What's New on the SMAKR web site

WHAT'S NEW ON SMAKR

SMAKR - Scale Model Aircraft Kit Reviews!!

Email: smakr1@optusnet.com.au

This page is updated every time SMAKR is - telling you exactly what has been added to or altered on the site. A running total of reviews is shown in brackets after the first one in an update. At the end of the month the previous month's updates are summarised into a paragraph and archived to the What's New Archives page as a chronological record of site updates.

Before you send me an email requesting information/assistance, please note the following answers to commonly asked questions. SMAKR answers further questions "Information Requests". Due to a busy schedule of commitments and the volume of emails I do get, sorry but I generally won't respond to questions which are answered here.

SMAKR is a Kit Review site, NOT a hobby store - so requests for searches for a particular kit is something I cannot help with. Try an online hobby shop or search engine to find the kit you are after. Please do not ask me for kits!!
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YES - SMAKR has pages dedicated to Tips, Humbrol Cross Reference Chart and Opinion on Kit Manufacturers - these can be accessed through the reference section.
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4 July 2009

KIT REVIEWS (1001+) - Hasegawa 1/72 Dassault Mirage F.1C - Hrvoje Safhauzer - another nice build up of this venerable kit from Hasegawa and Hrvoje as usual supplies some photos of his nice work.

- Matchbox 1/72 Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight - Carlos Giani - surprisingly the first time this must-have for 72md post war modellers kit has been reviewed on SMAKR, and it just makes you want to go out and make sure you get one!.

And also Kevan Vogler has added an addendum to his Italeri/Bilek Saab Gripen review (which I should also add is boxed by Tamiya)

May & June updates archived.

27 June 2009

Fan-phucking-tastic!! Finally cracked 1,000 built up model aircraft kit reviews on SMAKR which may have taken more than a decade to do but at least a milestone that has been achieved. Thank you to everyone who has contributed a built kit review over the many years SMAKR has been running, you know who you are, and without your contributions this site would not be the great resource it is. Here's the start of the next 1,000!

KIT REVIEWS (1000+) - Italeri 1/72 Dassault Rafale M - myself - a surprisingly easy and nice kit from Italeri I put together a couple of months ago, and enjoyed this project. A few little inaccuracy quirks again, particularly in painting, but not as bad as other kits they have done.

- Revell 1/72 Focke Wulf Flitzer - Hrvoje Šafhauzer - a great luft 46 subject and it looks like the kit has also held its own over the past decade since it first came out..

INBOX REVIEW (614) - UM 1/72 Petlyakov Pe-2FT Series 87 - Hrvoje Šafhauzer - an esoteric alternative to the Zvezda/Italeri kits with a unique version of this attractive aircraft and a comprehensive look provided by Hrvoje.

16 June 2009

A few more issues with Fortunecity preventing updates from happening to the site, this past week but thankfully all okay now. We are also about to crack 1000 build reviews of military aircraft on this site, which sill be a great achievement for SMAKR! That will occur with the next update in the next few days.

Apologies first up to Steve and Carlos whose reviews were sent in quite some time ago but through probably my filtering software (given the spam and viruses received) ended up where they shouldn't. Just a quick reminder to everyone who sends in a review, I will always acknowledge receipt of them - allow at least a week as I don't use the Net everyday - and if you hear nothing, please contact me or resend.

KIT REVIEWS (997+) - Revell 1/72 Fokker E.iii Converted to Fokker D.II - Steve Hedworth - using the Revell kit Steve reviewed in April (see what was new page for link or the index), Steve has converted it to a Fokker D.II standard, which you will see from the photos has been an excellent achievement!

- Airfix 1/72 Sea Hawk - Carlos Giani - a great review for those who like a bit of nostalgia, but you also kind of think that after reading this review, knowing there is a better kit on the market, you still have to go out and buy one of these for old times sake! Stands up to the pressures of building kits well even after all these years! Nice photos from Carlos as well.

- Monogram 1/72 Republic F-105 Thunderchief - Paulo Ivo Teixeira - rounding off an update of some outstanding articles, Paulo has reviewed this fairly old but also quite solid replica of the rough and raw Vietnam bird! A comprehensive build article with some photos of Paulo's lovely looking finished product.

7 June 2009

A bit quiet on the update front of late, with no submissions received but that's okay I have a couple to upload of my own so here's the first. And I will try another update later in the week.

KIT REVIEWS (996) - Hasegawa 1/72 BAe Sea Harrier FRS.1 - myself - in many ways a nice solid Hasegawa kit from a few decades ago, but it was not wheels-up friendly.

28 May 2009

Well I am certainly getting a bit of my own fix of aircraft with army exercises at nearby Cultana - Blackhawks, Hawks and some very low flying lazy Caribou's literally right over the house - so long as he doesn't lower his landing gear, as he will knock off my TV aerials! Love the Caribou drone....

KIT REVIEWS (995) - Hobby Boss 1/72 Heinkel He 162 Salamander - myself - believe it or not this is my first ever foray into Hobby Boss kits and I was pleasantly surprised - fairly easy to put together in a weekend!

INBOX REVIEW (613) - Hobbycraft 1/72 Sukhoi Su-22U Fitter E - myself - for many years the only mainstream game in town of the two seat Fitter model (although depends on your view whether Bilek is mainstream), and one which is pretty basic and probably a quick build.

Ian Skinner has added an addendum to Ken Parson's Airfix Sea Fury review on its accuracy and a few other pointers of interest.

25 May 2009

KIT REVIEWS (993+) - Hobby Boss 1/72 Curtiss P-40M / Kittyhawk III - Hrvoje Šafhauzer - kicks off a great pack of an update for today with this nice article of a little more than usually complicated Hobby Boss kit.

- Airfix 1/72 Heinkel He 111/H-20 - Carlos Giani - Carlos has made excellent work of an old kit and put together one of the Luftwaffe's mainstays.

INBOX REVIEW (612) - Heller 1/72 De Havilland DH-89A Dragon Rapide - John Lacey - and this one has been on the shelves for quite a while as John has lifted the lid on a great Heller kit from yesteryear.

17 May 2009

KIT REVIEW (992) - Airfix 1/48 BAC TSR.2 - John Armstrong - for the quarter scale modellers out there, a great article from John on this "must have" aircraft in my book. A couple of pics also showcases his great work.

14 May 2009

KIT REVIEW (991) - Hasegawa 1/72 Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar - Jon Hudak - the venerable classic mold is reviewed here by Jon with some great finished pics of his paint chipped bird.

Carlos Giani has also supplied an addendum to my AML 1/72 Mitsubishi B5M1 Mabel review, 10 years on and the molds are a little worn and still provided Carlos with a few challenges.

And I fixed up the link to the Bf 110E review below.

2 May 2009

Fortunecity problems are continuing but at least it seems every few days they provide a window of opportunity to upload your files. Stay tuned, but due to work commitments and anticipated Fortunecity problems, there will not be an update until Mid May.

KIT REVIEW (989+) - Revell 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 110E-1 - Hrvoje Šafhauzer - a big construction article with plenty of photos from Hrvoje on this rather long in the tooth mold.

- Airfix 1/72 Saab J29 Tunnan - myself - reboxed Heller mold, and in spite of a few quirky challenges, a pretty easy kit to build, and follows on my Heller review a few years ago. Probably preferable to Heller due to better decals.

March & April updates have been archived.

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