Review

The S2F Tracker needs no introduction. It has been in service for decades with Navies from all over the world. Kinetic has the only 1/48 injection molded kit in town and as such it is getting the attention from different aftermarket manufacturers.

Quickboost has released a series of aftermarket details (wheels, pylons, radar, etc) including one for the propellers, which is the subject of this review. The addition of a “Tool” is a great idea to ensure all the blades have the same pitch and very easy to use.

The resin parts are clearly sharper and finer than the plastic ones. Perhaps the main differences relates to size. The resin propeller hub is a tad longer than the plastic counterpart and the resin blades are a bit longer and narrower than the plastic ones. I do not know if that might have something to do with earlier/later marks of the Tracker. Check your references.

When I first saw this model kit as being available to review for IPMS/USA, I must admit I was ignorant of its importance in the history of tank development and warfare. Developed from the British Vickers 6 Ton tank of the late 1920s, the T-26 series of tanks was one of the most important of the 1930s, and together with the Soviet BT series, provided the backbone of Soviet tank forces in the interwar period. The T-26 was the most numerous tank of the Spanish Civil War, provided a large component of Soviet tank forces during the Finnish/Soviet conflict of 1939-40, and despite falling behind in design compared to improvements in anti tank gun development, was the most numerous tank in the Soviet arsenal when Germany launched Operation Barbarossa in June 1941.

Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty six years.

The February issue starts off with a report from the 2013 Tamiya fair. Some of the kits on the horizon are a 1/6 Harley Davidson FLSTFB Fat Boy Lo, 1/72 Mitsubishi A6M3/3a Zero Fighter Model 22 (Zeke), 1/35 Ford GPA with engine, 1/35 German Horch Kfz. 15 "North African Campaign", 1/48 Russian 1.5 ton Cargo Truck Model 1941, paintbrushes and tools. Also included in the first few pages is a page dedicated to the Eduard 1/72 Mig-15 in Czechoslovakian in Service Dual Combo and the Eduard aftermarket sets that could be used with it. Another page covers an auto show and then the next installment of I.J.A/N. Airplane Illustrated. This month’s installment covers torpedo sighting devices. They use photos of the actual units and drawings in the article.

Introduction

The American Bullfrog (Lithobates Castbeianus} are the largest frogs found in North America. The bullfrogs title is derived from the low frequency mating call of the males. These frogs can weight as much as a pound and a half and measure up to eight inches long! They are found just about anywhere in the U.S. although they are latecomers to the western U.S. having been exported there in the early 1900s. They are nocturnal hunters who can eat just about anything that fits in their mouths. The females are actually slightly larger then the males. Anyone who’s been on a camping trip by a lake or stream knows the racket these things can make!

Background

In 1972, the Shah of Iran visited the US to evaluate two interceptor airplanes, the F-14 and F-15, for protection of his borders against overflights of the MiG-25. A contract was signed to purchase a number of F-14s due to superior maneuverability and weaponry. As it turned out, the sale of some F-14s to Iran gave Grumman the funds that they needed to continue Tomcat production. The best pilots from Iran came to the US and were well trained in advance of the deliveries which started in 1974. During it’s time in the Imperial Iranian Air Force, IIAF, the Tomcat performed its role well.

In 1979 the Islamic Revolution toppled the Shah and established a harsh Islamic regime. A number of the trained personnel fled but many remained. Once Iraq invaded Iran, many of these former “Shah’s pilots” and technicians were allowed back in service and the Tomcats asserted themselves well against Iraq’s aircraft.