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Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$69.99

ICM keeps adding more kits than most manufacturers and extending their line.

ICM has produced a kit of the GAZ-A which was produced from 1932 to 1936 in a joint agreement between Ford and the Soviet Union. It is a replica of the Ford Model A. The representation in this kit is one commandeered used by the Germans. The kit is made from 201 parts on nine gray sprues, one clear sprue and 5 rubber tires. The instructions have great sprue maps and show the unused parts. There is a small sheet of decals and two markings available both with German crosses.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Frenchman Sylvain Hautier founded Syhart Decals (SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier) , ART (design)) in 2006 with the aim of recreating in model form the special aircraft paint schemes that have been developed to celebrate anniversaries, participate in Tiger Meets, and for last flights.

6 Squadron of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was formed in 1917 in England as training unit during World War I. In 2017, 6 Squadron was converted to an Electronic Attack unit equipped with the EA-18G Growler. The squadron achieved Initial Operating Capability with Growler on 2019.

For the Centenary of 6 Squadron in 2017, one of these brand-new Growlers, A46-306, received a special scheme with night blue spine and fins, and with a large yellow boomerang, the insignia of the squadron for 100 years.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$17.99

Yahu Models is a Polish producer making 3D photoetch replacement panels and parts for all sizes and types of models. In this instance, this is a instrument panel parts for the HK Model 1/32 A-20G Late configuration. The contents include a small card with a pictorial representation of the instructions and how to place and bend the parts. Also included are three colored, three dimensional photoetch frets and one clear set of dials for the instruments. The photoetch frets are amazing. If you scan them and zoom in, you can read the writing perfectly which in 1/32nd scale is awesome. I have included some scans from the kit showing location of the majority of the parts.

Review Author
Brett W Scholten
Published on
Company
Vertigo Miniatures
Scale
n/a
MSRP
$35.90

Taking my models to a show or competition is always a little nerve-wracking for me. Transporting the model so it does not break or lose pieces is a challenge. I tried many methods; shredded paper, bubble wrap, soft foam, hard foam with sections cut out; all with various degrees of success (and failure).

That is why I jumped at the chance to review Vertigo Miniatures Transport Jig.

Opening the box, I was surprised to find clear acrylic pieces. Another surprise is the jig only has three legs, where all my other jigs have four legs.

Assembly was easy. The “legs” on the stand needed to be glued together. I used CA glue to do this. There are lines engraved in the leg base that allow easy alignment and gluing. I had one leg fail, and believe I did not put enough CA glue on the parts. I reapplied the glue and have had no issues since then.

Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Tamiya America
Scale
1:72
MSRP
$50.00

From the Manufacturer’s Website:

Our 1/48 scale F-14D Tomcat model kit is one of the most detailed modern plane kits we’ve produced. We’ve now taken what has been learned from its development and production to bring model builders the same level of detail to our popular 1/72 scale lineup while also providing a streamlined building experience!

The Tomcat enjoyed an active career from the early 1970s until 2006; initially given a fleet defense role, in the 1990s the Tomcat’s superb range saw that role expanded to include strike missions, and then later that decade the addition of the LANTIRN targeting pod meant it could undertake long-range bombing runs using laser-guided ordnance. The F-14D was the final variant, which inherited its F-14B predecessor’s General Electric F110-GE-400 engines and was given major upgrades to avionics. It reached units from 1992, serving in the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan. It finally retired from U.S. Navy service in 2006.