Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 25, 2018
Company
Amigo Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.75

Amigo Models, and their separate product line of Advanced Modeling are producing some of the finest Russian accessories available.

The latest for this reviewer is the Twin Stores Carrier with BD3-USK for the Su-34 and Su-35 series of aircraft. The rack itself is designed to be used with either rocket launchers or bombs. This makes for a versatile underwing stores carrier.

The set comes in a resealable package with cardstock backing. The instructions are glued to that card stock. They are printed in black and white. Languages are in English and Russian, but the pictures are easy to understand and shows what needs to be done very clearly.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 25, 2018
Company
Amigo Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.90

A new company to me is Advanced Modeling/Amigo Models out of Russia. The first piece I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing is the UB-32A-73 Rocket Launcher. This rocket launcher is used on a variety of aircraft, including helicopters. I’m used to seeing these launchers on the Mi-24 Hind and Mi-8TB Hip, but it also is used on MiG-21, 23, 27 and the Su-7, 17/22 and 24.

A resealable acetate package with cardboard backing contains 16 pieces of light grey resin. Each piece is separately packaged in its own resealable clear acetate. It is perfectly cast with no flaws noted. The instructions are mounted to the cardboard backing that explains the assembly sequence and decal placement. Each rocket pod has eight pieces, some of them very small, but they are all perfectly cast. Also included is a decal sheet with red lettering with markings in various sizes.

Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
August 25, 2018
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

This book details combat between the P-39/P-400 Airacobra and A6M2/3 Zero in New Guinea in 1942. This book follows the usual pattern/layout for this series with a history and specifications of aircraft, the training and operations of the servicemen of both nations, and then combat operations.

The book is broken down into 11 sections. The introduction discusses in brief the lead up to both designs and provides a chronology from inception until the end of the war.

Next the design and development of both types are covered. The P-39/P-400 is covered first then the A6m2/3 Zero.

Chapter Three has the technical specifications of each model. B-29 coverage begins with the P-39D and continues with the P-39F, P-39K and P-400.The same treatment is given to the A6M, covering the A6M1, A6m@ Model 11, A6M2 model 21 and ending with the A6M3 model 32.

Book Author(s)
Chris McNab
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
August 24, 2018
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

Chris McNab is an author and editor specializing in military history and military technology. To date he has published more than 40 books, including The Illustrated History of the Vietnam War (2000), Twentieth-Century Small Arms (2001), Twentieth-Century Small Arms (2001), The Encyclopedia of Combat Techniques (2002), The Personal Security Handbook (2003), Reformation, Exploration and Empire (2005), Mythical Monsters : The Scariest Creatures from Legends, Books, and Movies (2006), Tools of Violence (2008), Deadly Force (2009), A History of the World in 100 Weapons (2011), The Roman Army (2012), SAS and Special Forces Mental Toughness Training, and Abandoned Wrecks (2017). Chris has also written extensively for major encyclopedia series, magazines and newspapers. He is an experienced specialist in survival techniques and provides instruction on wilderness hunting techniques. He currently lives in Neath, Wales, UK.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 24, 2018
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$18.95

The Trumpeter helicopters are really nice kits but the kit’s white metal landing gear are very fragile. They are brittle and break apart. I’ve had this issue with the CH-47D and Mi-8 kit landing gear. Scale Aircraft Conversions offers a replacement set of white metal landing gear for the Hip.

This set includes nine white metal parts for the landing gear. They are direct replacements for the kit landing gear. They are packaged in a cardboard backed blister pack. The detail is nicely represented and should prove no problem for adding them to the kit.

They are not brittle like the kit parts. Some parts will need straightening as they got slightly bent during shipping.

These are a nice addition and stronger than the kit landing gear. These are a perfect replacement for the brittle kit white metal landing gear. This is another great release from Scale Aircraft Conversions. I hope that they make landing gear for the CH-47A and D.

Highly recommended

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
August 24, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 allows a lot of options. One option that isn’t included is the WGr-21 Rocket system. The mortar rockets were mounted under the wings of the Bf-109, from the G-2 to the G-6.

This set is packaged in a typical blister pack with 16 light grey resin and one photo-etch fret. The resin is molded in light grey and dark grey not that it matters as both styles are beautifully done. The weld mark on the tubes is awesome.

The fret is made up mostly of templates to first set the angle of support struts and second to then set its location on the wing. The assembly of the set is pretty straightforward once you get the templates made up. You get two separate rockets for your diorama and two rockets to be ‘installed’ in the tubes. The photo-etch parts for the rocket tubes are mostly for the rear of the rockets.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
November 12, 2020
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

The Tamiya Bf-109G-6 has that beautiful engine that can be shown opened or closed. My question was they lead the world in engineering kits, can’t they hollow out the exhausts? Apparently not. So that is where this set comes in.

Eduard provides the answer. Packaged in the typical Brassin blister pack, Eduard provides you with some spectacular exhausts to replace the kit parts. Two light grey resin set of exhausts are included, as well as, a fret of photo-etch. They have beautiful weld lines and are hollowed out. They also are specifically designed for the Tamiya kit. The mounting points on the engine are sided and so are these beauties.

The photo-etch parts are for the deflectors and the front and rear deflectors.

The instructions are printed on a single sheet of double-sided paper.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
August 24, 2018
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$30.00

Background

One can put up a legitimate argument that the M4 Sherman series of tanks was the most important Allied tank of the Second World War. The initial Shermans that rolled off the production lines in large numbers had what was known as VVSS (Vertical Volute Suspension System) with two road wheels per bogie. These tanks (M4, M4A1, M4A2, M4A3, M4A4) also operated as their main armament a short-barreled 75mm gun. As WW2 progressed, and reports from the fields of battle suggested the need for various “upgrades”, the Sherman series underwent a number of small and major changes. Late in the war, there were two major changes: the introduction of HVSS (Horizontal Volute Suspension System) which incorporated four road wheels per bogie for a better vehicle ride, together with a larger turret needed to house a larger 76mm main gun. The new designation for Shermans sporting these two major changes added “E8” to the end of the Sherman nomenclature.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
August 24, 2018
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.95

This is a white metal landing gear set is to for the AFV Kit IDF F-CK-1C/D 1/48th Scale aircraft.

The white metal parts are good are have better-defined details than the original kit parts. They are a very good replacement for the already well details kit parts. The advantage is these white metal parts will provide more strength than the kit parts. The parts included replacing the parts E40, E11, E42, E36, E17, E15, E44, E13, and E46. I did expect to see replacements for E 34, E 37 and E33 but these were not included and it would have added more to this set.

The parts are well cast; you do need to sand off the few cast seams and metal pour points. The parts were a perfect fit to the existing mount and were easy to assemble. A couple of the metal parts were a little bent but very easy to correct.

I recommend these parts are a great addition to an already extremely well-detailed kit.