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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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Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$8.00

As a member of the IPMS/USA Review Corps, I have had the wonderful opportunity to review a few items now from the Polish company Master Model. The topic for this review is a new set designed to upgrade your 1/32 scale Tomcat. Unlike most of the sets that I have reviewed, there is no one recommended kit to use these new parts on, so I compared the items to what Revell, Tamiya, and Trumpeter kits offer in plastic. As I have these kits sitting in my stash, I decided to show how all three big-scale Tomcats can be improved with these new parts.

Book Author(s)
Robert Griffin
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$19.95

This book covers all the Chieftain versions from prototype to mark.11 – that means all the main battle tank versions of this significant AFV from the cold war. The only versions not covered are the special mission vehicles, like the bridge layer and recovery vehicle that are based on the Chieftain chassis.

The book was written by Robert Griffin, who has served in the Chieftain for several years and can provide first-person impressions on its performance and spice up the reading by adding details of crew living conditions in the vehicle.

The book’s breakdown covers:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$34.95

Eduard continues their releases for H-K Models' 1/32 B-25 with an exterior upgrade set which addresses several areas. These include the engine with new wiring to the spark plugs, a crankcase placard, and detailed guards above the cylinders. The wheel wells get detailed with the new bulkheads for the main gear and inside detail for the nose gear door. Lastly, the cowlings get interior detail on the inside of the cooling flaps and doors, as well as detail on the framing.

This set consists of two frets of non-colored PE which have excellent relief. Most of the parts, such as interior door, cooling flap interiors, bulkheads, and engine placard, require no kit modifications. I simply bent the part to shape by pressing and super glued them in place. There were then painted, washed, and dry brushed.

Book Author(s)
Erik Simonsen
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Crecy Publishing, Ltd.
MSRP
$39.95

This book covers 11 different Cold War aircraft; many of which were built and flown but never went into production. All but one aircraft has its own chapter. The book has a striking cover with a very well done fake photo of a production F-108 Rapier approaching a tanker to refuel. This is only a hint of what is to come!

Chapter one discusses the Northrop B-49A and RB-49A. It begins with the development of the flying wing by Northrop and the predecessor of the B-49, the propeller-powered B-35. This continues through development and testing and the reasons for canceling the B-49. The chapter is filled with many wonderful digital prints of B-49s as they would have looked in service. Three that show B-49Ds in Southeast Asia markings still serving beyond the 1960s and RAF examples give the “what-if” modelers many ideas.

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$27.00

History Brief:

This is a “Special Edition” version of the AH-64 as seen during the Iraqi War in 2003. The aircraft was named after the North American Indian nation, the Apache from the southern Great Plains and beyond. Originally manufactured by Hughes Helicopters(1975-1984), then by McDonnell Douglas(1984-1997) and Boeing(1997-present), it was first flown on 30 September 1975, entered service with the US Army in April 1986, and is still on active duty today. The AH-64A features a 4-blade main rotor powered by twin turbine engines, a tandem cockpit, nose mounted sensor suite, upgraded electronic missile equipment system, and a state of the art 30mm (1.2 in) M230 Chain Gun weapon system. When compared to its contemporaries, the Apache is hands-down and by far the most powerful, robust, and sophisticated combat-proven attack helicopter ever devised by man.

The Product: