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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
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Modelling
MSRP
$7.00

Scale Aircraft Modelling is an excellent monthly publication focusing on modeling scale aircraft. Averaging just under 100 pages, SAM is filled with build articles featuring some of the newer kits on the market, as well as projects based on old favorites. Printed on glossy paper in full color, this magazine is a treasure chest of information about modeling techniques as well as a great source of information on new products.

The cover article in this issue is entitled, “Kaleidoscope Cod” referring to the Kinetic C-2 Greyhound. Mike Williams does an absolutely stunning job on the C-2. The article includes a list of additional items used in the project, which paints produced the beautiful paint job, and those weathering agents which Mike used. The article is a great resource for anyone attempting the C-2.

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$18.95

Three riders on horseback, swords drawn with the colors flying, charging into battle. All sculpted by A. Gagarin, and Master Box has added another fine set of figures to an already impressive list. Molded in a light tan color, the semi-soft plastic is flash-free and needs only minor clean up. The set features three mounted figures on the attack with full combat gear. Each horse and figure has around 15-20 parts that fit nicely and is well balanced.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this to any modeler or Civil War buff. My thanks to Dragon Models USA and Master Box for the kit, and IPMS for the opportunity to review another fine product.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.99

For those who stay up on the latest US Navy aircraft, we have all heard of the evolution of the classic Hornet into the all new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. As with any aircraft, it’s undergone several updates even within its short service thus far. One of the areas that has been updated is the infamous Environmental Control System (ECS) exhaust. Several iterations of design have been tried before the exhaust ports settled on the BARD stacks. With the early vents came insulation blankets installed behind the vents as a stopgap solution to the skin damage that was happening aft of the vents. Now, all Super Hornets from Lot 28 and up have the newer stacks built in during assembly, with modifications starting to be retrofitted on earlier jets. Several kits have hit the market within the last several years, some better than others.

Review Author
Andy Renshaw
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.50

The Mark-77 bomb (MK 77) air-dropped incendiary bomb contains a fuel gel mix that is similar to napalm, but different in that it is kerosene-based rather than gasoline-based. Of course, its effects are similar to napalm, thus the term is used generically to describe the Mk-77 even though it technically is not napalm. The Mk-77 is the primary incendiary weapon used by the US, and has been used in both Operation Desert Storm and recent operations in OIF/OEF. One of the main uses during Desert Storm was to ignite the miles of oil filled trenches being used as barricades by Iraq against collation forces.

The primary fusing system consists of the igniter Mk-273 Mod 0 with the M918 fuse, or the initiator Mk-13 (igniter Mk-273 Mod 1 with the Mk-343 fuse). The Mk-77 Mod 4 also has provisions in the nose and tail for an alternate fusing system using the AN-M173A1 fuse and AN-M23A1 igniter.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$18.00
  • Spitfire Decals Part 3, 72-023, $18.00
  • Spitfire Decals Part 4, 72-024, $18.00
  • Hurricane Decals Part 1, 72-025, $18.00

The first Lifelike Decals sheet, Spitfire Pt. 3, provides decals for four Mk. V aircraft, and historical backgrounds for each aircraft. The aircraft depicted are:

  1. Spitfire Mk. Vb, AD196, Sgt. Jack Evans, No. 71 (Eagle) Sqdn, Debden, Aug. 1942
  2. Spitfire Mk. Vb or Vc. Serial unknown, F/O James Montgomery, 4FS/52 FG, USAAF, Sicily, 1943.
  3. Spitfire Mk. Vb, EN824, P/O John Yarra, No. 453 (Australian) Sqdn., Martlesham Heath, December, 1942
  4. Spitfire Mk. Vb, ER821, F/L Neville Duke, No. 92 Sqdn., Libya, 1943.

There are enough roundels for one RAF and one USAAF aircraft, although the other markings are provided for all four aircraft. You’ll need extra roundels for this one.