Body and nose seam upper

F-15C Idaho Air National Guard

Finished otter kit

M-76 Otter Light Amphibious Transport

View from above of finished German staff car.

German Staff Car

Quarter view

F9F-8 & F9F-8P Cougar

Finished

Spitfire Mk.XVI High Back with Early Wings Overtree

Easter Egg Found

M752 Tactical Ballistic Missile Launcher

Finished

F-86A 'Advanced Kit'

Parts

Dragon Teeth

In Progress

P-61 Black Widow and True Details Wheels

Crew Figures

M42 "Duster"

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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.

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Package

F-4C Interior Photo Etch
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Eduard has perfected the art of the pre-painted instrument panels. I can’t even paint the instruments as good as they pre-paint. If you haven’t used them you really should try them.

The newest addition is designed for the new Academy 1/48th scale F-4C. The single sheet fret is a nickel plated sheet with all the instrument panels and side consoles for both the front and back seats. These parts are self adhesive and designed to be added directly to the kit parts. You will have to sand off the molded on detail but that is simple enough to do with a sanding stick.

The self adhesive is definitely sticky but I still use super glue to hold the parts together and Future in the bezels to add the sticking and to replicate the glass. The set is simple to add and the visual impact is amazing.

Setail Set Parts

IAI Kfir Pitot Tube and AOA Probe
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.00

I recently have started to build jet aircraft and I’ve noticed something, pitot tubes typically stick out of the nose a significant amount. This causes an issue with bending or breakage. The other thing that I have had an issue is removing the part from sprue. It is a pain in the butt to get rid of the excess plastic and retain the round cross section. That doesn’t include the mold lines on the part. How do you deal with all that? Easy, turned metal barrels.

Master Model turns out some of the finest turned metal barrels out there. I’ve used them before and they fit and look amazing. This release designed for the newest Kfir kits by Kinetics, AMK or Wingmaster.

Package

F-4D Phantom II (Late Version) Cockpit Set
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$37.50

Packaged in a plastic vacuformed package in typical Aires style, this set is designed for the Academy kit. Granted the F-4D has not been released yet but it is probably the next release from Academy. There is a lot of resin inside the packaging. The photo etch fret is quite nice.

Molded in light grey resin the resin displays impressive detail and immaculate casting. The biggest piece is the cockpit tub with the side controls molded in place. This is impressive to say the least. I do wish that Aires would embrace the pre-painted instrument panels. That is in no way a ding on this set. The sandwich type panel will be quite nice and hard enough to see under the glare shield. What is nice is that you are provided with an extra side controllers for both cockpits just in case they get broke in transit.

Box Art

T-33 JASDF Hamamatsu AB
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Platz
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$51.00

Platz Hobby’s latest boxing of their very nice 1/72 scale Lockheed T-bird kit provides an impressive array of decals to finishing the model as one of six different Japanese Air Self Defense Force T-33s based at Hamamatsu airbase. The license-built T-33s, along with AT-6 Texans and T-34 Mentors, formed the backbone of the JASDF’s training command at this historic air training base. Sixty-eight T-birds were in service at Hamamatsu in the mid-1950s, and they were among some of the most colorful T-birds to be found anywhere at the time.

Cover

Aces High Aircraft Modeling Magazine, Issue 2
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
AK Interactive
MSRP
$12.00

AK Interactive offers a wide variety of items for the modeler, from paint and weathering sets, to books, to model kits. The website is easy to navigate and offers a button to provide an “English” translation. Another button offers a currency exchange calculator from Euros (the posted pricing) to US dollars.

AK is on Facebook and has a YouTube presence. To quote the AK YouTube link, “AK's Official YouTube Channel (will) show Advanced Techniques, Tutorials, Tips & Tricks and many more things. Currently working on it :-)”

AK provided a copy of Aces High issue No.2 for review. This issue focuses on aircraft of World War I, being labeled a “Centenary” edition. Also included are three additional articles featuring a set of figures, a truck, and a piece of airfield equipment.