2Modeler.com
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • HAWK Beta-I Atomic Bomber Rebuild Plus Ragnarok
    • Lindberg 1/172 XB-70 Rebuild
    • 1/144 F-82 Conversion
    • Resin Figure Mew Zakuro
    • Yo Yo 1/48 B-24J Custom Paint and Decals
  • History
    • Monogram Air Power Set (1959)
    • History of Titanic Model Kits: The Big List
    • Revell Gemini Kit History - 1/48 and 1/24
    • AURORA MONSTER MODELS
    • Atlantis / Revell 707 and KC-135
    • Revell's 1/535 USS Missouri: An Iowa Class Act
    • Monogram Days of Thunder NASCAR Kits
    • Atlantis USS Nautilus SSN-571 Model Kit Review and History
    • Weird-ohs, Roth Finks, Flypoggers and Lindy Loonies
    • Car Modeling in the 1970's
    • Armor Modeling
    • Smokey and the Bandit
    • Revell Apollo 11 Spacecraft
    • Minicraft Civil Aircraft in 1/48
    • Aurora's Alfred E Neuman
    • KC-135 and 707 Part One: The 1/72 Kits
    • KC-135 Part Two: The History and The Build
  • Reviews
    • AIRCRAFT KIT REVIEWS >
      • Minicraft RB-29 Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/200 H-4 "Spruce Goose" Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/48 Cessna T-41 Mescalero Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-52D/F Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-52H "Current Flying Version" Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 F-51 Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 KC-135 Review
      • Minicraft T-34A Mentor Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 E-3/E-8 AWACS/J-Stars Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-24J / PB4Y-1 / B-24D
      • Minicraft C-18 (Boeing 707)
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-17G Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 Lancaster MK 1 Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 A6M2 Zero Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 G4M Type 1 "Betty" Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 Ju 88A/C
      • Minicraft 1/144 P-47D Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 TBF Avenger Review
      • Atlantis 1/135 Convair 990 Review!
      • Atlantis 1/139 Boeing 707-120 Kit Review
      • Atlantis 1/77 F-89D Kit Review
      • Atlantis 1/54 F11F-1 "Blue Angels" Kit Review
      • Atlantis 1/120 B-29 Kit Review
      • Atlantis PBY-5A Catalina
      • Atlantis P-3A Kit Review and History
      • Atlantis S2F Hunter Killer
      • Atlantis AH-56 Cheyenne Helicopter
      • Atlantis B-36 Kit Review
      • Atlantis HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" Review
      • Atlantis B24J Buffalo Bill 1/92
    • Minicraft 1/350 Titanic Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/500 USS North Carolina Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/128 U.S. Space Missiles Set Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/70 F-100C Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/48 Japanese Medium Tank
    • Atlantis Snoopy and his Classic Race Car Kit Review
    • Atlantis Models Metaluna Mutant Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/48 JS-III Stalin Tank Review
    • Atlantis 1/32 Tom Daniel Funny Cars: Mustang, Camaro, Duster, Charger!
    • Atlantis 1/665 USS Wisconsin Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/618 Bismarck Battleship Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/24 Son of Troublemaker Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/1200 US Combat Task Force Fleet Kit Review
    • Atlantis The Amoeba review
    • Atlantis Air-Land-Sea Gift Set
    • Atlantis 1/245 Monitor & Merrimac Ironclads Diorama Set
    • Atlantis 1/96 Moon Ship Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/8 Forgotten Prisoner of Castel Mare Kit Review
    • ATLANTIS 1/25 King Kong Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/32 1982 Camaro Review
    • Atlantis Snoopy and His Sopwith Camel / Red Baron Reviews
    • Atlantis Glow-Godzilla Review
    • Atlantis Phantom of the Opera Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/535 USS Iowa and Wisconsin Battleship Kit Review
    • Atlantis Mr. Gasser Review
    • Moebius 1/1 Hal 9000 Kit Review
    • Moebius 1/144 Discovery XD-1
    • Dream Gear 1/3000 Arkhitect Kit Review
    • D&H 1/35 Cyclops and the Chariot from Lost in Space kit Review
    • Academy Titanic 1/700 MCP Review
    • Revell ALL NEW PT-109 Review
    • Tamiya 1/48 Ford Army Staff Car
    • Pegasus Space Ark - When Worlds Collide
    • A Weird-Oh World - The Art of Bill Campbell
    • The Vintage Years of Airfix Box Art
  • Contests
    • 2021 IPMS-USA Nationals Report
    • 2019 IPMS/USA Nationals Report
    • Boise Mad Dog Modelers Fall Show
    • IPMS-SLC Group Build
  • Rocketry
    • Starting Rocketry
    • History and Use of the Estes AstroCam 110
  • Gallery
    • Bill's Airliner Models Gallery
    • Dick's Large 1/72 Aircraft Models
    • Dick's scale Model car gallery
    • Guest Gallery
  • Sponsors
    • Minicraft Models Sponsor Page
    • Atlantis Models Sponsor Page
    • Moebius Models Sponsor Page
    • Amazon Associate
  • IPMS/USA
  • Contact

Minicraft's General Aviation Collection

Minicraft Models has become the "go-to" place for nicely detailed kits of General Aviation aircraft, or so-called "private planes."  In this article, we'll explore the journey of Minicraft's General Aviation model collection.
By Bill Engar

An interesting segment of scale aircraft modeling is civil aviation.  Airliner modeling is perhaps the best-known niche.  Another fascinating sub-category is that of general aviation, particularly light aircraft.  Most model contests have a separate category from airliners, “Civil, Sport, and Racing” which includes non-commercial aircraft and Light-Aircraft types, also referred to colloquially as “private planes.”  If you’re a contest modeler and would like to know about some kits that will build up into some nice entries for that civil, non-commercial aviation contest category, you’ve come to the right place!  

General Aviation (GA) has had some interesting developments in recent decades with new aircraft types such as Light Sport Aircraft and Ultralights.  Most commonly available model kits of GA aircraft include the traditional light planes mostly developed in the years following World War II.

Three classic private aircraft manufacturers emerged after WWII as the major producers of light aircraft, Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft.  Each company made and sold light aircraft that have become iconic in our culture and many thousands are still flying today thanks to their innovative engineering.   Some of these have been produced as model kits over the years.  If there is one go-to company to find kits of these planes, it’s Minicraft Models.
Picture
Bandai Models created their "Weekend Wings" series circa 1973.  The kit nicely depicts the Beechcraft Bonanza V35 with its distinctive V-tail.
Picture
Entex acquired Bandai's tooling and really didn't do much with the box art.
Picture
Minicraft acquired much of the Entex tooling when that company ceased buisiness.  Here's an older release under the Minicraft name.
​Minicraft began with tooling for light aircraft that was originally produced at another company.  Bandai Models originally produced the Piper Cherokee, Piper Super Cub, Beechcraft Bonanza, and Cessna 150 in 1973.  Entex Models sold kits from this tooling after that, and Minicraft bought many of the molds from that company when it went under.
Picture
There were a few diversions in the 1980's when Revell of Germany did a run of these GA kits.
Picture
Beechcraft discontinued the V-tail on the Bonanza in 1982.  Minicraft updated the tooling to produce the newer F33 variant.  Did you know that the Bonanza has been in production continuously since 1947?  That's a record!
Picture
A Minicraft Bonanza that can be found in hobby shops today.  Another nice Minicraft feature is that the kits come in very sturdy boxes.  You can stack them higher without worrying about "Squash."
Picture
The Bonanza looks good in yellow!  A three-bladed prop was also added recently by Minicraft.  Without fixed landing gear hardpoints, the Bonanza wasn't an easy seaplane conversion, so Minicraft doesn't have a floatplane version. 
Picture
The original Beechcraft V-35 parts.  The engines in particular are very nicely detailed in these kits.  
In the general aviation world, the Cessna 172 is king.  More Cessna 172’s have been built than any other airplane—over (44,000 and still counting!).  In 2005, Minicraft decided to round out its line of private sport aircraft classics by tooling up its own Cessna 172 in 1/48 scale.  This kit is extremely well done.  The look of the parts matches its older siblings with nicely engraved panel lines.  The Lycoming engine in particular is better than what you’ll find in the Bandai kits.  The “wheel pants” in the kit are separate from the tires, so the modeler has the option of “pants-on” or “pants-off.”
 
Minicraft hasn’t been sitting on its laurels with the Bandai tooling either.  They created a conventional-tailed F-33 variant of the Beechcraft Bonanza by tooling new parts for the Beech V35 Bonanza kit, which has the iconic V-tail of the original Bonanza.  Each of the (non-Bonanza) kits has also been released with new floats.  Markings include some interesting military versions and several of the kits have Civil Air Patrol schemes, which has been largely ignored by other manufacturers.  Between new parts and options for military markings, Minicraft has created enough kits for modelers to build a pretty impressive collection of historic General Aviation aircraft.
The most recent addition to Minicraft’s general aviation aircraft line is their all-new T-34 Mentor.  The Mentor was created as a military plane, specifically a trainer, although Civil Air Patrol markings also place it technically in the civil aircraft category.  It joins the Minicraft Cessna 150 and Cessna 172 as model kits that portray the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.  The real Mentor’s design was actually based on the Beechcraft Bonanza V35 and the builder will notice many similarities between the Mentor and Bonanza kits even though the Mentor kit is all-new plastic—Minicraft started with a “clean sheet” to create this kit and it is state-of-the-art, designed with the builder in mind.   Engineering measures were taken in the tooling design to eliminate visible ejection pin marks and sinkholes.
All of the Minicraft kits have full interiors with nicely detailed seats and instrument panels.  Except for the Mentor, they also include engines with removable cowlings.  The Mentor has a very nicely appointed interior and installing the multi-piece canopy parts in the open position will allow that detail to be seen easily.  The interior frame has integrated wing spars which provides positive alignment for the wings and detailed sidewalls for the landing gear bays.
 
All of Minicraft’s General Aviation kits go together in similar fashion to a typical 1/48 scale WWII fighter model.  If you happen to be a non-modeler who has come across this page searching for info about these models, you’ll need glue at minimum to finish these kits.  I’d recommend Testors Liquid Cement for Plastic.  An X-Acto knife with a #11 blade will come in handy for trimming parts.  A fine paintbrush and bottle of Testors flat-black paint will do well for painting tires and prop blades.  The fine paintbrush (I like a 000) does nicely for painting small parts, and it helps provide for precision-application of that Testors liquid glue.
Picture
Minicraft's new T-34 Mentor kit.  Right after WWII, money was sparse for new aircraft designs.  The Beechcraft Mentor had a new fuselage with tandem cockpits, but shared the Bonanza's wing.  Minicraft started with a clean slate to design this kit; it has no relation to the old Bandai Bonanza.  Did we mention our kit review for the Mentor?
With exception of the Piper Super Cub, all these models have tricycle landing gear.  On the real aircraft, the mass of the aluminum skin, little thicker than a soda can, is much lighter than the engine in front, and the plane sits on its forward landing gear just fine.  The models, however, will be “tail sitters” unless some weight is put in the nose to counterbalance all that heavy plastic behind the mains.
Picture
Compare the wing bottom pieces between the Mentor (top) and the Bonanza (bottom).  Both aircraft types shared the same wing design.
Picture
Landing gear doors to the old Bonanza kit.  Note the ejector pin marks (in the process of being filled) in the middle of the part.
Picture
The new Mentor kit has finely detailed ribbing on the landing gear doors with no ejector pin marks.  The tabs to secure the doors to the wing are a very nice feature.
Bandai thought this issue through when they tooled up the kits originally, and all except the Super Cub include stands and nice logo-nameplates.   Displaying the model on the stand eliminates the need for weight in the nose.
Picture
Minicraft's 2-seat Cessna 150 in its latest guise.  included Cartograf decals allow other registrations and more traditional schemes if these swoopy stripes don't float your boat.
Picture
Minicraft offers the T-34A, Cessna 172, and Cessna 150 in Civil Air Patrol markings.
Picture
Brudder Dick built this CAP Mentor from the Minicraft kit.  Look for a in-depth review of this kit here if you haven't checked it out already!
​If the original, black “U-stands” aren’t to your liking, Minicraft has a new clear stand available that will also take care of this issue for an “in-flight” display (Note that this stand comes with the Mentor kits).  However, things get a little tricky if one wishes to display the built model on its landing gear while leaving the nicely detailed engine viewable.
 
Loading as much weight as possible in the engine block itself and hiding the rest at the firewall on the interior side underneath the instrument panel is a viable option, or using a small clear piece of plastic under the tail is a very simple solution.  Dem Brudders will explore in other articles additional tricks for hiding weight in one of these civil aircraft with an engine that you want to show off, or a glass-nosed bomber.
Picture
Minicraft continued the "Weekend Wings" series used by Bandai and Entex in its early issue of the Piper Cherokee.
Picture
Today's version of the Minicraft Piper Cherokee includes four different Cartograf decal schemes!
Picture
Newly tooled floats provide an option to build seaplane versions of the Super Cub, Cherokee, and both Cessnas.
It’s fairly common for these GA aircraft to be painted in overall white, maybe with some colorful stripes.  The kits are molded in white or light gray plastic, which is helpful whether or not one wishes to paint their model.  To get a contest job, generally a small amount of putty-work might be needed, and I’d recommend using Squadron or Tamiya’s white putty, which will blend in with the light-colored plastic.  This will not show through a white finish.
Picture
Why wasn't there a Bandai/Entex Cessna 172?  Perhaps Bandai decided not to compete with Nichimo, which had already released their 1/48 Cessna Skyhawk around the same time.
Picture
Piper's Super Cub is perhaps the ultimate bush plane.  Minicraft added a version with floats.
For the non-modelers just wanting to build a model of “their” plane, a fairly nice model can produced with the white-plastic finish.  However, applying a thin overall coat of white paint before putting on the decal stripes will help enhance the realism of the finished model.  Many new modelers use spray cans, but an airbrush is the best way to get a smooth finish that enhances the finely engraved kit details and provide a base for decals to adhere fully.
Picture
The wing bottom from the Bonanza.  It's all engraved detail.  This is quite impressive for the 1970's!
Picture
Minicraft's Cessna 172 was tooled in 2005.  Level of detail here is consistent with the older kits, but a level better.  Note the door latch!
Picture
Here's the engine from the 2005 Cessna 172 kit.  The cylinder cooling fins detail is very nice.
​Many of the kits come with multiple decal schemes.  In fact, it is not uncommon to find a decal sheet in the kit that can depict American, Canadian, and European registrations.  Some of the kits also include a comprehensive number sheet if you are trying to build a model of your own plane.  
Picture
Minicraft's Cessna 172 in Civil Aircraft Patrol markings.  The CAP is the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force specializing in aviation education and plays an important role in search-and-rescue operations.  This release utilizes the "pants-off" option--there are no wheel spats.
Picture
The Cessna 150 in CAP guise.  The Cessna 150 is one of the original Bandai kits.  The spats and wheels are molded together, so you don't have the option of "pants off" without some extra work.  Still, this little kit is a gem!
I’ve seen just a few models from these kits at model shows.  Considering the quality of the molding of the older kits, it’s surprising.  The recessed details on these kits and general engineering of the tooling resemble kits from the likes of Hasegawa, Fujimi, and Tamiya of the 1970’s that gave those companies a reputation for the best quality kits you could get.  Bandai of Japan is today known as a producer of exceptional model kits.  One reason their Gundam line has exploded in popularity is because of the innovative processes to produce finely detailed parts that fit together precisely.  In recent years, their Star Wars kits, engineered to the same standards, have become second to none in that genre.  Apparently, Bandai got an early start down this road by producing their civilian aircraft series.  
Picture
The engine to the Cessna 150.  The real motor, a Continental O-200-A, isn't much bigger than a lawn mower engine, but it'll put out an amazing 100 horsepower!
Through the twists, turns, and changes experienced in the model kit industry since the 1970’s, Minicraft Models acquired this tooling.  Instead of simply re-popping kits from these molds, they’ve considerably enhanced the line with interesting modifications, premium decals, and even state-of-the-art new kits.  In our opinion, this series is severely underrated by modelers.  Try one today—you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
LEARN MORE:  The Civil Air Patrol is a great place for young people in the USA ages 12-18 to learn about aviation.  Their eduction programs are also available for all ages, but young people can "test drive" the military experience through the cadet program to see if an actual military enlistment is for them once they reach the appropriate age.  While I was a Boy Scout, I had an opportunity to attend some aerospace workshops run in part by CAP volunteers.  During two weeks being "herded" by some senior CAP cadets, we learned a proper military salute, and they also taught us how to march in formation!  To this day, I regret not joining the organization when I was young.

While the CAP doesn't have a formal basic flight training program, the education programs will certainly help a student pilot in ground school studies.  CAP members in your local organization can likely help you find a good flight instructor that will probably save money compared to a standard flight school.  Existing pilots can earn certain FAA ratings and hone their skills.

Of course, the CAP provides a valuable service to our country through its search-and-rescue and disaster relief programs.  Cadet members will have opportunities for orientation flights in actual military aircraft, a perk that most civilians can never get!  The CAP has a fleet of over 500 planes, most of which are Cessna 172's and 182's.   Cadets will also have opportunities for flights in these aircraft.


(SPONSOR LINKS)
Picture

​
SCROLL DOWN  JUST A BIT TO SEE WHAT'S NEW AT DEMBRUDDERS.COM!  WE'VE GOT ALL SORTS OF STUFF GOING ON!
Check back often!  We have a lot of cool upcoming content!


NEW:


Oct 2022:  Atlantis 1/48 JS-III Stalin Tank Kit Review!
Sept 2022:  Atlantis 1/32 Tom Daniel Funny Cars Kit Review!
August 2022:  Atlantis 1/665 USS Wisconsin Kit Review!
August 2022:  Atlantis 1/618 D.K.M. Bismarck Kit Review!
​29 July 2022:  D&H Cyclops and Chariot From Lost in Space Kit Review!
16 July 2022:  Moebius Hal 9000 Review YouTube Video!
07 June 2022:  Atlantis 1/135 Convair 990 Airliner Kit Review!
01 June 2022:  Atlantis 1/24 Son of Troublemaker Kit Review!
​21 May 2022:  Atlantis 1/1200 US Combat Task Force Fleet Kit Review!
14 May 2022:  Atlantis 1000/1 The Amoeba Kit Review!
06 May 2022:  Atlantis Air-Land-Sea Gift Set!
26 April 2022:  Atlantis 1/139 Boeing 707-120 Kit Review!
25 April 2022:  Atlantis 1/77 F-89D Kit Review!
22 April 2022:  Atlantis 1/245 Monitor and Merrimac Civil War Set
15 January 2022:  Dream Gear 1/3000 Arkhitect Review!  Landmark new kit includes integrated lighting!
15 December 2021:  Atlantis 1/8 Forgotten Prisoner Review!
10 December 2021:  New Atlantis 1/96 Moon Ship Review
01 December 2021:  NEW Minicraft Kit Releases!
30 November 2021:  Atlantis 1/139 707 Kit Update
25 November 2021:  Atlantis 1/54 F11F-1 Cougar Kit Review
15 November 2021:  Convair 1/135 990 Test Shot from Atlantis!
September 2021:  NEW 1/25 Atlantis King Kong Kit Review
September 2021:  Minicraft 1/200 "Spruce Goose" Review and History
September 2021:  Minicraft 1/48 T-41 Review Update
September 2021:  Minicraft 1/144 F-51 Review
September 2021:  NEW Atlantis 1/32 1982 Camaro Review!
August 2021:  Minicraft 1/144 B-52 (Current Flying) Review
August 2021:  Minicraft 1/144 E-3/E-8 AWACS/J-STARS Review

July 2021:  New Atlantis 1/300 Nautilus Review updates our Nautilus history page!
July 2021:  Revell's Gemini Spacecraft Kits History
June 2021:  Minicraft 1/350 RMS Titanic Review
12 May 2021:  Titanic Models List!  One Movie.  Lots of Titanics.
29 April 2021:  Snoopy vs Red Baron live on YouTube!
15 March 2021:  Atlantis Snoopy and His Sopwith Camel Lands -- What Happens when they meet The Red Baron?
12 March 2021:  Atlantis 1/120 B-29 Review!  New Kit!  
08 March 2021:  Minicraft 1/144 B-24J / PB4Y-1 / B-24D Review!
10 February 2021:  Moebius 1/144 Discovery on YouTube!
07 February 2021:  Guest Gallery!  See our pals' models!
05 February 2021:  Moebius 1/144 Discovery XD-1 Review
Will the Utah Monolith stay vertical this time?
05 January 2021:  Hawk Beta-I Atomic Bomber Rebuild!
28 December:  Bill's Airliner Gallery! 
19 December:  Just in time for Christmas!  Atlantis Phantom of the Opera with Glow-in-the-dark Parts!
13 December:  Godzilla Returns Again!  Atlantis Godzilla with Glow-in-the-Dark Parts!
30 November:  Revell KC-135 and 707 Kit History!
23 November:  Minicraft 1/144 C-18A/707 Kit Review!
Another feature in our series about the KC-135/707!

12 November:  Atlantis Mr Gasser Review updated photos
09 November:  Dick's Lindberg XB-70 Restoration
09 November:  Monogram Air Power Set YouTube Video!
30 October:  Special Project:  Monogram's 1959 Air Power Set! (web page)
09 October:  A Review of Minicraft's KC-135 Kits continues our special series on the KC-135 (feature in-progress).
28 September:  Let's Play Battleship!  Atlantis 1/535 Iowa Class Kits review - and bonus comparison between Revell's USS Missouri and Atlantis Iowa Class Battleship kits!

20 September:  Kit History --  Revell 1/535 USS Missouri
07 September:  Ship It!  Academy 1/700 Titanic ICP Kit Review
22 August:  Revell's All-New PT-109 Elco PT Boat Kit Review
13 August:  KC-135 History Series Part II - AMT's 1/72 Kit:  It's In There
04 August:  Dueling Subchasers-- Atlantis S2F Hunter Killer Review
29 July:  Kit Review and History:  Atlantis Models P-3A Orion
26 July:  Book reviews:  The Vintage Years of Airfix Box Art by Roy Cross
A Weird-Oh World - The Art of Bill Campbell by Bill Campbell

24 July:  DEM BRUDDERS GO OFF THE DEEP END WITH THEIR  ATLANTIS PBY CATALINA KIT VIDEO REVIEW!
22 July:  Why Buy a PBY:  Atlantis PBY-5A Catalina Web Review!

09 July:  No shyin' away from the Cheyenne:  Atlantis AH-56 Cheyenne Kit Web Review
06 July:  Rank the Lanc:  Minicraft Lancaster MK-1 Kit Review
17 June:  88 Reasons:  Minicraft Ju-88A/C Kit Review
16 June:  We Dug the Jug:  Minicraft P-47D Kit Review
15 June:  DICK DOES CARS!  Dick's Car Gallery!
10 June: 
Minicraft RB-29 Review Updated!  Minicraft's Own Lewis Nace Builds an Amazing B-29 Conversion Collection!
05 June:  Minicraft 1/144 B-17 Kit Review!
03 June:  The Big Stick:  Atlantis' B-36 Kit Review!
30 May:  Minicraft A6M2 Zero Kit Review in 1/144
26 May:  Dem Brudders On Youtube!  Watch our Atlantis Ah-56 Cheyenne review. (We're a little disappointed with our new spokesman Roddy Redshirt.  When we find all his pieces, we might not use him again.)
22 May:  The Girl Next Door:  Minicraft 1/144 G4M1 "Betty" Kit Review
20 May:  Unmasking the Avenger:  Minicraft 1/144 TBF Avenger Kit Review
18 May:  B young!  B-29 again!  Minicraft RB-29 Superfortress "Postwar" Kit Review - We've expanded content on this page!
06 May:  KC-135/707 Kit History Series Begins!

27 April:  Enter the Mentor:  Minicraft T-34A Mentor kit Review. 
24 March:  See Dick.  See Dick build.  See  Dick's Large Aircraft Gallery.  Build, Dick, Build.
04 March:  Eat all your vegetables.  Open-Box New Kit Review:  Atlantis HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant"  
06 February:  Requiem for Mad Magazine: Aurora/Revell Alfred E. Neuman Kit History
12 December:  BEECH TRIP!!!  Minicraft's Civilian Aircraft Product Line

20 November:  More pictures added to Dick's Yo-Yo page:  B-24J Liberator "Yo-Yo" - Custom-Painting a 1/48 Diecast Model
20 November:  IPMS/SLC Group Build, Italy/Bulgaria Theme!
12 November:  We welcome Minicraft Models as our first sponsor!
​07 November:  We've again expanded our Report on the 2019 IPMS/USA Nationals in Chattanooga, TN!
15 October:  IPMS Boise Mad Dog Modelers Fall Show!

13 September 2019:  Aerial Photography for a Song:  The Estes AstroCam 110
28 August:  Kit Review - Atlantis 1/92 B-24J Liberator Bomber 
01 August:  We continue our Apollo at 50 celebrations by kicking off our new model rocketry page, and ask:
​Apollo at 50:  Was it Worth It?
20 JULY 2019:  HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY, APOLLO 11 (We don't think you look a day over 40)!  Revell's Apollo Spacecraft Kits
25 June:  A New Blog Post:  Join us at the IPMS/USA Nationals!
19 June:  Build a Resin Figure Kit.  Dick shows step-by-step how he built Anime subject Mew Zakuro
15 May:  Smokey and the Bandit:  MPC's 1977 Pontiac Trans Am
25 April: 
History of Armor Modeling with pals James Guld and John Tate
03 April:  Car Modeling in the 1970's expands our History Series
26 March:  Kit Review--1/350 Space Ark from When Worlds Colllide
17 March:  Weird-oh's, Finks, Flypoggers, and More!  We continue our History Series with our various encounters in the Monster Figures craze of the 1960s
10 March:  Our First Kit Review!  Tamiya 1/48 Army Staff Car - Are we too hard on a Tamiya kit?
​23 February:  The Nuclear Family:  SSN Nautilus 571 - About the Lindberg, Revell, and Aurora Kits
15 February:  DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME I - Dick Builds a Batmobile--in 1/3 Scale!
13 February:  Modeling Outside the Box.  Dick goes all over the place, building a number of unusual subjects!
04 February:  NASCAR or Not?  Monogram's Days of Thunder Cars
31 January:  History Series Begins With The Aurora Monsters
27 January:  Build a P-82 in 1/144 Scale or Other Crazy Conversion
13 January:  The Anti-Modelers
05 January 2019:  The Day I Quit Modeling
01 January 2019:  dembrudders.com is live!!!

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • HAWK Beta-I Atomic Bomber Rebuild Plus Ragnarok
    • Lindberg 1/172 XB-70 Rebuild
    • 1/144 F-82 Conversion
    • Resin Figure Mew Zakuro
    • Yo Yo 1/48 B-24J Custom Paint and Decals
  • History
    • Monogram Air Power Set (1959)
    • History of Titanic Model Kits: The Big List
    • Revell Gemini Kit History - 1/48 and 1/24
    • AURORA MONSTER MODELS
    • Atlantis / Revell 707 and KC-135
    • Revell's 1/535 USS Missouri: An Iowa Class Act
    • Monogram Days of Thunder NASCAR Kits
    • Atlantis USS Nautilus SSN-571 Model Kit Review and History
    • Weird-ohs, Roth Finks, Flypoggers and Lindy Loonies
    • Car Modeling in the 1970's
    • Armor Modeling
    • Smokey and the Bandit
    • Revell Apollo 11 Spacecraft
    • Minicraft Civil Aircraft in 1/48
    • Aurora's Alfred E Neuman
    • KC-135 and 707 Part One: The 1/72 Kits
    • KC-135 Part Two: The History and The Build
  • Reviews
    • AIRCRAFT KIT REVIEWS >
      • Minicraft RB-29 Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/200 H-4 "Spruce Goose" Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/48 Cessna T-41 Mescalero Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-52D/F Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-52H "Current Flying Version" Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 F-51 Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 KC-135 Review
      • Minicraft T-34A Mentor Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 E-3/E-8 AWACS/J-Stars Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-24J / PB4Y-1 / B-24D
      • Minicraft C-18 (Boeing 707)
      • Minicraft 1/144 B-17G Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 Lancaster MK 1 Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 A6M2 Zero Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 G4M Type 1 "Betty" Kit Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 Ju 88A/C
      • Minicraft 1/144 P-47D Review
      • Minicraft 1/144 TBF Avenger Review
      • Atlantis 1/135 Convair 990 Review!
      • Atlantis 1/139 Boeing 707-120 Kit Review
      • Atlantis 1/77 F-89D Kit Review
      • Atlantis 1/54 F11F-1 "Blue Angels" Kit Review
      • Atlantis 1/120 B-29 Kit Review
      • Atlantis PBY-5A Catalina
      • Atlantis P-3A Kit Review and History
      • Atlantis S2F Hunter Killer
      • Atlantis AH-56 Cheyenne Helicopter
      • Atlantis B-36 Kit Review
      • Atlantis HH-3E "Jolly Green Giant" Review
      • Atlantis B24J Buffalo Bill 1/92
    • Minicraft 1/350 Titanic Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/500 USS North Carolina Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/128 U.S. Space Missiles Set Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/70 F-100C Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/48 Japanese Medium Tank
    • Atlantis Snoopy and his Classic Race Car Kit Review
    • Atlantis Models Metaluna Mutant Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/48 JS-III Stalin Tank Review
    • Atlantis 1/32 Tom Daniel Funny Cars: Mustang, Camaro, Duster, Charger!
    • Atlantis 1/665 USS Wisconsin Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/618 Bismarck Battleship Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/24 Son of Troublemaker Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/1200 US Combat Task Force Fleet Kit Review
    • Atlantis The Amoeba review
    • Atlantis Air-Land-Sea Gift Set
    • Atlantis 1/245 Monitor & Merrimac Ironclads Diorama Set
    • Atlantis 1/96 Moon Ship Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/8 Forgotten Prisoner of Castel Mare Kit Review
    • ATLANTIS 1/25 King Kong Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/32 1982 Camaro Review
    • Atlantis Snoopy and His Sopwith Camel / Red Baron Reviews
    • Atlantis Glow-Godzilla Review
    • Atlantis Phantom of the Opera Kit Review
    • Atlantis 1/535 USS Iowa and Wisconsin Battleship Kit Review
    • Atlantis Mr. Gasser Review
    • Moebius 1/1 Hal 9000 Kit Review
    • Moebius 1/144 Discovery XD-1
    • Dream Gear 1/3000 Arkhitect Kit Review
    • D&H 1/35 Cyclops and the Chariot from Lost in Space kit Review
    • Academy Titanic 1/700 MCP Review
    • Revell ALL NEW PT-109 Review
    • Tamiya 1/48 Ford Army Staff Car
    • Pegasus Space Ark - When Worlds Collide
    • A Weird-Oh World - The Art of Bill Campbell
    • The Vintage Years of Airfix Box Art
  • Contests
    • 2021 IPMS-USA Nationals Report
    • 2019 IPMS/USA Nationals Report
    • Boise Mad Dog Modelers Fall Show
    • IPMS-SLC Group Build
  • Rocketry
    • Starting Rocketry
    • History and Use of the Estes AstroCam 110
  • Gallery
    • Bill's Airliner Models Gallery
    • Dick's Large 1/72 Aircraft Models
    • Dick's scale Model car gallery
    • Guest Gallery
  • Sponsors
    • Minicraft Models Sponsor Page
    • Atlantis Models Sponsor Page
    • Moebius Models Sponsor Page
    • Amazon Associate
  • IPMS/USA
  • Contact