Scale Aircraft Conversions is a maker of metal landing gear to replace kit parts. This landing gear set is for the Hasegawa 1/48th SH-3 Sea King. Included in the set you get two main landing gear struts, two retraction actuators, two torque links (scissors), and the tail wheel.

After comparing the kit parts to SAC’s parts this is what I have come up with. SAC’s gear will give your model a firm base to sit on. However, there are also some shortcomings. The SAC gear appears to be a tad bit smaller (see the photos below). This may not be an issue because who can say that the kit gear is correct? One area that will be an issue is the retraction actuators. As you can see in the kit and SAC comparison photo, the SAC actuator is just short of contacting the gear strut.

The April issue of SAM features some inspiring work, as well as provides some significant reference material. A regular contributor to SAM, Pete Mossong, along with fellow contributors Dave Wilson and Damon Edwards, provides an “Aviation in Profile” article covering the BAC 167 Strikemaster in RNZAF service. Filled with color images of the BAC 167 and supplemented with scale drawings and data, this 10-page article provides excellent reference material to the modeler wishing to build a Strikemaster.

Featured in this issue are articles by Ioannis Giavasis and Massimo Santarossa. Giavasis tackles a classic Airfix kit, the Saab Viggen in 1/48th scale, while Santarossa builds the Great Wall P-61A, the second variant of the Black Widow by Great Wall. Both are fantastic builds and provide much in the way of detailed imaging that will greatly aid anyone building these models.

Model Art Modeling Magazine is a Japanese publication that is released monthly. The text is mainly in Japanese with some English subtitles throughout. One attractive feature of these magazines is the high quality of the photographs and the models that are used.

In this month’s issue, the feature article covers dealing with aftermarket parts (resin and photo etch), and then they show the application to actual models. They cover everything from removing PE from the fret, bending PE, and cleaning resin. This article covers approximately the first quarter of the magazine.

The next article is the continuing series on building a JASDF T-28B. This month they cover the wings and landing gear.

The April new kit review covers the following kits: GWH 1/48 Mig-29 Late type 9.12, Kinetic 1/48 T-45 A/C “Goshawk”, Pit Road 1/35 Crossley Armored Car Model 25, Tamiya 1/35 M109A6 “Paladin”, and Fujimi 1/700 Aircraft carrier Cruiser Mogami.

Ultracast’s line of miniature figures now includes a 1/48 scale Russian fighter pilot in the flight gear typical of the early years of WWII. He obviously is attired for summertime service, decked out in a smart-looking lightweight khaki tunic with decorative embroidery, and blue dress trousers tucked into non-insulated leather boots. He also appears to be ready to climb into the cockpit because he is wearing his helmet, goggles, and parachute. The original figure was sculpted by Mike Good. It is a nicely proportioned figure with extremely fine detail and very realistic facial features.

The latest issue in MMP’s ever-expanding “Yellow” series covers the Messerschmitt Bf-108 “Taifun.” This is certainly one of the most comprehensive treatments of the Bf-108 I have ever come across. The Bf-108 is often relegated to a small mention in Bf-109 books when describing the development history of that aircraft. Now we have a volume dedicated specifically to the “Taifun.”

In a manner similar to other titles in this series, this book covers the design development of the Bf-108, followed by a brief history of its production and service. This is followed by several pages of technical data. and finally, many pages of detail photos. Scale plan views of all variants are included in both 1/72nd (within the text) and 1/48th (separate, loose insert) scales.