One of the things that I find challenging about photo-etch seatbelts is that they are difficult to drape properly, especially the pre-painted type. It can be done, but inevitably some paint will chip or the metal just won’t bend properly to simulate the look of real fabric. Well, Eduard has a new twist on belts; actual fabric seatbelts that are pre-painted.

This set comes packaged in Eduard’s standard bottom-opening package. Inside you’ll find a nickel-plated photo-etch fret and a fabric “fret.” The nickel-plated PE features the shiny buckles and bits. There are no extras, so don’t lose them to the carpet monster! Some extra pieces would have been a nice addition. The fabric “fret” is a flexible material mounted onto a fabric backing. With the backing peeled off, you are left with a really thin fabric seatbelt. Another advantage of the fabric is that the belt is the proper color on both sides and it won’t chip.

Ultracast has cut out a niche market for itself with propellers. Their latest releases are designed for the Hasegawa Focke Wulf 190A/F.

Late-war Focke Wulfs were often fitted with wider-blade wooden props. This particular model of prop blade has a pointed tip, which is hard to replicate. Until now they have been difficult to find and their shape has not been quite correct. Ultracast has captured the shape perfectly for the first time.

This set is packaged in a small plastic bag secured onto a cardboard backing. The resin is typical Ultracast, molded in a light caramel color and free of blemishes. There are minimal pour blocks, which can be cleaned quickly and easily. Minimal flash is present on the spinner and cooling fans. Clean up of these castings will be easy with a new hobby blade.

Round 2 Models, under the AMT banner, has released a Jack Reacher 1970 Chevelle SS as part of their Silver Screen Machines series of kits. The ’70 Chevelle SS was “borrowed” by the title character, played by Tom Cruise, in the 2012 movie Jack Reacher, and had a blaze of glory during an exciting chase scene. This kit will allow you to build your own 1/25 scale copy of Jack Reacher’s Chevelle.

Engine

You get a 454ci engine that can be built with a single 4-barrel carburetor (LS6) or with a fuel-injected unit. I chose the fuelie option because I liked the way it looked.

Chassis

The chassis features nice detail and crisp engraving. The exhaust pipes and front suspension are molded onto the frame. The differential is separate, along with the shock absorbers. Some careful painting can bring out the exhaust pipe detail quite a bit.

Interior

The interior is just a tub with poor engraving. The dashboard is a fairly crisp though.

This is the fourth landing gear set that I have reviewed from the folks at Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC), and once again, they have provided an excellent metal option for kit-supplied landing gear. This set is for the first 1/48 scale aircraft released by Zoukei-Mura in the Super Wing Series, the J7W1 Shin Den (kit Super Wing Series 1/48 1). The purpose of this replacement set is to provide stronger landing gear that is adjustable if necessary to obtain proper angles. Even with no previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no issue installing.

Part 3 Review – Turret & Final Completion

This is the third, and final, section in a series of reviews covering the MiniArt AEC Mk. II Armoured Car kit. Previously, Part 1 reviewed the kit contents and assembly of the driver’s compartment and Part 2 reviewed the chassis, engine, and exterior. This review covers construction of the turret and final completion of the model. Thanks to Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) for their generosity in providing the review sample of this kit and for their continued support of the IPMS review program.

Introduction

This is an excellent, highly detailed kit. The molding is very crisp with great detail, and the fit is excellent. There are a few difficult areas that will make the kit challenging for less experienced modelers, but it is a complex kit that builds into a fantastic model for more advanced & expert modelers.