Mike McWilliams works in the Renewable Energy and Climate Change field. He has been a television cameraman and the owner of a design consultancy. He did military service in 1970, starting as an infantryman at 6 South African Infantry but immediately volunteered to train as a Paratrooper at 1 Parachute Battalion in Bloemfontein. He served in 1 Para Bn, 2 Para Bn and 3 Para Bn completing many 3 month stints as Fire Force in Owamboland South West Africa until 1978. The Battle for Cassinga was his last operation. Mike was a skydiver and won the South African National Championships five years in succession from 1980 to 1984 and also competed at World Parachuting Championships and World Cups in both Free Fall Relative Work as well as Canopy Relative Work. In 1983 he captained the South African 8 Way Team to a Bronze Medal at the World Championships. Mike is married to Frances and has three sons. His interests are classical music, chess, hunting, motorcycles and reading.

It was some time after 2:00 PM on June 10^th, 1979 at the Circuit de la Sarthe, France. The 47^th 24 Hours of Le Mans had concluded with Car 41, the Porsche 935 K3 from Kremer Racing standing at the top of the podium, having won the rain-soaked race. The car was driven by Klaus Ludwig, Don Whittington, and Bill Whittington.

The kit box and instructions indicate manufacturers as Platz Co. Ltd. and NuNu Hobby Model Kit by Si Nok Development Company Ltd., both of Japan. The kit is molded in white and black with the usual supporting parts in clear and two mirrors in chrome. We also have a fret of photoetch, a sheet of mesh, and two sheets of decals. The paint color chart is on the outside of the box. This allows the buyer to see what he needs before purchase. The box photos of the model were somewhat helpful during assembly.

IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Caracal Decals for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their growing number of releases, with useful additions for those who build. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

Kurst does a great job on his products… accurate, perfect resolution, and handling subjects which we have needed for many projects others won’t touch. Caracal crams as many various color schemes into one sheet as will fit, and offers a second, “stencil and detail only” sheet to allow one to model a squadron of 16 different F-117 markings if so inclined. (You get one in this sheet) .

Thanks once again for another great set from SAC, and thanks to Bill and Phil for sending it out for review.

Recommended Kits:

• The most recent Revell Germany releases of this iconic night fighter and shipping interdiction aircraft are great; on par with the Tamiya kit. The SAC gear adds strength as a direct replacement for the kit items.

The review item is the typical high standard and normal from SAC; a direct replacement for the kit items except these are cast metal. Consisting of 20 parts (!!!), providing two main gear and two tail gear (one extended, one compressed), there is not much to describe except to remove the parts from the pour runners with side nippers, use flat 220 wet/dry to prepare the cut stub, then install the gear on the model.

IPMS/USA sends warm regards once again to Piotr at Master Model for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of his masterful (!) Turned metal releases, which have become a gold-standard for many of us who do a lot of model building. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

I am constantly amazed at what comes out of Piotr’s shop… sure, some of us can cut brass tubing with the best.. but the machine work on the MG 151 cannon, the “Through the engine crankshaft centerline cannon, the pitot tube, and the very delicate IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) FuG 25 antenna always has me wondering how.

Then again we live in an age of metalworking (and other material) magic.

Certainly this set fits a niche that is difficult to otherwise fill. Containing the five aforementioned metal parts, this set is worth investing in for the realism and delicacy (Not to mention the strength and resiliency) of brass for our models.