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Book Author(s)
Pobert Peczkowski, illustrations by Teodor Liviu Morosanu
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$18.00

Written by Pobert Peczkowski, with color illustrations by Teodor Liviu Morosanu, this book focuses on the “D” model of the ubiquitous P-51 Mustang. For such a small book, 6 ½ by 9 inches, it packs a powerful punch in its 152 pages of intense coverage of the Mustang.

There are 32 pages of black and white images which cover the development of the “D” and “K” models of the Mustang. A full-color section of 120 pages provides a great deal of “detail” for the modeler who wishes to “up their game” on a Mustang project. Drawings and illustrations are included, and add that extra value that modelers seek when selecting research material.

Bound within the publication are 3-view plans of the “D” in 1/72nd scale, with 1/48th and 1/32nd plans, on folded paper inserted in the book.

A set of excellent full-color profiles are included on the final 28 pages of the book.

Review Author
Al LaFleche
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$29.00

Background

During the 17th through 19th centuries, Grenadiers were considered the shock troops of an army. In addition to their muskets, they were equipped with rudimentary hand grenades. Typically, they were chosen from the tallest recruits for the sake of intimidation, and this was visually increased by the use of tall mitre hats or bearskins. The kit represents an enlisted man from the Dutch Imperial Grenadiers circa 1810. Some quick research in one of my older references, as well as online, shows that this kit indeed represents a Third Dutch Grenadier. This unit was part of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard at Waterloo. The colors recommended in the kit seem to be accurate for an enlisted man. According to Wikipedia, “This regiment was created as the Royal Guard in Holland, when Louis Napoleon, brother to Napoleon, was made King of Holland.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Caracal Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.99

Caracal Models has created an excellent decal set featuring numerous colorful US Navy schemes for Trumpeter's HU-16A Albatoss kit. This decal set also address the biggest deficiency in the Trumpeter kit, the absence of walkway decals. The three decal sheets included in the set are printed by Cartograf, and are accompanied by a color glossy eight-page placement and painting guide. Suggested paints are given in FS numbers. The decal colors are opaque and appear to match the FS equivalents accurately when compared to fan deck chips. The decals are just thick enough, going on easily without tearing and hugging down to the surface quite nicely using Microscale setting solutions. All marking were in perfect registration.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Trumpeter
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$139.95

The wonderful folks at Stevens International Hobby Distributors deserve tremendous thanks for providing this review kit. I appreciate their work to bring new products to the scale modeling community. The IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps also deserves thanks for giving me the kit to review. I am only one member of a large staff in the Reviewer Corps, and I appreciate all the tireless team and individual work that goes into getting the material out to be reviewed and the finished write-ups published.

The Albatross was a common utility amphibian aircraft in the post-WW2 era, carrying a number of designations and operating with the USAF, USN, USCG and many foreign services. The distinctive high-wing, twin-engine plane worked mostly in the search and rescue role, with some examples serving in the unusual triphibian mode with snow-landing capability! Trumpeter provides markings options for two different aircraft, a USAF HU-16A and a Taiwan HU-16A.

Review Author
Randy Robinson
Published on
Company
Aoshima
Scale
1/12
MSRP
$53.00

The Kawasaki Police 1000 is probably one of the most recognizable motorcycles on the planet. The motorcycle has appeared in countless TV shows and Movies. The most notable of which is the TV series CHiP’s, Starring actors Eric Estrada and Larry Wilcox. Adapted in the 1970’s by the California Highway Patrol as a patrol bike, the Kawasaki Z1 quickly gained a reputation as a highly dependable and agile motorcycle. After several improvements and a name change to the KZ1000C1 police version, the bike became a staple in the motor pools of Law Enforcement agencies all across the country. Aoshima has faithfully reproduced the bike in its California Highway Patrol, Las Angeles Division, trim.