ICM has been releasing quality kits, figure sets, and recently paints to support their vast library of releases. This is a new sort of release for me as included in the card stock envelope are sheets of decals that the modeler can use to add unit patches, shoulder boards, and ribbons to your Ukrainian 1/35 figures, as well as digital camouflage for the Kozak-2 models in their line. The cover art of the envelope lists the set has 468 combat unit patches of AFU, 56 patches of AFU, 34 shoulder boards, and 2 sheets of decals for the Kozak-2. For a little bit of bling, the set comes with a Ukrainian patch as well.
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OKB Grigorov is a modeling company headquartered in Bulgaria. They do 3D printing, resin and photo etch items. Their inventory includes complete kits, track sets, figures and detail sets. I have now built two of their resin kits and have found them to be of the highest quality. There is no flash, no huge molding blocks to remove and the detail is very finely executed. Don’t go here looking for another Panzer IV or Tiger kit as they specialize in some rather esoteric subjects.
The subject of this review is their 1/72 scale kit of the U.S. Honest John missile. This was the first missile the U.S. produced capable of delivering an atomic warhead, although it could also carry a conventional one. It was ballistically “guided”, launched from a truck-mounted launching rail and was used by numerous countries, only coming out of the front-line U.S. inventory in 1983.
According to the publisher’s website, the aim of the FlightCraft series “is to provide model makers and aircraft enthusiasts with a new standard of primarily visual reference to both full-size aircraft and their models, using detailed line drawings, plans, profiles and photographs, many in full colour. The series will provide colour references for paint schemes, summaries of design histories and careers, and critical reviews of available kits. ..The series will provide varied coverage across a range of different criteria, showcasing the best of the world's aircraft types and providing invaluable insight and guidance to model makers.”
I have quite a few of this series, now up to 32 in number, and, on the whole, they do what that statement of intent says. Some, however, are better than others.
Casemate Publishing is distributing Helion & Company’s 6th installment of their series “War in Ukraine”. This series is part of their “Europe at War” collection. “War in Ukraine” covers all aspects of the current conflict in Ukraine, like air warfare, drone warfare, armored vehicles or specific battles. This book is focused on the opening moves of air warfare in Mar-April of 2022.
Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a 1/48th scale detail set for the Yak 1/3/7/9 wing fuel gauges. This is a generic set that will work on any Yak 1/3/7/9 airplane kit.
In the Package
The fuel gauge detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with one photoetched fret. The parts come packaged in an individual Ziploc bag and cardboard backing which also has instructions printed on it. Assembly is required to install the bezel to the gauge face, and you will need to reference the instructions to determine the correct gauge for a particular Yak variant. I would also recommend adding a drop Clear Gloss (like Future or clear UV resin) on the gauge once the bezel is installed to give it a glassed in look.
Conclusions
Overall, this is a nice detail set to upgrade your 1/48th scale WWII Yak kit. The close-up picture shows off the small detail printed on the PE parts and the fidelity at such a small size is amazing.