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Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
A.M.D.G. Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.99

This is one of four P-51 decal sheets produced by a new decal maker, A.M.D.G. Decals. A.M.D.G. seems to be one of those companies “by and for” modelers. If you have a look at the company website, you will find their philosophy on the “About Us” page. They seem to have a very enthusiastic and passionate approach to this, and this decal sheet does a great job of demonstrating it!

This sheet has complete markings (including four sets of national insignia and propeller data stencils) for all of the aircraft depicted. There are three UK-based subjects and one based in China. The amount of research done for these four schemes is readily apparent after reading the instructions.

Markings provided are for the following Mustangs:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

Eduard has previously issued “Remove Before Flight” tags made out of colored photoetch. This fresh set capitalizes on the new fabric material used in conjunction with their photoetch components. This set is for 1/48 scale planes, and it has one sheet of 16 fabric tags with two styles: one with a square end and one with a tapered end. The photoetch fret contains 20 of two types of attachment hangers.

To give these tags a test run, I pulled a Kinetic A-6E out that had FOD covers on it. Removing the fabric tab from the backing is easy. They are, however, very fragile and want to tear almost like vinyl. The backing sheet is adhesive, and the tags come off a little sticky. If you set the tags aside for a little while, they’ll lose most of their stickiness and will be easier to handle. They have an excellent fabric look as you can see from the pictures. I attached one to each FOD cover.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/12
MSRP
$16.50

Another in a series of Hasegawa kits replicating office and school furniture, this Science Room Desk and Chairs kit requires a little more time and effort to construction than the previously reviewed Conference Table and Chairs (62002) or School Desk and Chair (62001) kits. The science table and four chairs that are found in the kit took about 30 minutes to build.

The table surface is black, while the table, itself, is white. The stools are a tan color. Hasegawa advertises that this kit does not require glue, and I found that to be true, for the most part. I did fudge a bit and reinforced the “snap” fit of the table parts with a little glue. I also glued the water handles onto the faucet fitting.

Assembly is easy enough for a novice or young person to handle by themselves, so if Junior is looking for a diorama setting for a science experiment, this is it!

Thanks to Hobbico and Hasegawa for providing this review sample to IPMS/USA.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
Company
Value Gear
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.50

This review covers the following Value Gear Universal/Generic Stowage Sets:

  • 1/35 scale Wooden Crates Set #1 - $11.50
  • 1/35 scale Tents & Tarps Set #3 - $11.50
  • 1/48 scale Crates Set #1 - $11.50
  • 1/48 scale Tents, Tarps & Crates Set #3 - $11.50

Judging by the blurb on their web site, Value Gear is run by an American expat who moved to Ireland for a quieter, less-stressed life. He is an “at home Dad” by day, and a resin accessory producer by night, which doesn’t sound like a half-bad way to live!

Value Gear’s products are generic, in that they are appropriate for any army, since they are a series of rolled up tarps, tents, and other canvas items, along with generic wooden crates. Thus they are equally at home on a WW1 French Army FT-17, a 1944 German FT-17, a Canadian Korean War Sherman, or the back of an Opel Blitz in Poland, 1939.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$25.91

Renault FT-17 TSF Background

This Hauler conversion kit for MENG's 1/35 scale French FT-17 Light Tank (Cast Turret) kit, #TS-008, modifies it into a Renault FT-17 TSF Command Radio version.

The Renault Char signal, or TSF (télégraphie sans fil - wireless, in English), is a command tank with a radio. The FT-17 turret was replaced by a box-like superstructure, giving room for a crew of three: driver, radio operator and observer. The vehicle was equipped with a code-only wireless radio, and featured a wire antenna hung between a mast mounted on the superstructure and the vehicle’s tail. They were unarmed, used for coordinating assaults, and keeping contact with high command while deep behind enemy lines. During WWI, 188 TSFs were produced.