Detail and Wonder is a new aftermarket company; they currently list The F-35 (Tamiya), F-4 (Meng), and recently the F-16 heavyweight (for later F-16C variants, Tamiya and by default, Kinetic) as target improvements for their products, producing landing gear with integral Wheels/tires/struts, Exhaust Nozzles, and some intake/exhaust FOD (Foreign Object Damage) prevention plugs. The subject of this review is the F-35A landing gear set; IPMS USA appreciates D&W providing us this set for review!

The packaging is frugal but effective; no parts breakage was noted on my set, and opening them revealed three strut assemblies encased in protective foam inserts to prevent movement and crushing.Included in the box are two main gear struts, two main gear brake and oleo assemblies, a nose gear in two parts, and a Photoetch fret (with floating parts internal to the fret and retained by adhesive protective cover plastic… no attachments to cut or clean up! YAY!)

This Hauler detail set will take the Tamiya 1/48 US Howitzer Motor Carrier (HMC) to the next level. The 3” x 5.55”x1” deep box is chock full of two PE frets (2.5”x2” with Parts Nos. 1-30, and 1.5” x 1.5” containing Parts Nos. 1-6 for grills, baskets, and tool clamps) and four resin plugs with Parts Nos. 1-25. The parts arrived safely, with the exception of the two M1 carbines (Part No. 24) that were either short shot or broken in transit.

While the base Tamiya kit is great out of the box, there is always room for more detail, and this Hauler kit does not disappoint, especially in the interior as this is an open top combat vehicle.

This is the latest addition to the ever-expanding list of volumes in the Pacific Profiles
series. Previous books in the series have covered both Japanese and American aircraft,
but this is the first one dedicated to the P-51.

In a similar format to other volumes in the series, this book has 108 pages in a nice, high-
quality semi-gloss finish and a stiff outer cover. Publishing quality is first-rate, as is the
content itself.

The book is made up of 14 chapters, as well as a table of abbreviation definitions and a
sources/acknowledgements section. The first chapters discuss general markings as well
as a history of the aircraft type’s introduction into the theater. Subsequent chapters are
broken down by individual squadrons, culminating in sections devoted to group/squadron
commanders’ aircraft and one on post-war markings.

My love affair with the A-6 began one summer day when I was a boy. Two A-6 Intruders came screaming up the Connecticut coastline while we were at the beach. I suppose they were on a training flight out of the Grumman factory a short distance across Long Island Sound in Calverton NY. Fast forward a few years to 1973 and I had recently arrived at my new duty station of MCAS Cherry Point NC. There on the flight line were A-6’s, lots of them!! Although my squadron were flying TA-4Js Skyhawks, the Intruders next door fascinated me. The bomb loads were staggering and the all-weather capabilities unmatched. Marine A-6’s are the things of legend and to a young Marine the group I was assigned to, MAG-14 had a nice range of aircraft assigned, including the A-6.

Unboxing

Unfortunately I lost the picture of the unboxing, but this kit comes with 7 sprues molded in grey, 2 clear, black vinyl tires, a small photo-etch and a small decal sheet. First impressions- this kit is very detailed and clean. By clean I mean very minimal flash to remove at all. The instructions have extremely clear pictures and type.Very easy to follow and know what you are looking at.

Assembly

I am highly impressed by the detail on this! The console in the cab even has cup holders! So many pieces! I would advise you to take your time and enjoy this kit!

In all honesty, this kit is probably a bit beyond my skill set. With my shaky hands and diminishing eyesight, the small details of this kit are a bit more than I can handle. Not to say I am not enjoying it. I am just going to say that as happy as I am with it, I know some other model builders will be able to do a much better job than I did.