Review of Helicopter magazine issue #1

Hi everyone, it's been a very long time since I last posted. I did mention that I was going to start a new model project but that's being kept on hold. For today, I'll be doing a short review on a magazine I came across last night. It's simply titled helicopter magazine. It's pretty thin and to a certain extent flimsy. However, that's not what drew me to buy the magazine..... Here's the reason why

It comes with a die-cast model!! Before we take a more in-depth look at the model, let's take a quick look-see at the magazine. After all, I paid for both items. 

( pop quiz: if you see a fifty dollar note and a five dollar note lying on the floor, which should you pick up?.... Answer at the end of this post)

The magazine gives a brief history of the development and deployment of the Uh-60 Blackhawk in the US armed forces. It also has basic technical specifications and several paint variants of the helicopter.

I thought the seahawk variant at the bottom is quite interesting, perhaps I'll paint a variant of that on my blackhawk model one day.

Now on to the star attraction, the black hawk model.

It is a 1/72 scale pre-painted die-cast replica of the UH-60. I'll go over what I like about the model before the shortcomings. First of all, the moulding is pretty well done. I liked how the rivets were brought out on the fuselage. 

The stand holds the UH-60 well, and displays the Blackhawk on a landing approach. 

In addition, the rotor assembly can be tilted slightly forward to model flight mode ( attention to detail or production fault? You decide )

The landing gear is sturdy enough to support the blackhawk without the display base.

With regards to the shortcomings, I guess I'm nitpicking. I felt that the landing gear and mini guns look a little too plasticky (no such word but you get the idea) and could do with some paint. 

But that's all I have to complain. It's really a well put together replica. However, one thing to take note is that this is intended to be a display model and not a toy, it would not survive long under play.

Now, as a true Singaporean, I have yet the answer the most important question... How much does it cost?

Well, the first issue is going at an introductory price of $4.99 SGD. Other issues will be sold at $11.99

This is a fortnightly publication.

Overall, I would recommend this particular first issue, but I would not go for a regular subscription as not all the helicopters appeal to me. 

Let me know what are your thoughts about this review. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

(Answer to pop quiz: both)

A quick update

Hi guys, it's been quite some time since I last posted on this blog and I apologize for the absence. I'd like to blame it on work and a tight schedule but the truth is I was (still am) preoccupied with playing destiny :) However, I resolve to make time updating this blog on a regular basis, at least once every 2 days.

Having said all that, come next week, I'll be starting on a new modeling project (plastic, not flesh :)) it will be a space carrier from the space battleship yamato 2199 anime series. Construction should commence tomorrow. Do stay tuned for more updates and thank you for being patient with me. Have a blessed week!

N Gauge (4): Tomytec 1/150 House under construction- the build

Good evening everyone! Its been a long time since I built a model but I don't have the time to do a full project so I decided to so something simple, the tomytec house under construction... apt, don't you think?



The contents of the kit



The necessary modelling tools: hobby knife, side clippers, a good pair of tweezers, and tamiya liquid cement.

I really appreciate tomytec for taking the trouble to ensure that the more delicate pieces such as the roof rafters are well protected.

The wonderful thing about using liquid cement is that I don't have to brush the entire length of the parts. I just apply a drop into the joints and capillary action takes over.

The instruction left the floorboards as optional items. Unfortunately I did'nt realise that until after I glued the roof. I had to take apart the model (twice) to install the floorboards on both floors :(.

 Next component, the scaffoldings. A good pair of side clippers will help you remove most of the flash but to complete the job, use a hobby knife. Please remember to cut away from yourself to avoid any painful experiences.

Tweezers are used to position the more fiddly pieces.

The completed product. The scaffoldings are actually in the former picture but due to lighting and the dark background, its a little challenging to spot.

More close-ups taken from various angles.

Finally a shot of the scaffoldings themselves.

Overall, this was a fun build. The fit of the house was fantastic, I had to sometimes do major surgery on earlier kits. I could envisage a street with several houses under construction; makes me want to get a few more sets :).

Well, do let me know your opinion on this set. Cheers and stay blessed!!

Pla model (2): M1 Abrams 1st Armoured Division

Good evening and happy belated Deepavali. I hope all of you enjoyed your day off yesterday. Tonight, we'll be looking at the American M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT). It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of U.S. military forces in the Vietnam War from 1968 to 1972. Highly mobile, designed for modern armored ground warfare, the M1 is well armed and heavily armored. Notable features include the use of a powerful gas turbine engine, the adoption of sophisticated composite armor, and separate ammunition storage in a blow-out compartment for crew safety. Weighing nearly 68 short tons (almost 62 metric tons), it is one of the heaviest main battle tanks in service; which is also why Singapore chose the leopard over the Abrams. The weight would wreck our roads and cause the tank to sink in.

This was a Tamiya kit which was quite dated. However, like most Tamiya kits, the fit was excellent, which is why Tamiya was one of the premier model kit brands of its time. This tank depicts one that served in operation Desert Storm with the 1st Armoured Division.

As it was serving in the desert, I felt that i did not need to cake the track assembly with mud. Rather, I used light sand and pastels. Unfortunately, I mistook the laser sight as a machine gun and weathered it as so.

I kept the paint chipping to a minimum as the M1's paint is rather weather resistant. I used bandage to make the camouflage netting and several layers of tissue paper to make the tarp.

A close of the tank, the commander and loader. upon looking at the pictures, I realised I should have been more dilligent in removing the flash off the loader's arms and hands.

Well, what do you think? Please leave me comments on the pictures or the model and hopefully, I'll be able to do a better model in the future. Stay blessed!!

Bishoujo Anime Figure (2): Kantai Collection Akagi Figure

Hi everyone! how was your day? Today we are looking at a very popular subject in Japan: Kantai Collection. Kantai Collection (艦隊これくしょん, Kantai Korekushon "Combined Fleet Collection"), abbreviated as KanColle (艦これ, KanKore^?), is a Japanese free-to-play online card game developed by Kadokawa Games. The game was launched on April 23, 2013. As of September 2014, the game is available in Japan only and has 2.2 million registered players with many more waiting for the monthly lottery to become a registered user. This may sound rather arrogant of them but in doing so, they do not over-load their servers unlike many other online games we know.

So far it is only on the PC but will be ported to the PS Vita next year. Hopefully, it would be a stand alone game and not a web-based game so I can play it!!!

Akagi was an Imperial Japanese Carrier during World War II. She was part of Carrier Division 1 along with Kaga and was the flagship of the 1st combined fleet. She was capable of carrying 91 aircraft (including reserves). She took part in the attack on pearl harbour, darwin, and was sunk in the battle of midway. Though there were better Japanese carriers, Akagi remains my favourite... perhaps it was because she was the 1st carrier I built as a young boy. The model above was from the web, mine is still awaiting construction :).





Here is Akagi in Kancolle, personified as a girl in Kyudo attire. I like how Kadokawa Games personify the different classes of ships as girls. Aircraft carriers would be girls in archery attire (range), battleships as shrine maidens or miko sans (power), and destroyers as girls in middle school (equivalent to secondary 1-3 girls in Singapore) to represent youth and hence agility.

A side view of Akagi and a close-up of her shoulder armour, represented by the flight deck. In case you're wondering, that Japanese character is pronounced as "Ah".

A side shot to give a better perspective of the Japanese bow. Stringing it requires substantial strength so never mess with girls from the Kyudo bu, they may look feminine but they are much stronger than they look :).

I love how they incorporated elements of the actual ship as part of Akagi's armour. Her geta or slippers are miniaturised versions of the actual ship, and the smoke exhaust stack doubles as her satchel bag.

Even though this was a prize item from the UFO catchers, Sega has done a great job with the details.

Finally a close-up of Akagi's face. 

A piece of good news for anime fans. Kancolle will be made into an anime series in January 2015. You can catch the trailer at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABZN292gvRo .

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Do let me know if you would like to see more of these in the comments. Have a blessed evening!