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Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.33

Brengun is an aftermarket company that supplies parts and accessories for a vast variety of models, as well as their own model kits.

This photo etch set included just about everything needed to enhance and upgrade the old “classic” Airfix/Heller 1/72 Gazelle helicopter.

Much of the set accommodates various antennae’s, windscreen wipers, Rotor head cyclic and collective push rods and swash plate, cyclic’s for each pilot, rubber pedals and instrument panel and center console. The only thing I would have liked were a set of seat belts. However, in this scale, making belts from tape would be quite acceptable, or sourcing photo etch belts elsewhere should be fairly easy.

A small but easily readable instruction sheet was included and showed a few parts that were options.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

Once again SAC comes up with a solution to the problem of failing Plastic Landing gear on a “different design” landing gear situation.

The idea of “dead cockroach” landing gear is not new; it is a solution to a problem aircraft designers have had to deal with for years. My personal favorite are all the Cessna’s (Cardinal and Skymaster come to mind) which had the gear partially extend or retract, making for dicey and spectacular landings when the pilot runs out of fuel and absolutely HAS to land. Videos are out there, go to Youtube or whatever to see for yourself.

Book Author(s)
Witold Koszela
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

Kagero Publishing, from Poland, in TopDrawings No. 123, exhibits the largest, fastest and last British battleship, HMS Vanguard, in all its glory as the world’s largest yacht for royalty. Also, the last battleship ever launched. The TopDrawings series is designed for modelers to have a reference for detailed appearances of individual ships and aircraft. TopDrawings consist of color covers with black & white (B&W) line drawings of the ship, particular features, and equipment, especially armament (including aircraft). But the main attraction is the separate, large foldout of B&W scale drawings – 1/400 in this book, to match existing model kits.

Book Author(s)
Witold Koszela
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$25.95

Kagero Publishing, from Poland, in TopDrawings No. 125, illustrates the last commissioned battleship of the French Marine Nationale – Jean Bart, in his final fit in 1956. The TopDrawings series is designed for modelers to have a reference for detailed appearances of individual ships and aircraft. TopDrawings consist of color covers with black & white (B&W) line drawings of the ship, particular features, and equipment, especially armament. But the main attraction is the separate, large foldout of B&W scale drawings – 1/400 in this book, to match existing model kits – and now there are full color profiles in 1/400 scale. This TopDrawings is a go-to reference for building or scratchbuilding the Jean Bart as a waterline or full hull model.

The author, Witold Koszela, has published more than 26 books on warships, with at least 14 in the Kagero TopDrawing series. Witold also supplied the line and color drawings.

Book Author(s)
Scott Lowther
Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
Company
Mortons Books
MSRP
$49.99

Contents

  • Chapter 1 - B-47 Evolution - 005
  • Chapter 2 – B-47 Development and Projects - 007
  • Chapter 3 – B-52 Evolution - 045
  • Chapter 4 – B-52 Development - 100
  • Chapter 5 – B-52 Projects - 165
  • Chapter 6 – B-52 with Nuclear Propulsion - 188
  • Chapter 7 – B-52 Miscellaneous Designs - 212
  • Chapter 8 – B-52 as a Carrie - 225
  • Chapter 9 – B-52 Re-Engining Studies - 236
  • Chapter 10 – B-47 and B-52 Derived Transports - 314
  • General data tables - 323
  • References - 376
  • Index - 382

Publishers Overview

“The famous B-52 Stratofortress has been in service with the USAF for more than 65 years and its iconic shape is known and recognized all over the world. Yet the B-52 and its predecessor, the B-47 Stratojet, started out looking very different indeed.

Book Author(s)
Eric H. Larson
Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$75.00

Publisher’s Notes

“A comprehensive, accurate, and academically-supported reference of all of the major military and paramilitary camouflage patterns that have been in use around the world from the end of World War Two to today.

This book will be a one-stop, generalized reference illustrating as many patterns as have been researched into the present time period. It will surpass all previous efforts. In addition to color tiles illustrating camouflage patterns it will include photographs of the designs actually being worn by military and paramilitary personnel, something few other references have done in suitable combination.”

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$8.95

The AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser system is a defensive system fitted to many current military aircraft. It is used to dispense flares or chaff or both to counter the tracking systems of incoming missiles and has been in use since the mid-to-early 2000’s by the United States and many other countries.

This set from Brengun provides the chaff/flare dispenser portion of the AN/ALE-47 system in two different versions. One version has round dispenser holes, while the other version has more oval holes. There are three identical castings, each with 10 dispensers on it. There are seven dispensers with round holes and three with oval holes on each casting. The various dispensers depict different load outs from completely empty to completely full.

Book Author(s)
Aliaksandr Sukhanevich
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$37.95

Based in Central Europe, Kagero Publishing House is the biggest publisher and exporter of English-written publications about military history, releasing nearly 60 titles every year. Founded by Damian Majsak in 1995, Kagero expanded in 1998 to release new publications in English. Illustrator Aliaksandr Sukhanevich is one of many Kagero contributors, whose previous volume in this series was on the Russian Cruiser Askold (16085).

Book Author(s)
Kev Darling; Illustrator: Sam Pearson
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$34.00

Guideline Publications Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modelling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas.

Kev Darling is an aviation historian, writer, and publisher based in South Wales. He served in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer for nearly 30 years, from June 1973 to March 2003. He has written at least 30 books since 1987, working in the RAF Illustrated series, Crowood Aviation series, Crowood Combat Legend series, Specialty Press' WarbirdTech series, as well as Guideline's Warpaint series.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$12.99

Phoenix Scale Publications came to be at Scale Model World in 2021and was formed by a veteran group of aviation and scale modeling talents. They have come out with a series of books on specific planes and also what is being reviewed here, a wonderful monthly magazine, Phoenix Aviation Modelling, which is available as individual choices from their web site, or even better a subscription. The magazines are also currently available at 250 Barnes & Noble stores for $12.99.

Inside the magazine are 10 feature articles with specific builds, coverage of newsstand (publications), Czech News (covering new releases from the Czech Republic), new kit releases, along with coverage of new aftermarket and decals. There is also a nice comment from IPMS/UK.

The builds in the July 2022 issue include: