Model: USS Gambier Bay
Publisher: Military Model 1-2/2003
Scale: 1:200
Format: Hardcopy
Distributor: Hobby Factory
28 parts pages (16 heavy cardstock, 4 light cardstock, 8 thin paper). 16 pages of construction diagrams. Sufficiently detailed construction diagrams for all but the least experienced card modelers to successfully perform the build.... :shock: and man, is that an understatement. Construction aids are 3D-CAD-generated drawings, not just line drawings. Wow. Maybe great....no, definitely WOW. The parts are printed on good quality card stock. Pages larger than A4, about 14 inches by 9 inches (I'm not expert on European sizes...this is A3, maybe?). Level of detail excellent. Model includes 12 TBM Avengers and 18 FM-2 Wildcats.
However, aircraft are not provided with interiors, built-up engines and butt-prints in the seats 
(Scorpio take note...this kit still leaves you room for adding your special touch). No color voids, excellent color registration. Draftmanship excellent. Artwork very good, but with a bit of room for improvement (could stand a bit of shading and weathering to make it more photo-reasistic than cartoonish in style). Construction method is normal egg-crate. Full-hull is an option. Kit is presently available from most internet vendors. I've seen prices ranging from $27 up to $40 US. I purchased mine from Hobby Factory (see links section for URL). The model is frequently available on Ebay, but don't expect to get much in the way of a bargain price yet. I would definitely not recommend this model to beginners, and hazard a guess it will challenge those with intermediate papermodeling skills....however, the construction graphics are good enough that an intermediate modeler should be able to get through the build by thinking of it as lots of little builds rather than one overwhelming structure. 
Overall grade an A-, with a corresponding value-for-cost rating.
Instructions: A-
Paper quality: A
Level of detail: A-
Printing quality: A
Artwork: A-
Value for money: A-
Skill level: Skilled
Publisher: Military Model 1-2/2003
Scale: 1:200
Format: Hardcopy
Distributor: Hobby Factory
28 parts pages (16 heavy cardstock, 4 light cardstock, 8 thin paper). 16 pages of construction diagrams. Sufficiently detailed construction diagrams for all but the least experienced card modelers to successfully perform the build.... :shock: and man, is that an understatement. Construction aids are 3D-CAD-generated drawings, not just line drawings. Wow. Maybe great....no, definitely WOW. The parts are printed on good quality card stock. Pages larger than A4, about 14 inches by 9 inches (I'm not expert on European sizes...this is A3, maybe?). Level of detail excellent. Model includes 12 TBM Avengers and 18 FM-2 Wildcats.
However, aircraft are not provided with interiors, built-up engines and butt-prints in the seats (Scorpio take note...this kit still leaves you room for adding your special touch). No color voids, excellent color registration. Draftmanship excellent. Artwork very good, but with a bit of room for improvement (could stand a bit of shading and weathering to make it more photo-reasistic than cartoonish in style). Construction method is normal egg-crate. Full-hull is an option. Kit is presently available from most internet vendors. I've seen prices ranging from $27 up to $40 US. I purchased mine from Hobby Factory (see links section for URL). The model is frequently available on Ebay, but don't expect to get much in the way of a bargain price yet. I would definitely not recommend this model to beginners, and hazard a guess it will challenge those with intermediate papermodeling skills....however, the construction graphics are good enough that an intermediate modeler should be able to get through the build by thinking of it as lots of little builds rather than one overwhelming structure. Overall grade an A-, with a corresponding value-for-cost rating.Instructions: A-
Paper quality: A
Level of detail: A-
Printing quality: A
Artwork: A-
Value for money: A-
Skill level: Skilled
