Reviews

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$24.95

Modelers have waited a long time for a kit of the first generation Ford Bronco and Revell has finally done it! This kit can be built as a 1971 or 1973 version (an air cleaner option) with the included 289 V8 engine. With the help of Jeff Trapp’s Bronco Graveyard in Brighton, MI, Revell has made a faithful representation of the first Ford SUV. I’m pretty sure that we’ll be seeing other versions of this rugged 4X4 too.

This review covers the skill level 5 (ages 14 years and older) 2016 new tooling release of the Ford Bronco 1:25 Scale Model Kit #85-4320. There are 137 pieces molded in white, clear, and chrome, with metal axle pins, soft vinyl tires and waterslide decals. Finished dimensions are; L 6-3/8”, X W 2-3/4”, X H 2-13/16”.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$18.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions celebrated their Silver Anniversary last year, and now have over twenty-five years of supplying resin and white metal parts to model builders. This is the eighth landing gear set from SAC that I have reviewed, and once again, they have provided an excellent metal option for kit-supplied landing gear. This set is intended for the 1/48 scale F-14 Tomcat that was recently released by Tamiya (kit 61114). The purpose of this replacement set is to provide stronger landing gear that is adjustable if necessary to obtain the proper angles. Even with no previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no issue installing.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$15.99

Aerobonus has provided a great accessory for any diorama.

The detail quality is great, there minimal flash or other imperfections. The wheels were the only parts that took a lot of cleaning up due to flash in the wheel spokes. The parts once removed from the mold base are ready to assembly.

The Assembly is quick and easy. They will look great as an addition to any diorama.

Thanks go to Aires for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.43

Over the past few years Airfix has been turning out some stunning kits and thankfully the detail community has been stepping up to the plate to provide details for those new kits. No exception is the Czech company Brengun who has released a nifty detail set for the new tool Airfix DH.82a Tiger Moth series of kits.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.33

THANK YOU to our friends and suppliers at Aires/Quickboost for this excellent improvement set for the Tamiya P-51 series! And thanks also to the reviewer corps leaders for making the set available to me to review.

This set takes the kit components and improves them in a major way. If you follow the Tamiya P-51 kit instructions, the kit prop blades are cemented to the spinner back half, then you cement the front half of the spinner to the back, trapping a poly-grommet in the spinner so you can press everything onto the front of the model at the end. It works, but there is a seam at the front of the spinner, and how to paint the whole thing comes into play. I have assembled the spinner and painted it and the props separately in the past; it worked, but the propellers are difficult to set at the proper angle using this method.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

THANK YOU to our friends and suppliers at Aires/Quickboost (“QB”) for this excellent improvement set for the re-release by Italeri of the old AMT/ERTL A-20! And thanks also to the reviewer corps leaders for making them available to me to review!

This set takes the kit components and improves them by saving the modeler the trouble and frustration of trying to drill out all the radial exhausts on the A-20G series. The exhaust stubs on the kit parts are separate triangles of plastic as we would normally find from a mid-1990’s kit, remove and place on lightly-marked locating lines. Hmmm… and in each case, the exhausts are not drilled out. A great way to slash your fingers and test your patience.

Moving into the new century: 20 years later, the Italeria kit is the only game in town for a 1/48 A-20. QB not only provides hollowed-out exhausts, but have installed them for you so it’s a true drop-fit swap with vastly improved detail. Need I go further? (I must)

Book Author(s)
M.C. Bishop
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$20.00

The Gladius by M. C. Bishop is his first book for Osprey Publishing and probably not his last (indeed his next book on the Roman heavy javelin is due to be released in May 2017). Mike has been writing since 1983 primarily on archaeology. As part of his interest in archaeology, he has become a prolific artist in black and white illustrations, some of which are found in this book. Many of his works are available or referenced on his web site, www.mcbishop.co.uk. He spends his free time doing freelance work in publishing (editing, typesetting, proofreading, etc.) and runs a considerable number of websites primarily devoted to the Roman military. Interestingly, in additions to being a model builder (Airfix), Mike Bishop has been flying in gliders since 2004.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Aviaeology
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.24

Aviaeology describes themselves on their EBay store as producers of well researched books, decals, decals 'n docs sets, and docs primarily for scale aircraft model makers who work in 1/24, 1/32, 1/48, and 1/72 scales. This is a great description of Aviaeology as they produce first rate decals with exhaustive research and all geared towards modelers.

This set covers 333 Squadron of Mosquito F.II’s and FB.VI’s from 1943-45 and specifically covers 8 different airframes. They are:

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.95

This is a white metal landing gear set is to for the Eduard 1/72 Fw-190 series of aircraft.

The white metal parts are outstanding and are a great replacement for the already well-detailed kit parts. The parts include the main two struts and support struts plus the rear wheel assembly.

The parts are well cast. One part was slightly bent, probably due to shipping and was easily bent back. The parts were a perfect fit to the existing mount and were a dream to assemble.

I highly recommend these parts are a great addition to an already extremely well detailed kit.

Thanks go to Scale Aircraft Conversions for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$70.16

Plus Model has provided another great resin kit of an East German cold war truck; the Multicar M-22. Used for all types of military cargo use, mainly on airfields across Eastern Europe by the Czech forces.

The detail quality is good in most areas. There minimal flash or other imperfections. Once removed from the mold base, the parts are ready to assemble. There was a very bad bow in the chassis which I managed to reduce a bit using hot water, but it is still a little visible in the final build.

The small parts are very delicate, and you must take extreme care when removing them from the mold base.

The Assembly is in 15 steps and is very quick and easy. The only issues encountered were the bow in the Chassis, as I mentioned previously, and the drive shaft was a little short, so I extended it. The steering shaft was also a little long so it needed to be reduced.