I have to admit that I am a paint addict. Part of it might be that I build every type of model and part of it is looking for that perfect paint. As I was reading another modeling publication, there was a nice ad for Reaper Miniatures and their line of paints and figures. For those who are unaware, Reaper Miniatures produces metal figures for use in RPG or role playing games and sells all the associated things needed such as paint. When Ed Pugh and Reaper offered to let IPMS review their paints, I was chomping at the bit to put these through trials on figures.
Welcome to the IPMS/USA Reviews site!
Introduction: The primary organization of the IPMS/USA Review website is by IPMS/USA National Contest Class. Within each Class there are sub-menus by kits, decals, books, etc. The Miscellaneous Class is for items that are not class specific or that cross two or more classes.
IPMS/USA Members: We encourage you to submit reviews, both here and to the Journal. To volunteer for membership in the IPMS/USA "Reviewers Corps" and submit your own reviews, please read the Guidelines For Submitting Product Reviews.
Manufacturers, publishers, and other industry members: IPMS/USA is pleased to offer your company the opportunity for product reviews. All product reviews are performed by IPMS/USA members, and are posted in the publicly-accessible section of our website. With very few exceptions, we perform full build reviews of new kit releases, aftermarket products, and supplies. If you would care to provide product samples for review, please contact John Noack, IPMS/USA 1st VP.
To learn more about IPMS/USA, please see our About Us page.
Part I
Wingnut Wings has released two 1/32 scale Sopwith Pup kits, one containing parts and multiple markings for the Royal Navy version and one containing parts and markings for the Royal Flying Corps version. The subject of this review is the RFC version.
If you build plastic model airplanes and have not heard of this kit manufacturer before, you must have been spending a year or so under a rock somewhere. Wingnut Wings is a New Zealand-based company with a passion for World War I subjects in general and aircraft in particular. This new company made a big splash in the hobby last year when they released their first four World War I kits and created an even bigger wave this year when they released four more. Everything is 1/32 scale and produced at a level that leaves most other kits in the dust. The almost overwhelming response to the release of the first kits was a wide-eyed Wow andthe latest kits deserve the same response.
The Hasegawa Stuka kits are really nice. They could use some help when it comes to the night bomber variants. That is where Quickboost comes in. They offer three different variants of the night bomber exhausts. This particular exhaust, Type C, is shaped at an angle with beautiful detail inside the front and rear parts. Molded in bubble free light grey plastic with exquisite detail, these exhausts will add to the unique look of your Stuka.
Simply cut the parts from the pour stub and paint. Easy and effective. Of course you’ll have to check your references to determine which exhaust is right for your aircraft.
I recommend you read over “Ghost Bombers”. (ISBN-13:978-1903223154). This provides plenty of motivational reading and drawings.
Highly recommended
Thanks to Quickboost for the review copy.
It is no surprise that I love the Eduard FW-190 kits. I’ve built enough of them to know that I will build more of them. The recent release of the D-9, D-11/13 variants has done nothing to deter this view. One way to set your 190 from the others is to lower the flaps which is seen frequently on operational aircraft.
Molded in light grey resin these flaps have two parts per wing. The conversion set is easy enough to do. After removing the parts from the resin pour blocks simply add the wing stiffeners to the upper wing. There is no cutting here. Simply remove the flaps from the lower wing and add the exquisitely molded flaps. Lightening holes and really thin doublers are just beautiful done and will add to your model. It is a lot simpler than having to bend photo etch and is just as effective.
This product is highly recommended.
Allow me to start by thanking Pavla Models for their most generous contribution of numerous models for review by IPMS/USA.
Background
The Gloster G.40 Pioneer was the first British jet -- it is also known as the Gloster Whittle or the Gloster E.28/39. There were two aircraft built but the second crashed so this one, W4041/G, did all the testing from its first flight on 15 May 1941 until it was put on display in the London Science Museum in 1946.
I asked for this not because I am particularly interested in the aircraft but because I had just done the FROG version for the Classic British Kits SIG display at Scale Model World (Telford) in 2009. That kit is so bad that I felt I should have a better representation on my shelf. For those of you not familiar with the FROG kit, the wings and fuselage are two different scales and the two figures -- one sitting, one standing -- are also.