Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
July 6, 2016
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$28.99

History Brief

The Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycle was nicknamed the 'Liberator' because it was used by U.S. soldiers liberating occupied Europe. Harley-Davidson began producing the WLA for the U.S. military in 1940, later entry of the United States into World War II saw significantly increased production, with over 90,000 being produced during the war. The US Army motorcycles were used for police and escort work, courier duties and scouting. They were almost never used as combat vehicles or troop mobility, it was a single-rider design and rarely equipped with sidecars commonly found on the German motorcycles.

According to Wikipedia the model designation breaks down as follows:

Review Author
Camden Koukol
Dave Koukol
Published on
July 6, 2016
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.00

Background

Developed in the 1970’s and first fielded in the early 1980’s as the US Air Force’s lightweight multi-role fighter-bomber to replace the F-4 Phantom and A-7D Corsair II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon established itself as one of the most capable, reliable, and cost-effective aircraft in US Air Force history. One of the specialized roles the F-16C inherited from the F-4 was that of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) - in Air Force parlance known as “Wild Weasel.” F-16C Block 50 and 52 aircraft equipped as Wild Weasels began production in 1991, and still serve as USAF’s primary SEAD platform. Since the inception of the Weasel mission in 1965, the unofficial motto of Weasel crews has been “You Gotta Be S(poofin’) Me” (the polite version), or just “YGBSM.”

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$33.00

Background

Designed to fulfill the US Air Force’s 1968 requirement for a lightweight air superiority fighter, the F-15 Eagle has arguably been the most successful and dominant air-to-air fighter since its entry into operational service in 1975. Even after over 40 years of exceptional performance and the emergence of the F-22 Raptor, the F-15 is expected to remain in service well into the 21st Century. To keep F-15s current with latest technology to counter anticipated threats, Multi-Stage Improvement Programs (MSIP) have been undertaken between the USAF and the manufacturer to upgrade aircraft during planned depot maintenance intervals. MSIP II is focused on F-15C/D variants, and features upgrades including addition of AIM-120 AMRAAM capabilities, upgrade of its radar system, and select avionics and communications improvements.

Review Author
Camden Koukol
Dave Koukol
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$20.00

Background

Developed in the 1970’s and first fielded in the early 1980’s as the US Air Force’s lightweight multirole fighter-bomber to replace the F-4 Phantom and A-7D Corsair II, the F-16 Fighting Falcon established itself as one of the most capable, reliable, and cost-effective aircraft in US Air Force history. One of the specialized roles the F-16C inherited from the F-4 was that of Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), in Air Force parlance known as “Wild Weasel.” F-16C Block 50 and 52 aircraft equipped as Wild Weasels began production in 1991, and still serve as USAF’s primary SEAD platform.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
July 6, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

IPMS USA is grateful to Eduard for kindly providing yet another magnificent example of one of their new items to review, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me.

This add-on release is designed for the new and vastly improved 1/48 ME-109 series. This set is to be used on the ME-109G-5. The kit parts provide all that is required to add a properly outfitted -5 to your display, but this cockpit upgrade greatly improves the kit item. Read on…

In the box are parts sufficient to upgrade the kit G-5 cockpit set. The fantastic color instrument panel PE set, along with other items, dresses-up the resin side panels and floorboard. Beginning with the floor, you are provided breech cover options for the 20MM or 30MM “through the driveshaft” cannon; also included are detailed brake cylinders, and PE rudder/brake pedals along with foot-retention straps.