One of the more bizarre “wonder weapons” to come off the German blueprint boards during WW2 was the Triebflügel by Focke-Wulf. It was to be powered by 3 Pabst ramjet engines developing 2,000 pounds of thrust each. When taking off, the rotors would be angled to give lift in a similar manner to a helicopter. Once the aircraft had attained sufficient altitude the pilot would tilt it over into level flight. The rotors continued spinning in level flight, maintaining 220 rpm at the aircraft's maximum forward speed. To land, the craft had to slow its speed and pitch the fuselage until the craft was vertical. Power could then be reduced and it would descend until the landing gear rested on the ground. The Triebflügel made it to wind tunnel testing but that’s as far as it got. It was calculated out to have a forward speed of 621 mph and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet. I decided to have some fun and think “outside the box” and make mine appear as though it’s a war weary Triebflügel featuring the Luftwaffe light blue RLM76 as a base for the splinter camouflage.

155mm self-propelled howitzer of South Africa done in acrylics. Kit by Takom in 1/35. This weapon platform features stabilizing hydraulics towards the front and at rear and is able to fire 2-4 HE rounds per minute at a range of 41.63 miles.

The He219 was a twin engine WW2 night fighter featuring various radar arrays. Advanced features included cannons mounted to fire at an oblique angle, the first steerable nose-wheel on an operational German aircraft, and the world's first ejection seats on an operational aircraft. Armament consisted of two MG 151/20 cannons mounted in a detachable fairing under the fuselage, two 20mm 151/20 cannons in the wing roots and two 30mm MK 108 cannons in the upper fuselage mounted at 65° for attacking aircraft from beneath. It had a crew of two and was powered by two Daimler-Benz V-12 engines each producing 1,776 horsepower giving it a top speed of 420mph at 23,000 feet.

Japan’s WW2 fighter interceptor Shinden of which only two prototypes were completed just before Japan’s surrender. The 2,130 hp Mitsubishi (Ha-43) radial engine and its supercharger were installed behind the cockpit and drove a six-bladed propeller via an extension shaft. Engine cooling was to be provided by long, narrow, obliquely-mounted intakes on the side of the fuselage. Of the two prototypes produced one flew a total of 45 minutes before the war ended and ended with one prototype being scrapped and the other shipped to the US for testing by the US Navy but of which never flew again. I decided not to depict Shinden as a prototype and instead to use it as basis for it being thrust into actual production. She sports a bare metal finish with typical hastily applied dark green camo and an antiglare panel. No decals were harmed in the making of this build - all markings were airbrushed.

I decided to go back some 40+ years and re-visit some kits I had when in high school and got lost to the time of history when I went in the service 2 weeks after graduation. Re-purchased the kit and dove into the same Matilda kit I had back then rubber band tracks included! So here’s to the good ol’ days with yesterday’s kit using today’s techniques and supplies…

The “nothing special” run-of-the-mill simple Tamiya Wildcat. This was my first attempt at multi-layered chipping which is a 9 step process (or at least my method is)…

My first posting here of the McLaren MP4/6 I made a while back. Just thought I’d share…

The new 1/32nd scale Tornado GR.1 “Desert Storm” is almost upon us. We look at all the features of this updated tooling, with new parts, decals & four new profiles in our preview...Read on... »

Greetings everyone. New on this forum. I’ve never posted here before though I’ve posted on other forums before for decades. I know the rules differ from site to site but what are they here concerning the posting of build pics and swastikas? I know in another site I post they’re not allowed and must be hidden as a spoiler alert or, simply mosaicked out (blurred, etc.). So what’s the rules here. Pardon my ignorance I searched but couldn’t get the answer perhaps I’m looking in the wrong place. Oh, also is it okay to have your own website (non-commercial) posted within a post like I did here or is it a no-no? Just wondering. Thanks in advance.

Trumpeter's second two kits of October – The Queen Elizabeth & Mighty Dragon – are the latest two in October. Colours, decals & built-up kits in our preview...Read on... »

If you are looking to relive the past with your modeling, one of the recent releases from Atlantis Models is the H-16 Transporter that was first released in 1955. Containing a mere 59 parts and measuring 9–3/4 inches when assembled (helicopter body length excluding rotor blades), the kit can take you back to a simpler time in the world of modeling. Just like the original release, the parts are molded in silver plastic along with a clear plastic nose canopy, observation blister, and left and right windows (placed behind the cockpit). This new kit includes a collectible trading card showing the box art as well as a stand that can be positioned. Built out-of-the-box, this kit can be fun for beginners as well as those experienced modelers looking to experience building the kit they may have built as a kid or just missed out on when they started modeling.

This is the second ICM B-26 that I have been fortunate enough to review. The previous review was the -G version. See my B-26G Marauder review for my comments on that build.

History

The B-26F Marauder’s most significant modification was its redesigned wing structure. By increasing the angle of attack by 3.5 degrees, the engines gained a slight upward tilt. This change shortened the takeoff run by about 90 meters (about 295 feet), reduced takeoff speed, and decreased landing distance—though it slightly lowered the maximum flight speed.

Aires has provided the Reviewer Corps with a resin replacement ejection seat for the A-4M/N Skyhawk in 1/48th scale.

In The Package and Product Notes

The sample review was packaged in a plastic bag with cardboard backing with company labeling. Inside the package are paper instructions, photo-etched fret (seat belts), one poured resin part (the main seat), and a 3-D printed resin part (ejection handles & head padding). The detail and quality are excellent.

Review Process

I started by giving the resin part a warm soapy bath to remove any release agent. Using a razor saw, I removed the seat from the pour stub. The 3D printed parts were removed with good side cutting nippers. CA (Superglue) was used as the bonding agent to attach everything together.

Welcome to the updated Modelgeeks podcast!!  Episode 109 has Nemo at the controls, with Frilldo, Whitey, El Prez, and special guest hosts,  Gabe Pincelli and Justin Lentz.   

On Ep. 109, we start off with what's in our Model World, then jump into Mail Call, and into "Listener Spotlight" where each of us discuss a specific modeler and their masterpiece.  We also highlight all of our Gallery submissions and posts on Social Media.  We want to hear from you so please keep sending pics of your models.  Finally, we finish up with the main topic discussing paint masks. 

A huge thank you to all of our listeners for their continued support and we hope to see you all at the next show.  

Contact the Geeks:
You can always contact us through Facebook, Instagram, or email:  contact@modelgeekspodcast.com
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Please check out our new website!!  www.modelgeekspodcast.com
We have links to our Episodes, “Meet the Geeks”, "What's on our Bench", a "Listener Gallery", and our Gee-Dunk Store!!  Keep emailing us pics of your completed models and keep the pics coming!

We also have new T-Shirts with the revised logo for sale.  Keep an eye out for them at shows we attend.  We're working on developing a system to be able to sell them online, and we'll pass the info as soon as we have it. 

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Thank You’s!!
Alright, alright, alright!!  That’s it for now, hope you enjoy the latest podcast.  Be excellent to each other and get out there and build something!  -Out from the Geeks! 

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Joycraft has a new kit to deliver to the public. The CT-114 Tutor Snowbird kit in 32nd scale. We look at the makeup of the kit & its promised features in our preview...Read on... »

As a regular at IPMS shows, I’ve often seen Kagero’s Super Drawings in 3D series on display, and I’m kicking myself for not picking up a copy sooner. After diving into Takao, the latest installment in this impressive series, I can confidently say that it was well worth the wait.

This softbound book boasts excellent print quality, with full-color gloss A4 pages that bring every detail to life. The vintage photographs have been colorized, offering a fresh perspective on the Takao, and there’s even a few images of a stunningly detailed scale model of the ship.

The 1/32 Italeri Macchi M.C. 202 Folgore (Kit No. 2518) has garnered great attention to a large scale of an important yet often overlooked WWII Italian aircraft. This Aires aftermarket accessory provides everything for an early version seat for the pilot.

The resin and PE are well executed and defined, along with easy-to-follow instructions for construction. The Aires aftermarket seat is designed to integrate into the Italeri kit, using pieces of the seat frame, namely the tubular stand and pilot headrest. Construction of the seat was straight forward, and the use of PE straps gives a lifelike look to the seat, and thus cockpit.

The 1/32 Italeri Macchi M.C. 202 Folgore (Kit No. 2518) has garnered great attention to a large scale of an important yet often overlooked WWII Italian aircraft. This Aires aftermarket accessory provides everything for an early version seat for the pilot.

The resin and PE are well executed and defined, along with easy-to-follow instructions for construction. The Aires aftermarket seat is designed to integrate into the Italeri kit, using pieces of the seat frame, namely the tubular stand and pilot headrest. Construction of the seat was straight forward, and the use of PE straps gives a lifelike look to the seat, and thus cockpit.

The P-3 Orion entered US Navy service in the mid-1960’s and is now being slowly replaced by the P-8A Poseidon. I find it interesting both were based on civilian airliners: the Lockheed Electra II and the Boeing B737-800 respectively.

A top-opening box that has an attractively painted P-3 on the cover is chock full of plastic parts. Eight runners hold 158 parts molded in medium gray plastic and another for the clear parts. Surface detail is recessed and very impressive for this scale. There are five decal marking options: two US Navy, one each for the Australian AF, Netherlands Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Finally, there is a set of masks for the clear parts and wheels and a full-color instruction booklet which includes a parts map, decal guide for each scheme, and a color guide for Mr Hobby, Tamiya, ICM, and Hataka paints.

Kagero has issued a series of “References for Modelers”, each focusing on a specific subject. In this case, the P-51B Mustang. The format consists of color artwork, photos, and line drawings in two scales. A bonus decal sheet is included, along with color artwork in the centerfold showing their placement. Up front, the book explains that most of the photos have appeared elsewhere, but this series presents them differently. They have been enlarged enough to show details lost in smaller formats. Two great examples appear on pages four and five, one showing a close-up of the equipment behind the pilot’s seat and the other a nice view of bazooka tubes on a P-51 in China.