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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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Manufacturers, publishers, and other industry members: IPMS/USA is pleased to offer your company the opportunity for product reviews. All product reviews are performed by IPMS/USA members, and are posted in the publicly-accessible section of our website. With very few exceptions, we perform full build reviews of new kit releases, aftermarket products, and supplies. If you would care to provide product samples for review, please contact John Noack, IPMS/USA 1st VP.

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Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.95

Thanks to Ross at SAC for yet another outstanding metal gear set; IPMS USA are pleased to receive the support from your contributions!

This set is, the usual, a simple drop-in replacement for the kit items. The set contains a compressed oleo main gear strut, a two-part nose gear, and the retraction strut for the nose gear.

Not much to say; use superglue to assemble; they fit perfectly, and impress with strength and “peace of mind” with attaching wheels/tires to the axles.

As usual, SAC landing gear are an excellent investment. The Harrier, in particular, is noteworthy for having the fragile plastic gear on most kits breaking off during handling; not so with SAC gear!

Thanks again to Ross and SAC for continuing their line of strong metal gear!

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Eduard
MSRP
$9.95

Eduard Models is releasing some very useful tools for the modelers, like this glue applicator, dropper or kapátko (probably in Czech as it is written in the package).

This photoetch fret has a total of 10 applicators. The “jaws” in the applicator comes in two sizes, small and smaller glue drop. The two sizes of drops make this tool useful for different scales or different applications. Each applicator has its own engraved grip for better handling.

I can see this tool being extremely useful while working with photoetch parts (from Eduard, what else!) and it would prevent that ‘blob’ of superglue that we all have dealt with in our builds.

Highly recommended.

I would like to thank Eduard and IPMS/USA for the review sample.

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

One in a series of kits featuring “office furniture”, this kit is rather easy to assemble, goes together very well, and provides a bit of fun. The kit provides pieces for two tables and four chairs. There is nothing difficult about this kit and I found myself chuckling out loud at least twice as I assembled the parts. Total build time was about 30 minutes.

Hasegawa advertises that this kit does not require glue, and I found that to be true. I took the time remove the nubs after removing the parts from the sprues, but that was more out of habit than necessity.

One gets parts sufficient for four chairs and two tables. The fit is excellent and assembly is very quick and easy. The table surfaces are “brown” as are the seats and chair backs. The tubing for the chairs and tables is gray.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$42.99

History

The twin engine fighter/bomber type of aircraft was a very popular design with the Luftwaffe during WWII. The Me 410 was a late war development of this concept and proved very versatile. The 1st versions were equipped as light bombers, while later variants moved more towards the destroyer style of aircraft. The B-6/R-2 had a Zaunkonig surface search radar array mounted in the nose for anti-shipping raids.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
Scale
1/20
MSRP
$32.49

Background

This is the second Moebius Models kit based on the monster art of Von Franco, a self-taught American artist associated with the Lowbrow art movement and Kustom Kulture. Von Franco’s skill at drawing hot rod and monster art follows in the art style of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Von Dutch.

The inspiration for this kit is Von Franco’s caricature monster painting Stoned Hoods & Crooks. The challenge of this kit is not in the build, but in painting the model in the cartoonish style of the box art. If you ever wanted to paint a fluorescent orange model piloted by a lime green monster driver with bloodshot eyes, then this is your kit!