Scale Aircraft Conversions has released a set of white metal front and rear main gear for the Hobby boss A-6E 1/48 scale. The set includes 12 parts, a front gear strut with actuators and scissors, two main rear struts also with actuators and scissors. These twelve parts are replacements for kit parts front gear parts # F58, F18, F33, F32, F52, F29, F45, F46, F49, left main gear parts F23, F27, F22, F15, F47 and right main gear parts F28, F56, F57, F55, F3 and there accompanying metal inserts.

The Hobby Boss A-6E landing gear is rather complicated. It includes a metal strut that is encapsulated within plastic half’s to add strength to the undercarriage. It would be hoped that the SAC gear would simplify the process of building the landing gear. For better an understanding see the photos of the kit instructions.

Scale Modeling Quarterly is an interesting new magazine that nice variety of subjects of interest to many modelers. This is the second edition of the relatively new modeling magazine by Hobbyscale Press. The magazine is described is a journal for and by scale modelers. The magazine is published quarterly and costs $7.99 per issue.

The magazine is 8.5” x 11”, printed on a gloss paper and is 52 pages including covers. The typeface is large, easy to read, and colors are used to accentuate paragraph headings and titles. The photographs are sharp and are all printed in color.

The magazine includes a nice mix of editorial articles, modeler profiles, build articles, and modeling techniques.

Contents of this issue include:

A perfect addition to your diorama or display base is this Aires Aerobonus fire drum set. Aires Aerobonus provides two resin fire drums and a set of decals: “ For Fire Only”. Of note is the Quickboost re-sealable packaging making the parts easy to review and stuff back into the package securely. The supplied instructions provide color and decal placement drawings.

Aires Aerobonus has molded the fire drums in light grey resin with only a few bubbles that are easily filled. There are no mold seams to sand off and the resin plug is easily removed from the bottom with a razor saw or Dremel. The inside rim had a small resin protrusion, but that was easily removed with a swipe of a scalpel blade.

The kit includes six resin bombs, resin tailfins, photoetch for the nose fuse and rear arming vanes, 1 decal sheet, and instructions.

I compared the Brassin 250 lb. bomb to a 500 lb. bomb from Revell’s B-17F Memphis Belle. The Brassin bomb has much thinner tail fins and greater detail with the flanges on each of the fins. The nose fuse on the Brassin bomb has a more accurate projection, and the suspension lugs have nice definition. The Revell bomb only includes a slot for attachment without the suspension lugs. The rear arming vanes on the Brassin bomb are obviously much greater detail, as they are not included with the Revell bomb. The Brassin bomb his only very slight mold seams, which are easily corrected, compared to the larger glue joint and sprue attachments on the Revell bomb that need more extensive cleanup.

A perfect addition to your diorama or display base is this Aires Aerobonus fire bucket set. Aires Aerobonus provides you with four resin fire buckets and a set of decals: “Fire”. Of note is the re-sealable packaging that Quickboost uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the package securely. The supplied instructions provide color and decal placement drawings.

Aires Aerobonus has molded the fire buckets in light grey resin with no bubbles that I could find. There are no mold seams to sand off and the resin plug is easily removed from the bottom with a razor saw or Dremel. Use care in removing the plug resin plug though as the bucket bottom is quite thin (ask me how I know). Also be very careful with the handle tabs. They are quite thin as well and will require a light touch when drilling a hole for the handle.