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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
Hauler
MSRP
$13.25

Hauler has provided another addition to the great Diorama releases from Brengun with this Japanese refueling cart for use with Japanese WW2 Air forces. These were used to manually pump fuel for military logistics operations.

The detail quality is great; there is a lot of easily removable flash and no other noticeable imperfections. The parts once removed from the mold base are ready to assembly. The parts are very delicate parts that need careful removal and added to the assembly.

The Assembly is quick and easy. Please be care cutting the parts as I did find a few air bubbles in the cart frame which did lead to a couple of breaks that need repairing. The Axle is not numbered on the instructions and this is in fact part number 5.

I was a little disappointed that the rubber hose was not including in the kit.

The final part is painted as shown in the box and looks great as an addition to any diorama.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$54.99

First flown in 1963, the HUGHES OH-6 is a light observation helicopter capable of carrying four at cruise speeds of up to 135 knots. The type is also known in the civilian world as the Hughes 500 series. A number of countries used the OH-6 including the Japanese Self Defense Force who used aircraft built under license as the OH-6D by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. That version is represented in this kit.

This is a limited-edition kit and comes in the now common Hasegawa top open box with a photo of the real thing on it. Inside you find high quality parts typical of this company with restrained panel lines and very good fit. Six resin parts are included that consist of antennas and a supplemental tail light assembly.

Book Author(s)
Paul Thomas
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Casemate Publishers
MSRP
$22.95

"The Panzer IV – Panzerkampfwagen IV – was one the foremost German fighting vehicles of the Second World War, and this volume in the TankCraft series is an ideal introduction to it. With detailed captions, text and illustrations the book tells the story of the technical development of the Panzer IV and the numerous variants that went into production. In addition it describes how this vehicle evolved from infantry support to become the backbone of the Panzer units. It was modified and upgunned to face ever-increasing enemy threats, and it proved to be so diverse and effective that it earned a unique tactical role on the battlefield.

Book Author(s)
Alexander Ludeke
Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$17.95

I’ve always been a major fan of Russian armor, and have built an embarrassing number of Russian armor kits over the years. Don’t ask me why. In any case, information for some of the interesting designs the Soviets have come up with over the years can sometimes be a bit sparse on the ground. Research being the vital aspect of modeling that it is, anything new in the field is always welcome.

Pen-and-Sword out of England now offers a lovely resource in their Fact Files series called “Tanks of the USSR 1917-1945” which covers the raw beginnings of the Russian armored forces to the stage where it becomes a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. This book covers everything from the first FT-17 based copies all the way through the heaviest, most formidable tank the world had seen up to that point – the revolutionary JS-3.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$27.00

I must confess a high level of personal modeling interest in well-made accessory sets like this. As a lover of all things dioramic, I am always on the lookout for fiddly bits that will add that extra level of interest to a scenario in the making. This set is just such an example.