Nose before filing

B-17F Flying Fortress "Knock-Out Dropper" Limited Edition

Gap by the Front Triangle Brackets

LVT-4 Water Buffalo

Resin intakes

T-45 Goshawk Trainer

Final

Cessna 150

Tail underside

F-4EJ KAI Phantom II Phantom Forever 2020

Image 2

Heinkel HE-111H

Wing Rigging

Blue Max Pfalz

Chassis under assembly, showing nice engine detail and exhaust stack

US Army Tractor

Pennant

Satisfaction of Captain Henry Morgan

Finished model, left front view.

Mitsubishi F-1

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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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Product packaging

Folland Gnat T.1 Pitot tube
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.30

Thanks to Piotr at Master models for providing one more great pitot tube to improve our models, and thanks to IPMS Reviewer Corps leaders for sending this my way!

This pitot tube/air probe is a simple upgrade to Airfix’ most recent 1/48 Jet model, the Folland Gnat T1. Previously reviewed as a build kit, I figured it would only be a matter of time before Master released this for the Gnat…

On side-by-side comparison, it is evident Master Model’s pitot is an improvement on the kit item. Finesse, is, as usual, the key word to describe what Master model products provide over kit injection molded pitot tubes. There is just no way plastic, (or frankly resin replacements), can compete with metal. Cleanup of the plastic version’s injection port is “dicy” at best, particularly on the side of the tube… I rarely have success with this, so I have, in the past, opted for needles. Not optimal, but acceptable.

Book cover

Nieuport 24/27 At War
Book Author(s)
Paolo Varriale; Illustrators: Roberto Zanella, Ronny Bar, Martin Digmayer
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$22.00

By 1916, the little Nieuport 11, also known to the French Militaire by its initials BB (which the French pronounced bébé), had succeeded in putting an end to the Fokker Scourge and therefore gaining the respect of ally and foe alike. A higher horsepower version, known as the Nieuport 17 followed and built on that legacy, becoming the preferred mount for many of the Allies’ first generation Aces. But subsequent efforts to continually improve upon Nieuport’s basic Vee-strutter design fell short of expectations with the introduction of the 24, 24bis and later the 27. Failing to match the performance of a new generation of fighters, these Nieuport designs generated little enthusiasm among French pilots who instead looked forward to flying the much-desired new SPAD. Unfortunately, SPAD production could not match demand and there was a war to fight so the new Nieuport fighters began arriving at the front in early 1917.

Product Picture

Yakovlev Fighters of World War II
Book Author(s)
Yefrim Gordon, Sergey Komissarov, and Dmitriy Komissarov
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Hikoki Publications
MSRP
$56.95

This book is the comprehensive history of the fighters produced by the Yakolev Design Bureau during World War Two. The Yak-1 first flew in 1940 under the designation I-26, changing to the now familiar Yak-1 when production began at the end of that year. The authors trace the development of these designs and offer the reader a comprehensive history from drawing board to final use. Ever wonder why the Yak-3 was actually produced after the Yak-9? It is all here.

The book is divided into 9 chapters. Chapter one is comprised of 58 pages and deals with the design, development and use of the Yak1. This begins with the I-26 initial variant and the loss and death of Yakolev’s chief test pilot Yulian Piontkovsky. Each variant and weapons system is covered.

Chapter two covers the I-28, I-30 and heavy fighter projects. These 14 pages deal with some prototypes and dead-end Yakolev developments

Product packaging

North American FJ-4B Fury Cockpit Set
Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
Company
Pavla Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$21.75

The Navy FJ-4 was, to many people, the culmination of the basic North American Sabre Jet. This final naval variant featured a more powerful engine which required a larger intake, a shorter, deeper fuselage, a larger tail, larger wing area and a longer nose gear. Its front line service was short, however. Although the FJ-4B was loved by its pilots, by the late ‘50’s the Fury was being phased out by newer, less expensive fighter and attack aircraft. They referred to it as the “Cadillac”, while its counterpart and eventual replacement, the A4D, was referred to as the “Tinkertoy”.

Emhar issued the FJ-4B in 1/72nd scale in 1990 and is a great kit. There are really only two shortfalls of the kit; the first being a rather basic cockpit and the second being a crude, short exhaust/jet pipe. Pavla has recently released resin detail parts for the cockpit and the exhaust.

Box Art

Mitsubishi F1M2 Type Zero Observation Seaplane (PETE) Model 11 "934th Flying Group"
Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$42.99

History Brief

Code named ‘Pete’ by the Allied Forces the Mitsubishi F1M2 Type 0 Observation Seaplane Model 11 was originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance seaplane. In essence, the Pete was a two man crew, single-engine biplane with a main central float and two auxiliary outrigger floats.