What's New

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$11.95

For those that be unfamiliar with Scale Aircraft Conversions this handy explanation from Scale Aircraft Conversions website should solve that problem: We (SAC) are currently producing a line of white metal landing gear for 1/24 to 1/72 scale aircraft. Some sets consist of the main gear only while others include the nose gear. Some inaccuracies in the original kit gear have been corrected but the mounting points remain identical to the factory parts. We have not sought to duplicate component parts where the factory plastic parts are reasonably accurate.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$75.00

The Kit

Refer to Part 1 for the base construction of this fine model kit.

Aftemarket Accessories Used

Several months ago I had the opportunity to review the New Ware exhaust mask set that I had originally planned to use on a Zoukei Mura F-4S Phantom sometime later. However with the opportunity to build and review the "J" version I decided now is the time to utilize this set. Since the Zoukei Mura Phantom have had their fair share of reviews I will focus my efforts on describing the use of the New Ware exhaust masks. See my earlier review.

Review Author
Patrick Brown
Published on
Company
AFV Club
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$60.00

Bottom Line Up Front

AFV Club continues to rule the Centurion market with its latest offering. This is a very good kit overall. It comes with tasty value-added features like a turned aluminum barrel and photoetch parts. The detail is sharp and the fit is excellent. The kit is marred by some unnecessarily complicated moving parts that make two aftermarket part sets a must if the modeler wants to have a first-rate build.

History

The Centurion is one of those tanks that just will not fade away with time. It just missed major action in WW2 by a few weeks so it’s first real trial was in Korea. This kit faithfully represents the 20-pounder armed Mk. 3 which was fielded in that conflict. This was the version which was still in service (with some modifications to the gun barrel) with the British Army in 1956 during Operation Musketeer, the invasion of the Suez Canal Zone.

Review Author
Michael A. Turco
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/12
MSRP
$298.99

The Kit

Italeri’s new multi-media Alfa Romeo 2300 8C “Monza” race car kit comes in an impressive box measuring 22” x 11” x 4-1/2” (Photo 1). An illustration of the box contents is shown on one of the box lid flaps (Photo 2). Upon opening the box, you find a 28-page instruction booklet, four plastic bags containing 10 styrene sprues, including duplicates of the “D” and “G” sprues, two bags of hardware with various sized screws and nuts, a decal sheet, masking sheet, steel photoetch sheet, nylon mesh sheet, rubber tires, copper wire, rope and rubber tubing (Photo 3). The kit offers using either masks or decals for the No. 28 race car driven by the famous Italian driver Tazio Nuvolari, a nice feature. To try both for the purpose of this build review, I masked the radiator No. 28 and used decals for the body numbers. I used the length of rope to replicate its use as heat protection on the exhaust pipe in the Nuvolari car.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
Meng Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$37.50

Meng sure does like to pop up now and then with the unique. This model is a case in point – a model of the single prototype flamethrower jeep developed for the British special services unit referred to as “Popski’s Private Army.” Why this particular concept didn’t take off isn’t really too hard to grasp. Imagine running around behind enemy lines in a completely unarmored vehicle with several gallons of extremely volatile fluids under pressure in tanks at your back. A single stray bullet could really ruin the crew’s entire day, I would think. The only effective way to survive a patrol in this contraption would be with the sincere hope that you have the element of surprise. Otherwise . . .

Meng has made a terrific little kit here of this one-off machine. The only non-styrene addition is the flexible tubing meant to attach the flamethrower gun to the fluid tank. Otherwise this is an extremely straight-forward and enjoyable single evening build.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
AFV Club
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$69.99

Brief History from Wikipedia

The IAV (Interim Armored Vehicle) Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III. Stryker vehicles are produced by General Dynamics Land Systems Canada for the United Staes Army. It has 4-wheel drive (8×4) and can be switched to all-wheel drive (8×8). The vehicle is named for two unrelated U.S. soldiers who posthumously received the Medal of Honorr: Private First Class Stuart S Stryker, who died in World War II, and Specialist Four Robert F Stryker, who died in the Vietnam War.

In April 2019, the Army decided to add cannon armament to Stryker DVH ICVVA1 vehicles in three brigades; the first is planned to be equipped in 2022

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Masterpiece Models
Scale
1/72 to 1/48
MSRP
$29.99

Copied from the Masterpiece Models website, About Masterpiece Models, “Masterpiece Models manufactures and sells the highest quality resin assembly kits on the market today. Featuring kits for a variety of interests including WWII, Vietnam, Sci-fi, and aircraft bases. We have acquired the rights to a large selection of the Custom Dioramics line that are now available through us as resin assembly kits. Our kits are manufactured at our Vancouver, Washington, USA fabrication and casting shop.”

Book Author(s)
Mark E, Stille
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.00

Mark E. Stille, a retired Commander of the U.S. Navy, and is a prolific writer and enthusiast for WW2 naval history – over 40 Osprey titles. Paul Wright painted the ships on the cover and in the text. Alan Gilliland illustrated the maps, ship profiles and armaments. Maurizio Brescia provided many of the photographs.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$75.00

The Zoukei Mura Kit

Refer to Part 1 for the construction of this fine model kit.

There have been a number of positive reviews for the Zoukei Mura F-4 Phantom series of model kits, and I cannot add anything new, other than these are really great kits. I would encourage anyone interested in this airraft to purchase any Zoukei Mura Phantom. You will not be sorry.

Aftemarket Accessories Used

Several months ago I had the opportunity to review the following Hypersonic Models aftermarket accessory set that I had originally planned to use on a Zoukei Mura F-4S Phantom sometime in 2020. However with the opportunity to build and review the "J" version I decided now is the time to utilize the Hypersonic Models set. Since the Zoukei Mura Phantom have had their fair share of reviews I will focus my efforts on describing the modifications to the kit with the inclusion of the follwing accessory into the build.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Amigo Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$18.50

This set is designed to be used on Trumpeter’s Su-24 kits. The set consists of 10 resin parts which allows you to assemble a pair of exhaust nozzles for your Su-24 Fencer. Each nozzle set is comprised of a section with the rearmost fan blades, the flame-holder for the afterburner, the exhaust pipe and the rear nozzle assembly. The set also includes the rear engine bay bulkhead and the oddly shaped section between the two nozzles.