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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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Box Art

Russian ASU-85 Airborne Self-propelled Gun Mod.1956
Review Author
John Lyons
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$43.95

Short History

Soviet Airborne Forces used the ASU-85 in airborne operations during the Cold War Era. Its primary role was light infantry support or assault, with limited anti-tank capability. The ASU-85 replaced the open-topped ASU-57 in service. It weighs approximately 13,780kg or 13.78 tons and has a very low silhouette of just 2,1 meters. It is powered by one V-6 six-in-line water-cooled diesel engine with 240hp. It was designed on the PT-76 tank chassis, but lost its amphibious capabilities. Armament consists of an SD-44 85mm gun carrying 40 rounds (4 rounds per minute) and one 7.62mm PKT co-axial machinegun. Effective range is around 260km (162 miles), and armor protection is up to 40mm. The vehicle was NBC-sealed and equipped with IR-sights for night fighting.

Box Art

Flakpanzer IV Ausf G "Wirbelwind" Early Production
Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$62.95

The Flakpanzer IV “Wirbelwind” (German for whirlwind) was a self-propelled quad 2.0 cm anti-aircraft gun based on the Pz IV. It was developed in 1944 as a replacement for the Mobelwagen. The Wirbelwind was replaced by the Ostwind with a single 3.7cm FlaK 43. The number of units produced ranged from upper 80’s to approximately 105.

This is a multimedia kit comprised of 500+ styrene parts, magic tracks, one braided metal wire (which is very stiff even after annealing), one photo etched fret, decals and the set of instructions that need to be reviewed very carefully before gluing any parts together.

Most Dragon models today are a collection of old sprues and new sprues added to create a new kit variant. In this case, Dragon has done so and you will have some sprues with the same letter. Even though Dragon has not advertised this is a 2-in-1 kit, you have many options that need to be reviewed and decided on before you start this kit.

Weathering Pigments
Review Author
Tom Sprawls
Published on
Company
ModelMakerZ
MSRP
$5.00

Among the companies offering ways to weather and complement the realism of your scale models a new competitor has emerged. The company ModelMaker Z is now offering Pigment Powders. A selection of 17 unique colors with descriptive names such as Dark Russian Dirt, South East Asian Mud, Old Rust, Medium Rust, and Panzer Gray Fading are available. The ultra-fine pigment powders are packaged in clear half-ounce bottles with screw-on lids. Powder Pigments likes to say the bottles are transparent because “Quality and Value are Clear”. Each 1/2-oz. bottle retails for $5.00 and is available from your local Hobby Shop as well as direct from the ModelMaker Z web site.

Kitset packaging

P-47D Horizontal Stabilizers

Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
Company
Master Details
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$15.95

This is the first time I have had the opportunity to review a product from these folks and I must say I am quite impressed. These “tail feathers” are designed as exact kit part replacements with one notable exception…the horizontal stabs and elevators are separated and can be positioned as they should be on the real plane. After spending 55 plus years around aircraft of all types, please trust me. They are sized for the excellent Hasegawa kit

These parts are amongst the best castings I have ever encountered completely free of warpage, pinholes or flaws of any kind. They come in a cream-colored resin, and the engravings are exquisite to say the least. No doubt that they will accept paint and/or washes without problems.

Many thanks to Stephen Sendelbach and Master Details for the review sample. Most highly recommended.

Box Art

F-84E/G Thunder Jets Decal Sheet
Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
Company
Zotz
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$25.00

Created specifically for the new 1/32nd scale Thunderjet by Hobby Boss, this is an absolutely beautiful set of decal markings for 2 F84E’s, one USAF and one French version described as follows:

  • F-84E-20-RE No. 49-2299A, 36 FWB Commander Colonel Robert L Scott Jr. out of Furstenfeldbruck AFB, Germany in late 1952 – early 1953. NOTE: The instructions to paint the tail surface white before applying the blue stripes has been inadvertently left out of the directions. It will need to be done if you choose these markings.
  • F-84G-30-RE No. 52-3023, E.C. 3/11 “Jura” Luxeuil vers 1955.

As in the past, the printing, colors and register are pure perfection. The decals are very thin, yet opaque and applied using the Micro products methods to settle down nicely.