The Hermes Program was a post WW-II American program which utilized German missile designs. Best known of this series was the Hermes A2, which was the A-4 (V-2) copy. The Hermes A1 was based on the Wasserfall, a surface to air missile developed at Peenemunde in 1942, but which never reached production. General Electric developed an built the Hermes A1, which was about ¼ the size of the Hermes A2.

The other big difference between the A1 and A2 was that the A1 had 4 extra fins on the sides of the rocket body. This was to allow greater maneuverability when the rocket was being guided to a target aircraft. The guidance was done visually during daylight and with radar assist at night. Steering from the ground was done with a joystick.

Five A1s were successfully tested at White Sands Range in New Mexico in 1950 and 51. The entire Hermes program was canceled in 1954.

Scale Aircraft Conversions, or SAC, make replacement landing gear for a wide variety of aircraft, in all the major scales. They are cast in white metal, which is stronger than the kit’s plastic pieces. To quote the company’s website, “Some sets consist of the main gear only while others include the nose gear, tail gear and/or adjacent related components. Some inaccuracies in the original kit gear have been corrected but the mounting points remain identical to the factory parts.”

Scale Aircraft Conversions (or “SAC”) make replacement landing gear for a wide variety of aircraft in all the major scales. They are cast in white metal, which is stronger than the kit’s plastic pieces. To quote the company’s website, “Some sets consist of the main gear only, while others include the nose gear, tail gear and/or adjacent related components. Some inaccuracies in the original kit gear have been corrected but the mounting points remain identical to the factory parts.”

This set is made to replace the parts for Airfix’s new-mold Bristol Blenheim, either the Mk.I or Mk.IV. As you can see from the pictures, they’re direct replacements for the kit parts. The level of detail is very similar, though I think I like SAC’s tail wheel a bit better.

Of course, being made of the kind of metal they are, some parts may bend a bit during shipping. They straighten easily and are quite sturdy when assembled. Recommended.

Dragon Models offers a complete lineup of the Pz.Kpfw. III family tree in 1/35 scale, including several new kits in this last year alone. The subject of this review is the Pz.Kpfw.III (F) Ausf. M (w/Schürtzen), from their “’39 to ‘45” Smart Kit series. The [F] stands for FlammenPanzer, or ‘flame tank’.

A flame tank is a type of tank equipped with a flamethrower, most commonly used to supplement combined arms attacks against fortifications, confined spaces, or other obstacles. The type only reached significant use in the Second World War, during which the United States, Soviet Union, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom (including members of the British Commonwealth) all produced flamethrower-equipped tanks.

OK, here’s a diorama accessory for aircraft or armor, or any other idea you can come up in 1/144 scale. How about N Gauge railroading?

The product is a set of 6 metal barriers with legs and connectors, so you could make a hexagonal pen, or put 6 of them against a wall with a 2X2 setup and the wall is the 4th side.

There was a time when I wished we had those barriers for the static display aircraft at my Guard unit’s air show. In spite of the “NO SMOKING” signs prominently displayed around the aircraft, there was one guy who lit one up. Right under the wing of an F-14. Next to the fuel tank. Well, it was a shady spot. I called him on the “no smoking” rule, and he was going to put his cigarette out in the nicely provided butt can. Except this can was actually for overflowed fuel from the wing tank, and if I hadn’t physically restrained him, he would have burned himself and the aircraft. And possibly me too.