Se.5a Wolseley Viper Landing Gear

Published: October 31, 2017
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

This is a white metal landing gear set is to for the Eduard Se.5a Wolseley Viper 1/48 aircraft.

The white metal parts are outstanding and are a great replacement for the already well details kit parts. The parts include the main two struts and support struts plus the rear wheel assembly.

The parts are well cast, the parts were a perfect fit to the existing mount and were a dream to assemble.

I highly recommend these parts are a great addition to an already extremely well detailed kit.

Thanks go to Scale Aircraft Conversions for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

OS2U Kingfisher Landing Gear

Published: October 31, 2017
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

This is a white metal landing gear set for the Kittyhawk 1/32 OS2U Kingfisher aircraft.

The white metal parts are outstanding and are a great replacement for the already well details kit parts. The parts include the main two struts and support struts plus the rear wheel assembly.

The parts are well cast, the parts were a perfect fit to the existing mount and were a dream to assemble.

I highly recommend these parts are a great addition to an already extremely well detailed kit.

Thanks go to Scale Aircraft Conversions for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Hubble Space Telescope with Space Shuttle Orbiter and Astronauts Limited Edition

Published: October 16, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

This is a re-issue of an older kit, with this being a Limited edition kit featuring a new display stand, Hubble, Shuttle, and three resin astronauts. It is an excellent kit in the Hasegawa range and is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the box is:

• 2 x black sprues
• 2 x white sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 clear blue stand
• 1 grey sprue
• 1 chrome
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 wire
• 1 stand thick curved wire
• 1 instruction booklet

The sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and great detail. The decals allow you to finish the shuttle in three different shuttles.

Construction

Stage 1 Assembly begins with the fuselage and… more

Fokker (ProfiPack Edition) German WWI Fighter

Published: October 5, 2017
Company: Eduard

Eduard has re-released this kit from 2008 as a ProfiPack of the Fokker Dr.1 with markings for six versions included in the Aircraft.

In the box is;

• 3 x light grey sprues
• 1 film sheet
• 1 large decal sheet
• 1 mask sheet
• 1 photoetch detail set
• 1 instruction booklet

The kit consists of 3 main sprues, the sprues are extremely well molded with a little flash but great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft in two different versions with 6 markings to choose from.

Construction

First is the construction of the interior which is well detailed. Photo Etch helps a lot to make this a very impressive cockpit. The fuselage halves joint perfectly.

Next, you join the middle wing… more

Roland C.II (ProfiPack Edition)

Published: September 26, 2017
Company: Eduard

Eduard has re-released this kit from 2009 as a ProfiPack of the Roland C.II with markings for four new versions including in the aircraft.

In the box is:

• 3 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 2 x decal sheet
• 1 mask sheet
• 2 x photoetch detail set
• 1 instruction booklet

While you get 3 main sprues, the sprues are extremely well molded with a little flash but great detail. The decals allow you to finish the aircraft in four different versions.

Construction

First is the construction of the interior, which is well detailed. Photoetch helps a lot to make this a very impressive cockpit and rear compartment when complete. I will point out that you need to be careful when installing parts to… more

Tinplate Toy Cars of the 1950's & 1960's from Japan "The Collectors Guide"

Published: September 19, 2017
Book Author(s): Andrew Ralston
Company: Veloce Publishing

This book is a general collector’s guide to classic Tinplate toy cars from the 50’s and 60’s made in Japan. It covers cars from a classic era of tinplate toy cars and covers all the major companies and countries they were sold in. The book shows the most known and collectables of the time period. The book has great pictures and lots of detailed information. This book brought lots of memories back to me as a kid getting a few of the cars shown in the book as birthday and or Christmas gifts from my family. The book may have a limited audience but I for one loved it!

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in tinplate cars from Japan and also all those who, like me, was a kid during the 50’s or 60’s.

Thanks to Veloce Publishing for providing this book to review… more

Crane Ruger H-3D

Published: August 22, 2017
Company: Plusmodel

This is another great unusual subject from Plus Models which is a super addition to a diorama of any sort.

This resin kit of the Ruger H-3D Crane (Engine hoist) used in all types of maintenance shops Military or civil. The kit is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the box is:

• 31 resin parts
• 1 small photoetch sheet
• 1 metal chain
• 1 brass wire
• 1 instruction sheet

All the parts are all very well detailed with only a few bubble mark defects.

Construction

The build is a little difficult and fiddley at times. I found an issue in the build with a few air bubbles that needed filling. Also a few of the part numbers were missed from the instructions,… more

Diecast Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s "The Collectors Guide"

Published: August 22, 2017
Book Author(s): Andrew Ralston
Company: Veloce Publishing

The book is a general collectors guide to classic Diecast toy cars. It covers cars from a classic era of toy cars and covers all the major companies and countries where they were made. The book shows the most known and collectables of the time period. The book has great pictures and lots of detailed information. This book brought lots of memories back to me as a kid getting many of the cars shown in the book as Birthday and or Christmas gifts from my family. The book may have a limited audience but I for one loved it!

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in Diecast cars and also all those who, like me, was a kid during the 60’s or 50’s.

Thanks go to Veloce Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them

Clarktor Towing Tractor

Published: July 10, 2017
Company: Videoaviation

This resin kits is of the standard US Tow Tractor used on airfields from the beginning of WWII to the 1950’s. This is such a nice addition to any airfield diorama. The kit represents the factory basic version as delivered these were customized a lot so you can modify it to suit any reference material you have. The kit is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the box is:

• 35 resin parts
• 1 plastic rod
• 1 instruction booklet

All the parts are all very well details with no defects. Once the parts are removed from the base parts they are extremely well molded with no flash or bubbles.

Construction

The build is very easy and is made up of 12 steps. I had no issues with the build… more

"Canadian Corps Soldiers versus Royal Bavarian Soldiers" - Combat 25

Published: June 28, 2017
Book Author(s): Stephen Bull; Illustrator: Adam Hook
Company: Osprey Publishing

This book tells the story of the Canadian Corps during 1917 when it battled against the distinguished Royal Bavarian Army. These battles started at Vimy Ridge through to Passchendaele.

The book is very nicely illustrated with great photos and many illustrations commissioned for the book. The details of the combat action, preparations, and the outcomes are very well written and help you understand the period and hardships of these battles. The book contains many extracts from personal diaries and reports from the time by commanders and foot soldier’s alike. I learned a lot from this book and look forward to more from this series from Osprey.

I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in WWI. It has some wonderful pictures that are great for modeler’s as well for… more