BatBoat

Published: May 28, 2017
Company: Round 2 Models

This is a re-issue by Round2 of a kit first released a few years ago by AMT.

This is a kit of the BatBoat from the movie Batman Returns, and featured in the movie climax.

In the box is:

• 1 chrome sprue
• 3 x wing parts
• 1 black sprue
• 1 upper hull section
• 1 lower hull section
• 1 cardboard fold out backdrop (based on scene from the movie)
• 1 instruction booklet

All of the 18 parts are well molded and great detail, the only issue is the large number of ejector pin marks on the rear and side wing parts. The instruction booklet is easy to follow and well-illustrated.

Construction

Stage 1, 2 and 3 is the construction of the Batboat interior and installing it into the lower… more

B-17 E/F Interior Set

Published: May 21, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch Interior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F. This set with three photoetch sheets, two are colored and adds a lot of needed detail to the cockpit and other areas. They really make the cockpit stand out.

In the packet is:

• 2 x colored photoetch sheet
• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for added some great additional details to this massive kit. The cockpit parts really add great additional and replacement details to this kit. I did find some of the small parts were very tricky to add. The set includes lots of additional instrument panels and details. The only advice will give is that there are some additional raised details that need to be removed to allow the… more

B-17E/F Photoetch Set

Published: May 18, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch Interior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F. This set is colored and adds a lot of additional detail to the cockpit and other areas This set adds some nice touches to the cockpit.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a really nice set for the set for a kit that needs it. I do find some of the small parts were very tricky to add to the instrument panel and the levers. Also you do need to remove some more raised details of part number 033 which is not highlighted on the instructions.

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

B-17 E/F Front Interior Set

Published: May 9, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch Interior set to for the Hong Kong Models B-17 E/F Kit number 01E04a. This set with two photoetch sheets one is colored and adds a lot of needed detail to the Nose compartment of the B-17. These parts really add some great additional details to an great kit.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch sheet
• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for the set for a kit that is great to begin with, these parts are an awesome addition.

I did find a few minor issues with the set and also with the main kit instructions;

The sets instructions have an error in the ammo box part numbers and PE part numbers but this is easily overcome by referring to the main kit… more

McDonnell Douglas, F-4e/EJ/F/G/RF-4E Phantom II Striking Colour Schemes

Published: April 19, 2017
Book Author(s): JP Vieira
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

This is a thin book with only 44 pages, but they are very high quality, and full of profile pictures of many striking color schemes used on various air force Phantoms.

The detailed color profiles are a joy to look at and present very unusual F-4E Phantom II camouflage and markings for 15 different aircraft.

I found this book fascinating and will be building at least five of the featured aircraft. This will be a fantastic reference for me to use.

I recommend this book to everyone who likes and or builds Phantom’s

Thanks go to MMP Books for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it.

"Panzergrenadiers to the Front" plus Companion Map Book

Published: February 3, 2020
Book Author(s): A.Stephan Hamilton
Company: Casemate Publishers

The book goes into details of the formation, deployment and combat actions of the Panzergrenadier Division “Brandenburg” on the eastern front on the last few months of World War Two. The hardback book comes with a companion book of all the campaign maps with corresponding references to the book pages and chapters.

This is the first book to take a deep look at the famous Panzergrenadier-Division 'Brandenburg' from its formation and its five-month campaign in the Eastern Front at the end of the Second World War.

'Brandenburg' was created in December 1944 from several burnt-out commando regiments and the remnants of a few conventional units supplied by the Ersatzheer.

The unit fought in some of the most dramatic and relatively unknown late war battles in Poland,… more

Ventura MkII Seatbelt Steel Set

Published: April 4, 2017
Company: Eduard

This is a photoetch steel seatbelt set to for the Revell Ventura MkII which has mold seatbelts and really needs them. This set is colored and also made of steel which means they are better for forming. They are very realistic and accurate and really make the cockpit stand out.

In the packet is:

• 1 colored photoetch steel sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for the set for a kit that needs them. I do find the steel seatbelt the best to form but be careful as the painted surface can peel if you’re not careful.

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

Bf 109G-2 (ProfiPack)

Published: March 23, 2017
Company: Eduard

Eduard has released a new mold of the Bf-109G-2, with markings for versions including in the kit.

In the box is:

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

While you get 5 sprues, you also get plenty of unused (spare) parts, like 3 different propellers, different wheels, some weapons, different rudders, air intakes, oil coolers and even extra canopies, so you should be able to get some “extras” for other 109s in your collection.

All the sprues are extremely well molded with very little flash and great detail; the decals allow you to finish the aircraft in 5 different versions.

Construction

First is the… more

Maschinen Krieger MK 44 Ausf.B Hammerknight

Published: March 9, 2017
Company: Hasegawa

For a long time now I have loved the look of this range of kits and have wanted to build one, so I jumped at the opportunity to build this kit. It is an excellent kit in the Hasegawa Machinen Krieger series. The kit is very easy to build as long as you watch the instruction details carefully.

In the Box

• 11 x red sprues
• 1 beige sprue
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 dark grey vinyl sprue of polycaps
• 1 vinyl/rubber sprue
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 painting guide / collectors card
• 1 instruction booklet
• 1 small correction sheet for the instructions

All the sprues are extremely well molded with no flash and great detail. The decals allow you to finish the Mk 44 in many different ways. The painting… more

Paint Retarder 40ml Bottle

Published: February 3, 2020
Company: Tamiya

Tamiya acrylics can go down grainy in the right conditions (dry atmosphere, high pressure, big distance) & this retarder helps prevent this, it can also help with airbrush dry tip issues.

You mix it in with the paint or you can mix it with the thinner before thinning the paint. It can be used up to a 1:10 ratio with Tamiya Acrylic Paints.

You must remember that like most other retarders, adding too much retarder causes the paint to not dry.

Also, it is ideal for painting glossy finish surfaces and what I found very useful is using it when brushing Tamiya acrylics. As when brushing the paint starts to cure between brush strokes and using a good mix of paint, Tamiya X-20A thinner and Tamiya's Paint this can help prevent the quick drying that normally occurs.… more