Recently I was given the opportunity by IPMS USA to review Eduard’s BRASSIN wheels for the new 1/48 Airfix P-51D kit. One of the first things to notice with this product is the excellent presentation of the packaging with the familiar clamshell box, with the resin parts safely cocooned on dark grey foam inserts, and the instructions sandwiched between the two halves, doubling as the header card. This set gives new main wheels and the tail wheel. The main wheels have the diamond tread pattern and come with separate hubs. The tail wheel is one part and comes with a new leg which is made from a different type of resin which is probably less prone to sagging. As well as the wheels a set of yellow tape masks are also supplied.

Hasegawa has released this aircraft with components to make two Prototypes of the original developed reconnaissance aircraft modified for night fighter duty. One version with twin 20mm cannons and one with a single 30mm Cannon. There was only one of each built in June 1945 and both were used. There was no record of these being successful in service.

In the box is:

• 6 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 poly caps
• Bag of metal parts (20mm Cannons)
• 1 instruction booklet

While you get lots of sprues, you also get plenty of unused parts.

All the sprues are extremely well molded with very little flash and great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft as the two variants different versions.

Richard Paul Hallion was born in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 1948. He graduated from the University of Maryland in 1970 with a B.A. and followed up with his Ph.D. in 1975, again from the University of Maryland. He was a curator of science and technology at the Smithsonian from 1974 to 1980. He has worked with the Air Force Flight Test (Edwards AFB), the Aeronautical Systems Division (Wright-Patterson AFB), the Army War College, and many other aeronautical institutions. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and the Royal Historical Society, and an Honorary Member of the Order of Daedalians who has flown as a mission observer in a wide range of military aircraft, including the Vietnam-era AH-1, Canberra, C-1, C-130, C-141, C-5, F-104, F-105, F-4, F-111, O-2, P-3, CH-46, SH-3, and UH-1.

History

The Oriskany (CV34 ) was an Essex class carrier, laid down on May 1, 1944, and launched on October 13, 1945. She was too late for World War II, and construction was suspended in 1946. Construction was restarted in 1950. Oriskany was commissioned on September 25. 1950. She was built as a straight deck carrier, and served in the Korean War.

Oriskany went to San Francisco in 1956 for a complete refit. The wooden deck was removed and a new aluminum angled deck installed. The hydraulic catapults were replaced with more powerful steam catapults. Oriskany was recommissioned in 1959.

Oriskany served off Vietnam for six cruises. Her most famous pilot was Lt Cdr John McCain, who was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967, and was a POW until 1973. John McCain is now senator from Arizona.

History

Developed in parallel with the AX program which eventually led to the A-10 Thunderbolt II the General Electric GAU-8 "Avenger" was designed as a tank killer. The seven-barrel 30 mm cannon can fire over 3000 rounds a minute. When coupled with depleted uranium cored ammunition this weapon can penetrate most known armor. During my time in the USAF I was posted with the 23rd TAC who flew the shark mouthed A-10s of Flying Tiger fame. Part of my duties required maintenance visits to the firing range where I got to see these weapons awesome power first hand. A number of model companies have produced the A-10 in 1/48 scale and while the airframes are very good in most cases the gun is a solid piece without hollow barrels. Scratch building a GAU-8 is certainly possible but not necessary with this masterpiece of an aftermarket set.