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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Iliad Design has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the Korean War MiG-15s. This is an improved version of the decals versus their original set of MiG-15s with an additional new scheme and an expanded set of instructions.
This 1/48th scale decal sheet covers eight schemes:
The non-profit UK-based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes its journal, Cross & Cockade International, four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 80 pages plus centerfold] as well as digital copies (or both). A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publishes WWI-themed books, such as the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If you are interested, please register early, as the call has a limited attendance capacity.
This is another value-added set having both decals and masks. The modeler will have an option for how to replicate the demo scheme. For striping this set supplies only the white decals. One heads-up related to the white color; the graphics decals and the striping decals are not an exact color match. The graphics like the hearts on the fuselage strakes appear to be slightly off-white, almost white-grey.
There is a set of masks that can be used for the white striping and a small stripe of the red from the leading edge of the wing up to the nose of the cockpit canopy. Without the red and blue striping as decals the masks may be the better option from this set.
Iliad Design has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the fighters of WWII Operation Rutter. Planes represented are three Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb’s and one Hawker Hurricane Mk. II.
This 1/48th scale decal sheet covers four schemes:
There is one decal sheet provided with all the individual markings for each airplane and this includes the roundels. General aircraft stencils will have to be sourced from somewhere else.
Each plane gets its own side profile illustration (for both sides) and instructions for special paint markings for Operation Rutter.
Mark Proulx has amassed an impressive collection of photographs over the years. His previous work with Eagle Editions has produced the highly successful Wings of the Black Cross series. Now Mark and Eagle Editions have expanded the range with this inaugural volume of Wings of the Allies - The European Air War.
If you're familiar with the Wings of the Black Cross series of books, this is exactly the same format: sturdy laminated cover with high-quality paper on the inside. The book features plenty of original photos and eight color profiles on 36 pages.
Since this book covers the allies, it has American, British, and USSR aircraft included. Of course, P-38s, P-47s, P-51s, as well as Ratas and Yaks are included. On the British side of the house there are Hurricanes, Spitfires, Typhoons and Mosquitoes. The bombers are not forgotten and include Mitchells, B-17s, DB-3s, Marauders, Halifaxes, and A-20 Havocs.
