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Luftwaffe JG73 Operation Sniper 2003, Mig-29-12
Review Author
Matt Quiroz
Published on
Company
Great Wall Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$90.00

I need to preface this review by saying I had a major setback towards the end of this build. All of the in progress pictures I had been taking were deleted on my computer somehow. I was able to recover some of them, but not all. I did my best to capture what I thought was important during the build. Hopefully the review will still be of use even without those photos’s I lost.

Boxtop

Pz.kpfw. 35 (t)
Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$54.99

The Pz.Kpfw. 35(t) was one of two light tanks seized by the German army when Germany occupied Czechoslovakia in 1938-39. Both light tanks were used to flesh out three German Panzer Divisions and were a very important element in the invasions of Poland (1939), France & the low countries (1940) and Russia in 1941.

The Czech firm Skoda was one of the leading producers of munitions, field guns and tanks in the 1930's. Their design of a light tank for the Czech army was the Lt Vz 35, which weighed 10.5 tons, had a 37mm main gun along with a 7.92mm MG in the turret and another 7.92mm MG in the front hull. It was the equivalent of the German Panzer III. When Germany took the Czech tanks they repainted them and changed their name to the Pz.Kpfw.35(t), the “t” being German for Czechoslovakia. The production line was never restarted and by early 1942 the few remaining tanks, with no spare parts, were withdrawn from service.

Box Art

USS Zumwalt DDG-1000
Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$38.99

The US Navy’s pending new guided-missile destroyer class looks like something entirely out of a science fiction movie. Known as the Zumwalt class (Admiral Elmo Zumwalt was the youngest officer ever to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, and he led the USN during the time of the Vietnam War), it features a wave-piercing hull and sleek form to reduce its radar cross-section. The first-of-class USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) was launched in October 2013 and she’s expected to reach initial operating capability in 2016 at a cost of about $1.4 billion. Only three 14,654-ton Zumwalt-class destroyers will be built by General Dynamics. With a crew of 142, USS Zumwalt will reach speeds of 30.3 knots. Her armament includes 20 MK 57 VLS missile modules, two 155mm guns and two Mk 46 30mm cannons, plus she will carry two SH-60 helicopters and three MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Author's note: the Zumwalt reminds me of the CSS Virginia ironclad.

Exterior photoetch

A3D-2 Skywarrior Big Ed Photo Etch and Mask Set - Part 3
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$140.00

Once again, thanks up front to Eduard for sending us this set; It’s been a great upgrade, (as you will be able to see) and a worthy investment. Thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for entrusting such a massive endeavor to my feeble skills…

Here’s the final two sets for the build!

Box Art

Mirage IIICJ Weekend Edition
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

The Eduard 1/48 scale Mirage IIIC is a well-known kit, and it is nice to see it re-released. Despite some known issues, it still builds into a nice replica of the French interceptor.

The kit comes molded in light gray plastic, with a total of 167 parts on eight sprues, plus a small sprue of clear parts. The decals are printed by Eduard and are opaque and in register. There is neither PE nor masks in this Weekend Edition boxing. However, this particular review model was built in conjunction with another reviewed item, Eduard's Mirage IIICJ Weekend Photoetch Set #49659, which provided photoetch for the cockpit.

Manufacturer's Illustration of PE Fret

Mirage IIICJ Weekend Photoetch Set
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

I have built the Eduard 1/48 scale Mirage IIICJ in the Weekend Edition boxing (Mirage IIICJ Kit Review), and while it is a nice model out-of-the-box, it actually can be enhanced by using Eduard’s supplemental photoetch set. The single-fret set concentrates on the cockpit interior and adds just a handful of exterior details.

As you can see from the pictures, the cockpit looks much more realistic and has a great depth due to the sandwich of photoetch parts representing the instrument panel. While it might sound complicated, it is actually very simple to assemble. I only used a pair of tweezers and a #11 blade to position the parts. I used Future as my glue, which also provided a bit of a glass look to the dials.

Manufacturer's Illustration of Mask Set

Mirage IIICJ Weekend Masks
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

Eduard has nice line of 1/48 scale Mirage IIICs and IIICJs. Their line also includes many different sets of aftermarket add-ons, including mask sets. A mask set is an excellent investment in your model, as it will save you time and grief while delivering very clean lines for your finished model.

The mask set includes pre-cut masks for the canopy, the navigation lights, and landing gear, including the line between the tire and the wheel hub.

The canopy mask provides you with only the edges of the canopy. You are expected to fill-in-the-blank, which is very simple and straightforward to do. I chose to use tape, but the instructions recommend using liquid mask. I did have a very limited amount of paint bleed underneath my tape, which I had to polish off afterwards, so using liquid mask is probably the best way to go.

Quickboost Package

T-38A Talon Air Scoops
Review Author
Matt Quiroz
Published on
Company
Quickboost
MSRP
$6.50

There isn’t much to say with this one. These are a direct replacement for the Trumpeter kits air scoops; parts C-18/19. As you can see they are well cast and feature a hollow opening as opposed to the kits solid appearance. The kit piece is on the top in the picture. Well packaged at an affordable price. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Quickboost for providing this review item

Bomb Bay Package

A3D-2 Skywarrior Big Ed Photo Etch and Mask Set - Part 2
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$140.00

Once again, thanks up front to Eduard for sending us this set; It’s been a great upgrade, (as you will be able to see) and a worthy investment. Thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for entrusting such a massive endeavor to my feeble skills…

Here’s what’s was next in the envelope after I worked the interior sets…