Fly Models has released a multimedia kit of a very obscure subject: The “Rotachute”.

This aircraft was a combination of an autogiro and a parachute, intended to deliver airborne soldiers to the battlefield in an alternative way to the parachute. From what I read online, the main reason behind this aircraft was due to a shortage of silk during the war. You can find some other interesting stories about this contraption online, including pictures of the prototypes being towed by different trucks (diorama anyone?).

In a diminutive open-side box you get 14 injected plastic parts and 9 photoetch ones. There are no clear parts as the original aircraft had none. The decal sheet is miniscule. While the box calls this model “Rotachute Mk.IV”, it might be possible to build the Marks III and V from this box.

History

At the end of WW2 Industries within the US were encouraged to design more sophisticated military equipment based on experiences gained during the war.

The US Navy Bureau of Ships invited multiple civilian engineering firms to submit proposals for a new tracked landing vehicle (LVT). The Borg Warner Company submitted a design for a new LVT. The prototype was completed in August of 1951. It’s large box like structure could transport 34 fully equipped infantry and possessed excellent seaworthiness. The vehicle was designated the LVTP5. Developed concurrently with the LVTP5 was the LVTH6, the support version armed with a turreted 105mm 24L Howitzer. The LVTH6 entered service in 1957 with 210 units produced.

Kit

The kit is produced by AFV Club, a well-known model company. The box art work in outstanding! The scene depicts marines landing on a pacific island beach.

History

So the Messerschmitt Me P.1103 was designed in 1944as rocket-powered short-range interceptor. There were two variants proposed, the P-1103-I in which the pilot controlled the aircraft in a prone belly position, whereas the P-1103-II is where the pilot is in a seated position. The construction of the aircraft was kept simple due to the lack of available metals so it was constructed of wood.

The MA-1A Start Cart (also referred to as a “Huffer”) was used by the United States Air Force as an auxiliary jet engine providing a source of high pressure, high volume air (called bleed air) to start aircraft without starters, and to start aircraft that have inoperative starters. The F-4, A-4, T-38, F-104, and A-7, just to name a few, had to be started using this cart. I have used the MA-1A many times to both start the above aircraft, and to troubleshoot/operationally check the bleed air system on the C-130 aircraft.

The kit comes with 17 resin parts and 10 photoetched parts, with molding in crisp detail. I found no fit problems with the parts, and the kit went together fairly quickly. Be careful with part number 2 with its long “tongue” at the top - I accidentally broke mine but was able to easily repair it. The body of the cart is molded in one piece.

Videoaviation.com has been producing superb aftermarket diorama accessories and munitions for a fair amount of time. One of its latest offerings is the SUU-30 (CBU-54) H/B Late cluster bomb unit. The SUU-30 is the actual canister holding all the smaller cluster bomblets. This unit was used from post Viet War, late Cold War until 1991 Gulf War.

Inside the package, you will find parts to make six complete cluster bomb dispensers. The bomb units are broken down into front and back parts (six of each), a photoetch fret to add the fins at the rear of the bomb and a set of decals and instructions. Casting is superb with cream colored resin being used.