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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
Phillip Cavender
Published on
July 15, 2016
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$39.99

This kit by Italeri is a rebox of their 2012 Pz. Kpfw. V Panther Ausf. G kit # 6493 with the addition of upgraded moulds, photo-etch fret and new gluable rubber tracks as stated on their website. Let me preface my review by stating that as modelers we do not always follow the instructions step by step. We tend to skip around completing steps in advance while letting previous steps dry or bond. For this build and review, I did indeed skip steps, but I will describe what I found in each step, pros or cons, so the builder will be enlightened as to what needs addressed during the build. I also will not review any historical data pertaining to the Panther tank as I assume the builder will review historical data prior to the build. The Panther tank I will be constructing represents Panther #122 under the command of Oberleutnant Rasim, which was destroyed and knocked out east of Berlin in late April 1945.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
July 15, 2016
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$20.82

Since April of 2013 when Kodakawa games released their free browser game Kantai Collection (aka Kancolle), featuring cute anime girls each of which represent ships from the Second World War IJN, there has been an increased interest in ship modeling in Japan. Tamiya, Hasegawa and Aoshima, have long worked in harmony releasing a sizable number of 1/700 warships represented by the waterline series of kits. These three companies as well as Fujimi are capitalizing on the popularity of the game and anime series by re-releasing many of these kits, as well as creating new kits, with extra decals of the girls as well as game specific box art.

Admittedly, because of the game as well as the anime series, I too have become a bit more interested in ship modeling. After my review of Model Art Advanced 1/700 model (1), why not continue on with number 2.

Again, I was not disappointed.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
July 15, 2016
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$2.38

There are three 1/144 TSR.2s available currently. Great Wall Hobby and Pit Road appear to be the same model in different boxes. I could be wrong here, but I don’t think so. On the other hand, the third 1/144 TSR.2 kit, which I have in my stash is the Kami de Korokoro kit. Since it’s a paper model, I’ve put it off. I’m sure I won’t need a new pitot for the paper plane.

The model I used is the Pit Road kit, in “what if” markings for the Gulf War.

Installation

Installation instructions show 3 steps. I’ve expanded that to 4

Book Author(s)
James Lyman
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
July 14, 2016
Company
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, an Amazon Company
MSRP
$24.95

Thank you to author James Lyman, and to Hill Country Hobby for the sample book. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to review a new independent, self-published book that will be a great resource for many modelers at all skill levels.

This excellent compendium of methods and techniques is produced and published using an independent (indie) publishing house, Create Space, an Amazon Company. I was unable to verify how the book is produced, but Create Space publications are often printed and bound on demand. Wholesalers often receive significant discount on bulk purchases. Modeling clubs, chapters and hobby shops may be able to take advantage of this format and discounts.

Review Author
Timothy Rentz
Published on
July 14, 2016
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$116.00

The Kit

This kit contains the rear fuselage section and outer wing sections of a Horsa glider. It does NOT contain the entire aircraft. When I saw the size of the box, I imagined a complicated kit with a zillion parts. Nothing could be further from the truth. The kit contains 11 sprues, but fewer than 60 parts and assembly is completed in six steps. It includes a clear sprue for a window in the bottom of the fuselage, and a PE fret with two parts. The PE parts are optional and may be used to replace the plastic parts for brackets on the foremost bulkhead. All of the control surfaces including dive brakes are separate and moveable. There are some ejection pin marks on the inside of the flaps, so if you choose to display the kit with the flaps down, you’ll need to fill them. Otherwise, the kit has no issues.