IPMS/USA Reviews Website

AIM-4G

Review Author

Scott Hollingshead

Published on

January 22, 2016

Company

Eduard

Scale

1/72

MSRP

$9.95

With development beginning in 1958, the Hughes AIM-G Super Falcon was created as a follow-up to the early Falcon missiles, but with a larger rocket motor, bigger warhead, and improved guidance. The AIM-4G, or GAR-4A, was the final version of the improved missile, and around 2700 of these missiles were built with the first of them entering service in 1960, and remaining in use until 1988. The missile was 81.1 inches long, had a 24-inch wingspan, and weighed 145 pounds. Travelling at Mach 4 on its solid fuel Thiokol M46 dual-thrust rocket, the missile had a range of seven miles to deliver the 29-pound warhead.

AH-1G/UH-1D Tail Rotor Blades

Review Author

Steve Collins

Published on

January 22, 2016

Company

Werners Wings

Scale

1/72

MSRP

$7.00

This product is a simple replacement for the tail rotor for AH-1Gs and UH-1Ds. The part is recommended for the AZ Models or Special Hobbies AH-1G kits, but will work with any UH-1D/H kit that has the wrong style of tail rotor. As you can see from the pictures, taken with kit parts from both AH-1G kits, the kit parts have thicker blades with a different shape. Those were based on later AH-1F and AH-1S helicopters and are incorrect for earlier Cobras.

The parts are direct replacements for the kit parts and remove easily from the mold pour plug, with easy cleanup. They are well cast, with no mold flaws or pin holes in the resin. The parts align well with drawings I have of the early Cobras and Hueys. Besides, if anybody would know whether they were correct or not, I think Floyd Werner would.

Thanks to Werner’s Wings for the review sample and to IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it. Highly recommenced as an easy correction for your early Cobra.

Mosquito Armament and Pitot Tube

Review Author

Rod Lees

Published on

January 22, 2016

Company

Master Details

Scale

1/32

MSRP

$16.00

Thanks to Piotr at Master models for providing these incredible items to improve our models, and thanks to IPMS Reviewer Corps leaders for sending it to me…

What is in the packet: a detailed instruction sheet, four .303 Machine gun barrels and cooling jackets/spring mounts, with flash hiders, four 20MM cannon barrels, and one turned metal pitot tube.

These are simple replacement items for the kit barrels; they provide a better appearance than the kit items, and are well worth investing in for installation

Replacing the kit .303 gun barrels is easy; carefully cut off the kit barrels, drill holes for the metal barrels, install the spring assemblies then the metal barrels, then slide the cooling jackets over the barrels. The flash suppressors then are cemented on the tip of the barrel. Paint and install in the model to finish.

AIM-4D

Review Author

Scott Hollingshead

Published on

January 21, 2016

Company

Eduard

Scale

1/72

MSRP

$9.95

With development beginning in 1946, the Hughes AIM-4 Falcon, or more precisely, a version of a missile that would become the Falcon, was first launched for testing in 1949, and would become the first operational air-to-air missile of the U.S. Air Force. The AIM-4D, or GAR-2B, was the final version of the original missile, and around 4000 of these missiles were built with the first of them entering service in 1963. The missile had a less than spectacular combat record in Vietnam claiming five aircraft (four MiG-17’s and a single MiG-21) for 54 missiles launched, and by 1973, the AIM-4D was no longer operational. The missile was 79.5 inches long, had a 20-inch wingspan, and weighed 135 pounds. Travelling at Mach 3 on its solid fuel Thiokol M58 rocket, the missile had a range of six miles to deliver the 7.6-pound warhead.

Lockheed C-2 Ejection Seat

Review Author

Rod Lees

Published on

January 20, 2016

Company

Aires Hobby Models

Scale

1/32

MSRP

$21.50

Thanks to Aires for providing more of their excellent aftermarket parts for IPMS USA to review, and to IPMS leadership for sending it my way.

This aftermarket set item replaces the kit ejection seat in any F-104A to C. It is not complex, but does require some vision assistance and gentle skills in the sheet-metalworking department.

This set contains seven extremely-detailed, hard gray resin parts - the entire seat in one cast piece, with two separate foot plates, one ejection initiator handle, two ejection net extension arms, and a buckle fitting; one soft, flexible resin hose, and a fret of photoetch for the harness and fittings. First step is to spray all the gray resin and metal photoetch resin parts with primer. I used my favored primer, Tamiya Gray in a rattle can.