Review of the new Hobby Boss MiG-29K in 1/48 from The Modelling News. Comes with markings for either the Russian or Indian Navy variants.
MiG-29K Fulcrum-D
by Hobby Boss
Model no: #81786
Model: 1/48th scale
Price: $128 USD on the HLJ Website
This Meng AH-64D features some stunning detail in what is sure to be a popular kit given current events. Here are some kit review highlights as published in The Modelling News.
AH-64D Saraf Attack Helicopter (IAF)
From Meng Models
Kit No #QS-005
1/35th scale
Three paint schemes included
Pre-cut painting masks included
Expected in December / January
Check out this review on Tamiya’s new Grumman FM-1 Wildcat Martlet Mk.V in 1/48 scale as posted on hyperscale.com.
Advantages: Good level of detail; excellent surface textures including crisply recessed panel lines, raised and recessed rivets and fabric texture; now includes new seated pilot figure and self-adhesive canopy masks.
Disadvantages: No open cowl flap option; fixed control surfaces, some simplification.
Conclusion: It is remarkable to consider that Tamiya’s original F4F-4 Wildcat was released almost 30 years ago, yet with its world-class surface textures, simple assembly and perfect fit it still stands proudly today as a worthwhile addition to any modeler’s collection.
Here are some interesting new kits, as covered by The Modelling News website.
Snap kit, pre-colored
$56.20
https://www.neverlandhobby.com/list_9/21.html
https://www.themodellingnews.com/2023/11/preview-update-neverland-hobbys-new.html?m=1
Here are some interesting new kits, as covered by The Modelling News website.
This article meets Casey’s challenge – sort of – in the intro to his October 2023 ASM Newsletter, inspired by the recent Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Casey’s challenge was for anyone to provide pictures of their built kit-of an Albatros D.III, Albatros D.V, Fokker D.VII, or Pfalz D.III in the markings of a Balloon-Busting Ace. Casey’s particular German aircraft types were included in Print Scale’s “Balloon-Busting Aces of WWI Part 1 – Germany” decal sheet (72-227).
I say “sort of” because I did not build a German “balloon-buster” kit, but I did build another famous “balloon busting ace” that is on Print Scale’s “Balloon-Busting Aces of WWI Part 3 – Belgium, USA, and British Empire” decal sheet (72-226). The ace’s scheme that I built was 2Lt Frank Luke, the “Arizona Balloon Buster.” Although I must confess that I built Luke’s SPAD XIII “Black 26” whereas that Print Scale sheet includes his “Black 21.” Luke went through four or five SPADs in his brief but spectacular career with the 27th Aero Squadron.
So – to complete the challenge, I present a previously submitted article from April 2018 on Frank Luke, Junior and the build of his SPAD XIII, with some updates to make it current.
2nd Lieutenant Frank Luke is known as “the Arizona Balloon Buster.” He is the 2nd-ranking American ace who was in the U.S. Air Service in WW I. He is the 18th ranking Air Force ace (tie) and 23rd ranking American ace (tie). Luke was assigned to the 27th Aero Squadron in July 1918. Luke was a controversial and aggressive “lone wolf” pilot who disregarded orders and was known to break formation. But for his flying skills, success at attacking balloons, and a forgiving commanding officer, he would have been transferred out of the unit. Luke scored 18 victories in 10 days between the 12th and 29th of September (he was sent on leave on the 20th through 27th). Of these victories, 4 were aircraft and 14 were balloons that were heavily defended by both AAA and aircraft. During this short period Luke scored 5 victories on 18 September in a 30 minute period (3 aircraft and 2 balloons); had two “triples” on 15 and 29 September (all balloons); and had three “doubles” on 14, 16, and 18 September (5 balloons and 1 aircraft). Many of these missions were flown with his friend Lieutenant Joseph Wehner (6 victories) who flew cover while Luke attacked the balloons, much like Don Gentile and John Godfrey in World War II. Wehner is shown in the far right picture below. Wehner was shot down and killed during the 18 September mission. Of note, Luke brought back five SPADs damaged beyond repair. Luke’s last mission occurred on 29 September after he had been grounded by his squadron commander for insubordination. Luke disregarded the order and took off anyway, receiving after-the-fact tacit approval by the group commander. Luke was killed in action during this mission where he downed 3 balloons near Avocourt, France. In this action he was wounded and his SPAD disabled by ground fire. He crash-landed near Murvaux, after strafing troops in the town. There is controversy about what occurred after he crash-landed and was approached by German troops. It is likely that he was in a state of shock from his mortal wound when (or if) he fired at the troops and that he probably died from loss of blood. Luke was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions, the only pursuit pilot to win the award during the war. He was also awarded the DFC with one oak leaf cluster and the Italian Croix de Guerre. Luke, 21 years old, was posthumously promoted to 1st Lieutenant. Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona is named in his honor.
The model of Luke’s SPAD S.XIII, serial S15202, black 26, of the 27th Aero Squadron “Fighting Eagles” depicts his aircraft in Rembercourt, France in September, 2018. This 1/72 scale model is the Revell SPAD XIII kit from the 1960’s, and was built in October 1998. It is finished in Model Master colors. This kit has been reissued many times over the years and some have included Luke’s markings. The markings used, however, are from an aftermarket decal sheet (Pete’s Decals 72-08) that was the best decals available in 1998, but it is likely no longer available. Print Scale has two 1/72 decal sheets: 72-046 “SPAD VII to SPAD XVII Fighters” with Black 26 and 72-226 “Balloon-Busting Aces of WWI Part 3 – Belgium, USA, and British Empire” with Black 21; and one 1/48 sheet 48-047 “SPAD VII to SPAD XVII Fighters” with Black 26. This kit is an easy build–besides mounting the wings–and looks fairly good. It has no interior, so a seat, seat belts, instrument panel, control stick, and windshield were all built. Aircraft rigging wires were added using stretched sprue, which is a total pain in 1/72 scale, especially on a SPAD, which has about 30 wires. The Eduard SPAD XIII Profipack kit in 1/72 scale and the Weekend Edition in 1/48 scale both include Luke’s markings.
Of note, there are four American aces that served only in the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force during WW I who scored between 20 and 18 victories (Frederick Gillet with 20, Wilfred Beaver with 19, Harold Kullberg with 19, and William Lambert with 18), only behind Edward Rickenbacker’s score of 26. These aces are virtually unknown to the American public. Models of these aces are in my planning.
Sources:
USAS 1st Pursuit Group by Jon Guttman, Osprey Publishing Aviation Elite Units #28, 2008
American Aces of World War I by Norman Franks, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces #42, 2001
U.S. Air Service Victory Credits World War I, USAF Historical Study No. 133, Historical Research Division, Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University. June 1969
(originally posted content from October 4)
The ASM WWI model display has been installed at the Cherry Hills branch of Albuquerque Public Library.
Special thanks to Don Gatewood, Jim Coatney, Scott Jaworski, and John Tate for making it happen.
Don Gatewood will be giving a special presentation on “The Art and Craft of Scale Modeling” at the library on Saturday, October 28, from 11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
(new content from November 1)
ASM Members Don Gatewood and Dave Tingley gave a public presentation at the Cherry Hills Branch of the Albuquerque Public Library on October 28th, 2023 on scale modeling and WWI. In attendance were ASM members Jim Coatney, Michael Howell and John Tate, as well as Jim and Don’s wives and other members of the public. The meeting was well-attended and the room well-suited to the presentation.
Dave Tingley gave an entertaining talk on the basics of scale modeling and caught the interest of potential junior modelers in our hobby. Don Gatewood gave a reprise of his April 2023 talk on WWI aviation which was just as interesting as his club presentation. Both presentations were a success and well-represented ASM.
This ASM model display and presentation set a good example of how even small-scale ASM activities can generate public interest in our club and hobby and are worth pursuing. If ASM members become aware of similar presentation opportunities in the future please pass along the information to the E-Board.
Dem Brudders, better known as Bill and Dick Engar from Utah, posted a fun article on modelling airliners with a focus on the Revell DC-10 kit on their website (https://www.dembrudders.com/revell-1144-dc-10–kc-10-kit-history.html). Here is an excerpt:
DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT REVOLUTIONIZED AIR TRAVEL WITH ITS DC-3. IT TOOK ON BOEING DURING THE JET AGE WITH THE EXCELLENT DC-8. THE DC-10 WAS ITS STAR-CROSSED SUCCESSOR. JOIN US AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE REVELL DC-10 KIT AND FOLLOW ITS EVOLUTION THROUGH THE LIFETIME OF THE DC-10 AIRLINER.
…
Revell released an early DC-10 in 1972, a year after the airplane was introduced into domestic service on high-volume routes by American Airlines. By the early 1970’s, Revell’s new models didn’t have the same level of intricate detailing that made them legendary from the 1950’s, but the upside to this was that the DC-10 kit wasn’t encrusted with oversized rivets. The kit had open windows with clear strips intended to be glued inside the fuselage before closing it up. This seemed to be a bit of an engineering shortcut compared to their 747 kits, which had clear window segments molded to fit flush with the fuselage. Still, the DC-10 built into an impressive, reasonably accurate model that wasn’t at all hard to build.
Airfix also released a DC-10 kit in 1/144 scale, although it took them until 1980 to do it. My personal preference is the Revell plastic since the kit has the characteristic reinforcement strips across the rear stabilizer and engine. Of course these could be added to the Airfix kit without a whole lot of effort if the modeler so wishes. The Airfix DC-10 was also released by American manufacturer MPC in American Airlines’ livery circa 1982.
American Airlines was the launch customer for the DC-10, eventually acquiring 55 DC-10’s, yet Revell chose Delta decals to include with the first release of the model kit in 1972. The Revell DC-10 “Airbus” debuted in Delta’s legendary “Widget” livery. The model depicted early GE CF6 engines with a bifurcated tail-cone. Apparently this divider was a hot-stream split thrust reverser that didn’t work very well and was soon removed from all early DC-10’s. Interestingly, Delta was better known for its use of Lockheed’s competing L1011 with 70 of these aircraft eventually in use. Originally, Delta took delivery of 5 DC-10’s, which were only purchased as a stopgap anticipating delivery of the delayed L1011. Delta later picked up 12 DC-10’s from their merger with Delta in 1987 but these aircraft were quickly passed on to other airlines once the merger was complete.
Italeri have four releases for October 2023, as covered by The Modelling News website. (https://www.themodellingnews.com/2023/10/preview-italeris-october-releases-in.html)
