Rumors have been circulating over the past several months that Fine Molds would enter the 1/350 ship model market with a new offering of a Fubuki class destroyer. These appear to be confirmed by the fact that several on-line retailers now offer pre-orders on the Fubuki class DD Ayanami. If potential buyers are curious as to what the quality of this new vessel will be like, they need only take a look at either of these new accessory sets now offered by Fine Molds.

Construction started with the stand and a visit from Murphy. Following the kit instructions, I drilled out holes #3 and #6 and cemented in part Z1. The instructions label the base as Z2 but it is marked Z1, not a big deal, it is obvious what’s what. When I tried to set the lower hull on the stand it did not fit. The pedestals should be installed in holes #4 and #5, NOT holes #3 and #6 (so much for starting with something easy).

Construction was straightforward with no real problems. Some areas that could be better are listed here:

Quickboost has found another item which will enhance a small, but noticeable, part on Trumpeter’s P-40 Warhawk. This particular part is the engine exhaust which is on both front sides of the fuselage.

The Trumpeter part comes in two pieces and needs to be glued. When gluing the parts together, you will notice that the outer edge of each exhaust pipe doesn’t quite fit together and therefore needs to be compressed carefully so as not crush them. After that, it has to be cleaned up as careful as possible so as not to make one shorter than the other.

I would think the reason Trumpeter uses two pieces for each side is because each half can be made like a half pipe then joined together so as to have a hollow center. If this wasn’t done that way, then it would probably have to have been one solid piece, which the builder would have to drill out the center on a curved piece of plastic for each exhaust pipe on each side.

This kit is composed of 12 sprues of injection molded plastic containing 219 parts plus 4 vacuum-formed sheets. The vacuform represent the building sides, two sheets for each of the 2 building sides. For those familiar with MiniArt kits, the sprues containing the parts for the stairs are the same ones contained in many of their kits, and this time they will be assembled in another one of the many ways they go together. Brilliant production work!

This kit builds up to a spectacular diorama base, but much care needs to be taken during its construction as it is very fragile. I recommend reading the entire review before starting on the kit as there are a number of issues upon which the instructions do not touch that need thought before you apply the glue.

This 8.5 x 11 hardbound publication contains 240 pages and more than 500 photographs, both color and black and white completely one of the most extensive compilations of information on both the F-4D Skyray and F-5D Skylancer. It is well written, very complete and successfully gets the history across to the reader about the Navy’s first delta wing fighter.

The text takes you through design and development programs, the intense rivalry between the Air Force F-102 and the Skyray and the engine changeover to the Pratt-Whitney J-57 that became absolutely necessary to the survival of the Skyray. Also included are short articles on both the F-102 and F-106 for comparison purposes. The aircraft held for a time not only the aircraft low altitude speed record, but “time to climb” records as well. Interesting reading are the pilots comments who obviously loved this machine.