Thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy!

Mark Lardas is a real “rocket scientist” who has worked on Space Shuttle analytics and navigation. He is also an accomplished author with at least ten books on naval topics, and a model maker as well. See his website for more details (www.marklardas.com).

New Vanguard 259 covers the large number of WW I era US Navy destroyers known as the flush-deckers and four-pipers, another overlooked topic. Like other Osprey books, this issue is 48 pages (not counting the front/back covers) – enough for an excellent synopsis of design, characteristics and historical highlights of these warship classes.

First flown in 1963, the HUGHES OH-6 is a light observation helicopter capable of carrying four at cruise speeds of up to 135 knots. The type is also known in the civilian world as the Hughes 500 series. A number of countries used the OH-6 including the Japanese Self Defense Force who used aircraft built under license as the OH-6D by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. That version is represented in this kit.

This is a limited-edition kit and comes in the now common Hasegawa top open box with a photo of the real thing on it. Inside you find high quality parts typical of this company with restrained panel lines and very good fit. Six resin parts are included that consist of antennas and a supplemental tail light assembly.

I’ve always been a major fan of Russian armor, and have built an embarrassing number of Russian armor kits over the years. Don’t ask me why. In any case, information for some of the interesting designs the Soviets have come up with over the years can sometimes be a bit sparse on the ground. Research being the vital aspect of modeling that it is, anything new in the field is always welcome.

Pen-and-Sword out of England now offers a lovely resource in their Fact Files series called “Tanks of the USSR 1917-1945” which covers the raw beginnings of the Russian armored forces to the stage where it becomes a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. This book covers everything from the first FT-17 based copies all the way through the heaviest, most formidable tank the world had seen up to that point – the revolutionary JS-3.

MasterBox continues to floor me with their bold choices of modeling subjects (especially figures) and this one is no exception. First of a series of figures based on classic Greek mythology, the Medusa here is created in 1/24th(75mm) scale and is a relatively easy build of a truly legendary icon.

Typical of MasterBox figures, there are some discrepancies between the illustration and the sculpture. Unlike most figure manufacturers, MasterBox creates a new figure by first eliciting an illustration. Then the sculptors work on the finished item using the illustration as a guide. In this case, the illustrator created a Medusa that looks something like a sorority girl with a skin condition and a bad hair day. The sculpture, if anything, is actually better, as the features are far more authentically Greek. In fact, the first time I looked at the face she reminded me of the Statue of Liberty, which is itself crafted along the classic Greek standards for feminine beauty.

Two Bobs

Two Bobs Aviation Graphics offers decals in 1/72nd, 1/48th and 1/32nd scales for most modern US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps military aircraft. There are also sheets for some Russian, Chinese and British modern jet aircraft. In addition Two Bobs offer a 1/48th scale T-2C Buckeyes and a T-45C Goshawk, a publication and sanding sticks.

Their website incudes images of their decals sheets so the buyer will know what is being purchased. One nice feature that I really like is the inclusion of the FS numbers for the various camouflage color schemes on their full color instruction sheets.