Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
June 30, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

The Czechoslovakian Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin (NATO code Maya) became the standard jet trainer for the Warsaw Pact Air Forces. First flight was on April 5, 1959. Two-thirds of the over 3,000 aircraft manufactured have served with the Soviet Air Force as its standard basic, intermediate, and weapons platform trainer. The L-29 has seen combat in several wars, notably the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the Nigerian Civil War in the sixties. Many have been sold to the private sector with some performing in airshows and air races.

This set is specifically designed for the AMK 1/48 L-29 kit. Of course it will work in the Eduard kit as well since Eduard used the AMK molds for Eduard’s enhanced release. I don’t have the earlier Planet Models resin kit, but I’m sure these seats will dress it up as well.

Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

Chances are, if you model aircraft in any of the major scales you are well familiar with Eduard. Their product range varies from simple photo-etched enhancement frets to multi-media kits, conversion sets, and accessories which are amongst the finest in the hobby. Their products may be purchased online through www.eduard.com. I have built a few of their kits, and have used many of their accessories over the years. I am even a card-carrying member of the Bunny Fighter Club, which provided me a carrot-themed 1/48 Mig-21 and allows me a modest discount when buying direct. Check the website, and it will make sense.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
June 30, 2018
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.95

This set is designed for Zvezda’s new tool Su-33 that was released in 2016. The set consists of three parts, the central portion of the nose gear strut and both main gear struts. The nose strut is a drop-in replacement for part C59, the central nose strut and its retraction arm. On the other hand the main gear struts replace several parts as the casting reflects the main gear struts (C81 & C82) with their respective side brace connector (C77 and C78) and an actuator (C74 & C75) already attached. On my set there is a small triangular connection cast between the center of the actuator and the main gear strut, which I assumed was supposed to be there as a brace, but after checking several online photographs of the Su-33 main gear; I discovered that it should not be there, so I will need to remove it.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
January 25, 2021
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$32.99

History

(From the Airfix site)

With regard to aircraft that have operated from the decks of a British aircraft carrier, there can be little doubt that the McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 was the most spectacular. Purchased to replace the Sea Vixen in the role of all-weather fleet defense, the Phantom was the largest and heaviest aircraft ever operated from a British carrier and required a special breed of airmen to fly them.

Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Hobby Fan Trading Co., Ltd.
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$62.93

Introduction

Without giving a lengthy history of the M60 Patton the following is a short summary of the M60A2. The M60A2 nicknamed the “Starship” grew out of the development of the M60A1 with a CVWS (Combat Vehicle Weapons System) turret firing a 152mm conventional round. Planning began in the late 1950s. These were initially named the M60A1E2 then later standardized to the designation M60A2. Production was ended in 1975 with a total production run of 526 vehicles.

In the advertising literature AFV Club states this new kit features:

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.95

The AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod is used by the US Air Force, the Air National Guard and several US allies. The pod is a modular design that can be configured to address a variety of threats. It is cleared for use on the F-4, F-5, F-16, F-111, A-10, F-15 and C-130.

This set depicts the deep version of the ALQ-131 pod, often seen on an outer wing pylon of an A-10 or sometimes a C-130. The set is very straightforward consisting of the pod, two mounting lugs and a decal sheet.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.95

The AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod is used by the US Air Force, the Air National Guard and several US allies since the 80’s. The pod is a modular design that can be configured to address a variety of threats. It is cleared for use on the F-4, F-5, F-16, F-111, A-10, F-15 and C-130.

This set depicts the shallow version of the ALQ-131 pod, often seen on the centerline pylon of USAF F-16s or an outer wing pylon of the A-10. I was also able to find a photo online of one mounted under the forward fuselage of an Australian F-111. The set is very straightforward consisting of the pod, two mounting lugs and a decal sheet.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
MikroMir
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$32.95

The Ben Franklin class was composed of twelve submarines, SSBN-640 to SSBN-645 and SSBN-654-659. The class was an evolutionary development from the earlier Lafayette-class of fleet ballistic missile submarines. This class can easily be identified by the fairwater planes' location halfway up the sail; the Lafayettes and James Madisons had the fairwater planes in the upper front portion of the sail. In 1993, Kamehameha was converted to a Dry Deck Shelter/swimmer delivery platform, reclassified as an attack submarine, and given hull number SSN-642; her ballistic missile capability was removed and thereafter she carried only torpedoes as armament. Following conversion, she was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for the remainder of her operational career. She holds the record for the longest service life of any nuclear submarine—nearly 37 years.

Book Author(s)
Robert Jackson
Review Author
Tim Hortman
Published on
June 25, 2018
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$22.95

Pen and Sword Publishers has added to their TankCraft Series. Volume Number 7 titled: Panzer I & II – Blueprint for Blitzkrieg 1933-1941 by Robert Jackson.

This softbound book is 64 pages. Included are some nicely done color profiles, many period wartime photographs, a summary of variants and some description of development, along with a section devoted to modeling the Panzer I & II.

The book starts with some background on German armor development but quickly gets into the Panzer I & II design and development. The variants of each model are discussed and photos of many of the examples are included. A separate section includes later war variants which used the Panzer I & II chassis for other vehicles. For example the Marder and Wespe. The book is well illustrated with some photographs I have not seen before. The color profiles were done just for this publication and are a nice touch for the book.

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