This is an updated version of SAM Publications earlier book on the F-14 Tomcat. The book starts with a brief history of the origins of the F-14 and has separate chapters for each of the three variants of the Tomcat, the F-14A, F-14A+/B, and the ultimate Tomcat – the F-14D. Each chapter includes descriptions of each variant, covering things such as the avionics, air-to-air weapons, and other systems for that variant. The chapters are lavishly illustrated with mostly color photographs illustrating many of the squadrons that operated the Tomcat and each chapter includes a listing of the Bureau Numbers for that variant.

The release of the Wolfpack and Trumpeter T-38 Talon/ and F-5B/ RF-5A/E/S Freedom Fighter kits brought this light weight multi-role fighter into the modern age. I hate having to remove the mold lines. I can never keep the roundness of cross section. Then there is the strength of the brass itself. No plastic can withstand the same amount of pressure as the brass can.

Packaged in a resealable plastic bag, with card stock backing, are three beautifully turned metal pieces. One pitot tube and two gun barrels. Depending on what aircraft variant you want to do depends on what you will use. The T-38 only needs the pitot tube. Any variant of the F-5 would need the pitot tube and the gun barrels. Again, it depends if one or two guns are used.

The instructions are printed on a small one-sided sheet of paper that explains the correct size drill bits to use and how deep to make the holes. This is very informative and useful.

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) offers an extensive range of replacement landing gear parts for a wide variety of kits. I have some experience using SAC items to replace kit parts and I’ve found that the SAC items add strength to the model without sacrificing any of the detail found on the original parts.

As mentioned in other reviews, I tend to be a rather heavy-handed modeler and I have a long history of “critical parts” failure with WWI models which is self-made and not a reflection on the quality of the original kit. I’ve snapped wing struts in half, broken off tail skids, and caused catastrophic damage to undercarriage support structures.

OKB offers three very similar products, all in 35^th scale, for use on a Pz.IV . These items are “return rollers” for the Type 2 (product S35007), the Type 3 (product S35008), and the Type 4 (product S35009). This review will focus on the rollers for the Type 2 (product S35007).

The roller parts are contained in a small zip lock baggie. A paper label is stapled to the baggie which serves to identify the “Type” for which these parts are engineered, and also to provide a secure closure so that none of the parts go astray.

This set is designed to be used on Su-34s and Su-35s and should fit either Trumpeter Hasegawa’s kits. The set consists of 18 resin parts which allows you to assemble a pair of the twin store carriers and provides the parts for either configuring the rails for either bombs or rocket launchers.

The parts are cast in grey resin which is of medium hardness which is easily cut with a razor saw or a sharp Xacto blade and sands easily. After washing the parts to remove any casting residue, I used a fine razor saw to separate the parts from the casting blocks. The instructions clearly show where to cut the parts off of the casting block and the resin spacers that between the side rail mounts and the center part of the upper pylons. I then used a 400-grit sanding stick to clean up the edges.