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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
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$49.95

Eduard has released a great Brassin Engine set for its new tooled Tempest Mk.V which in its self is a great kit. This Brassin set is full of Resin parts and Photo etch sheet.

In the box is:

  • Approx. 77 resin parts
  • 1 photoetch detail set
  • 1 instruction booklet

Construction

Stage A 1 - 4 is the assembly upper part of the engine, the only points to note here are that the location hole in R105 for part R100 is a little too small so needs to be opened out. Also the location hole for Parts 95 and 96 in part R105 is not the same shape so needs work. You will also need some wire to add in at points for various wires, I used very fine soldering wire which is very easy to form to the shapes needed.

Book Author(s)
Adam Wilder
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
AK Interactive
MSRP
$20.00

Having been building models for quite a while, I have seen things progress a lot. And with my over 400 built kits, photoetch still can baffle me like no other modeling medium. So when the opportunity to review this latest book from AK Interactive came along, I jumped on the opportunity to review it. A quick over view shows this is a fairly comprehensive guide with a section dealing with what photoetch is, how its made and what tools you’ll need to work with it. It then progresses to several simple examples and also using colored photoetch and finished with advanced techniques and soldering. Another nice fact is that the book covers aircraft, armor and ships as well as trains and can be easily transitioned into genres.

A quicker review of the Index looks like this:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$140.00

Zoukei-Mura’s latest release in 1/32 scale is the wonderful Ki-45 Toryu (Nick). This twin engine 2-seat, heavy fighter was used by the Japanese Army in WWII. In Part 2, I will get the cockpit and gunner position built and the fuselage assembled.

The cockpit on this kit (like all ZM kits) is a jewel. There are 60 well molded parts with several options depending on which option you are building. The two major changes for Option B (my choice) are that there is no upward firing guns between the pilot and gunner and also, there is no back seat for the rear gunner position. Another note- much of this will not be visible when the build is done unless you use the clear parts.

Construction begins by adding the floorboard and fuel tank to the main wing strut. The front and back cockpit bulkheads are added. This is a phenomenal piece going full width for support of the wings and also includes the landing gear wells also. More on that later.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Croco Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$75.00

History

After Nakajima obtained a production license to manufacture Douglas DC-2 airliners in 1935, the Japanese airlines decided to sponsor the development of a smaller airplane to serve routes that they perceived the DC-2 to be too large for. The result was the development of the AT-1, an eight passenger twin engine aircraft which closely resembled a scaled-down DC-2. The prototype first flew in 1936, and was of all metal construction except for the control surfaces, which were plywood. Power was originally provided by Nakajima Kotobuki 2-1 radial engines of 580 hp. with fixed pitch wooden propellers. Production models used the Kotobuki 41, rated at 710 hp, with variable pitch metal props. These were designation AT-2.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.30

Hauler-Brengun is well known as a supplier of high-quality aftermarket detail parts for aircraft, as well as other subjects. Many of these aftermarket items are resin, P.E., or a combination of the two mediums.

Marketed under the “Brengun” label, this review looks at the Brengun BR48110 WWII British Reflector Gunsight item. There are three gunsight variants included, the RP1, RP2, and RP3 variants.