Army in defense of Sicily. Even though this magazine only consists of thirty-three pages, there are a lot of great references. A narrative starts off the magazine with several excellent period photographs embedded within it. The rest of the magazine is loaded with many period photographs with captions, campaign maps, loss charts of the Divisions involved, a full page of color divisional markings, and color drawings of the equipment of this campaign.

Book Author(s)
Paolo Varriale
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$21.95

Windsock Datafiles from Albatros Productions rank high on the list of reference/historical publications by those who build WW I scale aircraft models. Each volume focuses on a specific aircraft and can be counted on to provide a thorough study of the subject. The most recent volume covers a subject that may not be well know to modelers who are not well versed on the subject of Axis aircraft that served in the “Great War.” Windsock Datafile No. 158 details the history of the Austro-Hungarian UFAG C.1…a two-seat aircraft that served in the dual rolls of aerial observation and ground attack. It was, in fact, one of the best of its kind in service during the final year of the war, and one that became popular with its aircrews.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Camden Koukol
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.99

Background

Considered by many the best American close air support fighter of the Second World War, the P-47D Thunderbolt was instrumental in the Allied ground campaign in the European Theater of Operations, as well as a key to ensuring air superiority and providing air interdiction in European and Pacific theaters.

The Kit

Hobby Boss steps up with another addition to its fantastic “Easy Assembly” series of 1/72 aircraft kits in the form of the “Razorback” variant of the P-47D. Molded in 3 light gray sprues and solid wing and fuselage segments, a single clear sprue, a small sheet of decals for 2 markings options, and instructions with full color paint and marking guide, the contents of the little box offer a gold mine for modelers of all skill levels.

Review Author
Tim Wilding
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$31.95

The Soviet Union introduced the NKL-16 Aerosan during World War II, based on the earlier NGL-6. It was constructed from plywood and powered by a radial airplane engine. It ran only on skis and was designed for frozen lakes or snow-covered tundra.

This Trumpeter kit contains 151 parts on nine sprues, a clear window sprue, a short piece of copper wire, and a whopping 86 photo etched parts. Most of these PE parts are for the mounts on the skis and door hinges. The copper wire is to be cut to make ski cables, an engine part, and a probe for the front. We get a detailed dashboard to be used with the only decals with the kit – the five gauges on the dash, which you can kind of see through the windshields.

Book Author(s)
Andrew Thomas
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

This book follows the operational use of the Spitfire starting in Australia, moving into India, then onto Rangoon, The East Indies, and then with the last mission being flown on 10 August 1945. The last mission that day was a search for a Mosquito in distress.

The author takes you on a journey as the book goes along, using many first-hand accounts and after-action reports. It is interesting to read about how these pilots had thought that they had encounter one type of Japanese plane only to find out through the author’s research that it was a different type. Just goes to show how in the heat of combat everything becomes a blur and you just start relying on your training.

Review Author
Jeffrey Brown
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$42.95

This review is of the Master Box German Military Staff Car, WWII Era, Sd.Kfz.1 Type 170 VK, also known as the Mercedes Benz 170 VK. Since I am a lazy typist I am going to refer to this as the “Mercedes” during this review.

Well, this is one of those kits that is different, and therefore a welcome challenge. The kit consists of three main builds: the engine, the frame, and the carriage.

The engine is a complete engine minus the wiring and oil leak. It is a really neat thing to have, and it is INCLUDED! No extras to buy, no aftermarket stuff, but included. It went together without any problems. There is a little flash to clean up on the fan, but that was minor.

Next step is the frame, which also went together without any difficulties. There was some minor flash to clean up, but nothing too bad. The engine gets attached to the frame, and then everything is attached to the underside of the body.

Book Author(s)
Michael G. Johnson
Review Author
Ken McDevitt
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

This is another fine publication in Osprey Publishing’s Men-at-Arms series. There are 10 books in the series that covers the Indians of America. This publication covers the Indian tribes of the Southwest, which is mainly Arizona and New Mexico and some of the surrounding states. The contents cover the history of the tribes, the Spanish Invasion, and the approximately 35 tribes in the Southwest. This number includes all the major tribal groups along with their sub-tribes. There is a description of the major tribal groups and their main characteristics, hunting, gathering, and customs. The section on language and tribal accents is particularly interesting. The major tribes of Ute, Apache (with 4 variants), Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Pueblo are covered, as well as marginal tribes. Numerous photographs from circa 1870 up to 1910 are included, along with color art work, maps, and illustrations.

Content overview:

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Modelling
MSRP
$7.00

The June issue features a build of the classic F4U-4 Corsair by HobbyBoss. This six-page article by Brian Wakeman will serve as an excellent reference for anyone wishing to build the F4U-4 early version. Brian’s article details the process he used to build the kit and then to weather the model. The end result is stunning. Brian includes a list of the supplies he used to achieve the spectacular results seen in the images.

Brian’s article is immediately followed by a companion article by James Ashton. James uses the companion kit to HB’s #80386 Corsair, by using HB’s #80387 F4U-4 late. This article also provides a rich and detailed storyline of the build process. James weathered with acrylic over lacquer, separated by a coat of AKI fluid. The end result is a truly spectacular weathered effect. The article, similar to Brian’s, includes a list of materials used and is augmented by images that are rich in detail and superb in quality.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$15.00

The March/April 2013 issue of Windsock Worldwide is the second issue of Volume 29, and the cover photo of a TVAL reproduction Sopwith Snipe foretells the main feature of this issue. The Snipe is the centerpiece, presented with an exclusive pictorial coverage that provides modelers with much, and supports subsequent product reviews of Wingnut Wings’ two new Sopwith Snipe kits. But, before getting to the Snipe, this issue is packed with a wealth of relevant news and other features.

The first regular column; the READER’S GALLERY, presents photo coverage of four highly detailed models ranging from a static 1/72 scale model to a 1/6 scale flying model. Then, following a brief Front Line News column, there is a RARA AVIS covering a one-of-a-kind Swedish Friedrichshafen G.IIIA. Lance Krieg then brings Chapter Eight of his valuable WWI Modeling Master Class to closure with two pages devoted to “Concluding The Chapters on Adding Extra Detail to WWI Models.”