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SUU 23A GUN POD

FOR TAMIYA 1/32 SCALE F-4C/D PHANTOM 2

    By the mid 1960's the US Air Force was adhering to the philosophy that dog-fighting was obsolete and was nearly solely dependent on missiles. Clashes with North Vietnamese MiG 17s and MiG 21s rapidly indicated the need for arming our fighters with something besides missiles. The days of the gunslinger had returned. As an interim fix, the Vulcan gun pod was developed, giving the F-4 the additional firepower of a rapid fire heavy caliber gun. This weapon, carried on a centerline pylon, was imperfect at best, since its bulk increased drag on the airframe and the pylon mounting affected accuracy. These problems were to be eliminated with the introduction of the internally mounted Vulcan in the subsequent model F-4E Phantom 2.

    Tamiya's beautiful F-4C/D Phantom 2 kit in 1/32 scale, complete as it may be, does not contain this weapon. AMS resin to the rescue! Their kit AMS-32020 builds into an excellent representation of this interim weapon and is a must have for many Vietnam service and Air National Guard F-4 C/D aircraft models. This reasonably priced kit includes a complete SUU 23A Gun Pod as well as the correct centerline pylon, an easy update to your F-4C/D model. Comprised of 4 parts, beautifully cast in high quality gray resin, this very detailed addition to your model is easily prepared and assembled. Complete with assembly instructions, this kit is not only an easy and pleasurable build, but also really dresses up and adds personality your Phantom!

    Special thanks to Harold at AMS Resin for the review samples.

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CORRECT SEATS AND 335 GALLON DROP TANKS

FOR TRUMPETER 1/32 SCALE F-100 SUPER SABRE

    Trumpeter's exciting F-100 Super Sabre kit, while possessing excellent detail and an acceptable cockpit, can be improved substantially with the addition of AMS Resin's highly detailed and accurate ejection seats. These seats are available either with very well sculpted harnesses or without harnesses for those modelers who wish make their own or add the seated pilot figure for the Vietnam Era that Master Details from USA plans to release before Christmas 2008. If you're using the highly detailed Avionix F-100 resin cockpit interior kit, these seats fit perfectly.

    Also available from AMS Resin is a set of nose extensions to modify the drop tanks provided in the Trumpeter kit to create accurate 335 gallon drop tanks. This set also includes accurate pylons for the extended tanks as well as a neat little RWR fairing and F-100 Super Sabre placard that would dress up a diarama base. If you plan to use the F-102 type J57-23 A/B Afterburner Can produced by Master Details from USA to accurately model an Air National Guard F-100, these drop tank extensions are a must have item.

    Special thanks to Harold at AMS Resin for the review samples.

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