Sunday, October 29, 2017

Legacy, Seaking and Storch



The 1/24 Scale ‘Subaru Legacy GT Touring Wagon’ Limited Edition Hasegawa Hobby Kits’ model is my first attempt at assembling a car model.

With any luck it will be easier than putting together the tank, motorcycle and aircraft models I tried to put together in my earlier attempts.

The more I get into model-making the more I realize that it is a true art.  It takes a lot of determination, patience and attention to detail to make a model kit.

Sure, you can glue together some parts, slap on some paint and haphazardly apply decals but it take a real pro to make a model look like the real aircraft, military vehicle or car it is fashioned after.

Hats off to model makers! You have my undying respect.

The Subaru GT Touring Wagon is a jack of all trades: transportation, transport and mini-shuttle.

Moms and dads love it for hauling the kids around to soccer, dance class, Little League and a dozen other kid-centric activities.

Built to last, fuel efficient and a great looking ride the Subaru Legacy Wagon is an all-around great vehicle for families, couples and travelers.

I decided on the onset not to paint the model in order to show how pieces are in different colors which make it easier to find them and assemble the model.

Since I didn’t paint the model I also opted out of applying the metal-etched decals.  You can see the small decal sheet lying next to finished model.

I was pleasantly surprised on how easy it was to assemble the undercarriage.

The suspension, exhaust and wheels assemblies fit together nicely with no slip-ups or mismatched pieces.  Even though some of the parts were small I’m getting pretty adept at using tweezers and not over-applying glue.

I had no problem with glue application and the small holes, slots and cradle pieces made it easy to fit the parts together using them as a guide.


The body was easier to put together than the chassis.  The windshield and other clear plastic pieces required a minimum of glue as each piece fit perfectly into their allotted spots.

The windshield wipers were a bit of a challenge since they were delicate as were the roof cargo and baggage carrier.  But, like all the other pieces they went together with little muss and fuss.

In my younger years I put together quite a few automobile model kits and they tended to frustrate me because many overdid the details and small parts. 

The Subaru Wagon model kit had just enough parts to make it challenging without frustrating me.

It was a fun model to assemble.  Parts fit perfectly together, the instructions were precise and the decal and color guides made painting and decal application easy.

This is a good model for the beginner and mid-range model-maker to assemble.

Model making pros will have little problem assembling the kit in one sitting once the parts are painted.    

The 1/48 ‘Sea King HAR. Mk.3 "Falklands"’ Limited Edition model kit faithfully recreates the British helicopter used in Falklands for transporting troops and supplies.

So essential was the helicopter that it was even used as a decoy for missiles and used in anti-submarine maneuvers.

For years after the war the helicopter distinguished itself with search and rescue operations.

The model set consists of eight part trees, photo-etched parts, decals and an instruction sheet. 

As with all Hasegawa Hobby Kits the model has easy to detach parts with little flashing, perfectly scaled pieces and full easy-to-follow instructions for assemble, painting and decals.

Full interior details included complete two-pilot cockpit details, cargo hold and engine assembly.

Exterior body details feature windows, landing gear, rotary blades, weapons and electronics.

Pay particular attention to the rotaries and landing gear.  The attention to detail is amazing.
           
The 1/32 Scale ‘Fieseler Fi 156C Storch "Schlachtgeschwader 1"’ Limited Edition WWII light aircraft model kit looks as agile and maneuverable as its namesake.

Primarily an observation, artillery-spotting and transport its main claim to fame is that it transported Mussolini.

The model kit comes with three sets of decals and features a strut reinforced single, upper-body wing, oversize landing gear and propeller.

The twin passenger aircraft model kit can challenge the best model maker when it comes to assembling its various struts and delicate parts.  Especially challenging is placing the large cockpit windows in place without getting glue on their clear surfaces.

Each model kits boasts precision and sized parts that detach easily form part trees with little or no flashing.  Instruction guide model makers through assembly, paint and decal application and come with historical text. 

Roll & Roar Animal Train





You’ve heard the phrase, “Get it in gear!”


V-tech has taken that phrase’s meaning-literally!



V-tech’s ‘Roll & Roar Animal Train’ has so many gears and handles that children ages 1 ½ to 4 years old will spend hours turning gears, watching animals spin about and making fun noises and phrases.



Gears, animals, a train, fun noises and a great way to learn-what more could a kid ask for?



The Roll & Roar Animal Train features a lovable bear, a purple ear elephant and a spinning, zebra, bear and hippo along with an extra set of colorful gears.



The train engine has a spinning smokestack with smoke, a spinning animal that can be changed out for other animals and a front engine cap that spins at the turn of a handle.



Its four wheels also turn as kids roll it across the floor as do the engine car and caboose. 



The passenger car holds the blue and purple elephant holding red and purple gears.



The caboose carries the circus bear in his bright blue collar and by turning the gear attached to his arm the entire caboose gear assembly turns and raises and lowers the caboose top.



There are 15 mix & match gears and the entire train is loaded with sound!



Move the Smart Gear animals to the engine for some silly songs with animal sounds. 

 

Slide the bar on the side of the engine to switch from Exploration Fun to Quiz Mode and Mix & match.



Push the blue, red or yellow button above the slide bar in each selection and kids will hear music, speech and more.



Bu sliding the small blue switch below the slide bar and pushing select buttons kids get all kinds of sound, quiz, lessons and more.



What a great way for kids to learn, develop their coordination, sing and have fun at the same time!



The engine, passenger car and caboose detach from each other for individual play or easily reattach for locomotive mayhem.



Created in bright primary and secondary colors the Animal Train is built rugged, safe for kids with its smooth edges and large parts and offers hours of entertainment and learning.



Parents will love the volume control and automatic turn-off features.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Star Trek The Book Of Lists


So you think you know all there is to know about Star Trek? You’re about to find out.
 
‘Star Trek The Book Of Lists’ compiled and written by Chip Carter and Published by Harper Design, features 100 lists of facts and trivia from the Star Trek TV series, movies and more (minus the recently launched Star Trek Discovery).



Immerse yourself in to the universe of Kirk, Spock, Picard, Sisko, Archer, Janeway and the hundreds of other Star Trek characters.



Learn details about the various stories, the Klingons and Romulans, techno-babble, planets societies—the lists go on and on.



What were Kirk’s most memorable kisses?  What does it mean to wear a red Starfleet shirt? Learn Klingon phrases. What famous historical figures appeared on the shows?  Learn all about some actresses and actors before they were famous.



There’s so much information, tidbits and behind-the-scenes goodies that it will take you here to Antares to read and digest them all.



It’s a Star Trek fan’s dream come true.  The book is packed with photos art, charts and even a section on Star Trek toys!



Boldly go where no Star Trek fan has gone before!

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, #734, November/December



NOVELETS
Attachments
Carbo
Water God’s Dog
Racing The Rings Of Saturn
Whatever Comes After Calcutta


SHORT STORIES
Big Girl
By The Red Giant’s Light
Marley And Marley


POEMS
Down At The Goblin Boutique


NOVELLAS
StillBorne


DEPARTMENTS
Books to Look For
Musing On Books
Films: It’s A Wrap
Science: The Science Of Invisibility
Competition #94
Index To Volumes 132 & 133
Coming Attractions
Curiosities


CARTOONS
Danny Shanahan, bill Long, Nick Downes, Arthur Masear, S. Harris


COVER
Kent Bash For “Attachments”