NEWS BULLETIN
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MEDITERRANEAN ESCORT
ALTHOUGH THERE have been
several kits of World War
Two Hunt-class destroyers,
L’Arsenal’s 1/350 release is the
first of the Type III variant.
Its resin, photo-etched (PE)
metal and turned brass
ensemble (350 19) is a maritime
gem, with a beautifully castsingle-piece full hull, which
features commendably thin
forward superstructure walls,
this aspect is replicated on the
bridge-, midships- and after-
structures. A similar level of
refinement is apparent on
the Mk.XVI gun mounts, and
these are accompanied by well-defined shields and turned brass
barrels. The latter are provided
by Master Model, along with the
mast and yardarms. While the
resin detail is exquisite, the PE
fret adds a further level, with
ladders, railings, gun shields,
Carley-raft linings, boat davits,
doors, hatches and gun director
radar antennas. This kit is
aimed at more experienced ship
modellers, mainly due to the
multi-media format but also its
complexity, but will build into an
eye-catching replica.
A small decal sheet supplies
generic hull letters and
numbers, which enables any of
the Hunt Type III vessels to be
portrayed, although modellers
will need to check references
for the camouflage schemes,
which varied during the ships’
operational service. Visit:
http://www.larsenal.com for more
information and products.SMALL-SCALE SCOOTER
JJ ABRAM’S re-envisaged
Star Trek films have spawned
a host of new spaceship
designs; the first seen was
the USS Kelvin, which is now
the subject of a 1/1000 scale
kit from Moebius Models.
Presented in an attractive
portrait-format box, this
rendering of NCC-0514 (Item
976) comprises six styrene
runners, plus separate saucer
halves, base and metal
rod. When compared with
studio photos it appears to
have ‘accurate’ shape and
proportion and features
finely engraved panel lines
on the exterior, but there
is no interior detail. All the
crisply moulded components
are named, which would
help newcomers to the
franchise understand how
this spacecraft is configured,
and assembly appears
straightforward, aided by
a low parts count. Items
such as warp field grates,
bussard collector, rear
coil and deflector dish are
supplied in clear styrene
and will appear convincing
when painted. There are
exhaustive colouring notes
for the exterior, particularly
for those modellers wanting
to replicate the ‘Aztec-style’
hull patterns, with templates
provided for the upper and
lower surfaces. Lastly, the
decals provide all necessary
hull markings and logos, and
they are well printed, with
sharp tonal demarcations.
Visit: http://www.amerang.co.uk for
more details.GALACTIC
EXPLORER
IT’S BEEN a long time since a
newly-tooled A-4E Skyhawk was
released, but Hobby Boss’ kit is well
worth the wait.
Unsurprisingly, the parts appear
to be a down-sized version of the
popular 1/48 offering, with five
styrene runners (including two
dedicated to weapons) and a choice
of two early airframes on the decal
sheet. On the plus side, this means
there’s a highly detailed cockpit,
plus excellent renditions of the
undercarriage bays and full-length
air intakes, while the exterior has
delicate engraved panel lines. It
does mean there’s no provision
for dropped slats, and there’sjust a straight refuelling probe,
but these aren’t insurmountable
issues. Disappointingly, the box-top
ordnance isn’t included, but there
are two multiple ejector racks and 12
Mk.82 free-fall bombs, plus two AIM-
9D Sidewinders (although early A-4s
carried AIM-9Bs) and two decent
Aero 1D 300 US gal (1,135 lit) drop
tanks. The two schemes are for jets
from VA-72 as embarked on the USS
Independence in 1965, and VA-
on USS Bon Homme Richard, in 1967.
Minor quibbles aside, this is the best
A-4E currently available, with -F and
-M versions soon to follow.
Further information is available
from: http://www.creativemodels.co.ukWHILE AIRFIX’S new 1/24 F6F-
Hellcat ‘Superkit’ has impressed
with its moulded detail, notably
in the cockpit, aftermarket-
specialist Airscale has produced
a replacement photo-etched (PE)
metal instrument panel.
The kit parts will need all raised
detail removing before this
upgrade package (PE24 CAT)
can be applied, with laminated
sections built to create a three-
dimensional effect. Decals are
supplied for the dial faces and
are intended to be sandwiched
between the PE layers –
additional items are included for
other placards – along with an
acetate sheet that represents
the glass covers. This is aimed at
the more experienced modeller
and will provide a different ‘look’
to the cockpit than the styrene
parts alone. See: http://www.airscale.
co.uk for more information.PURR-FECT
PANEL