US WWII Load Cart

Published: February 9, 2016
Company: Aires Hobby Models

Aerobonus has provided another addition to the great Diorama releases with this US WWII load cart. These were used to manually transport single bombs to the aircraft on Aircraft Carriers and also airfields.

The detail quality is great, there minimal flash or other imperfections. The parts once removed from the mold base are ready to assembly. The small parts are very delicate and you must take extreme care when removing from the mold base. I had a big problem with the four small grab handles which all broke and I had to replace them with wire ones I made.

The Assembly is quick and easy. The final part is painted yellow and looks great as an addition to any diorama.

Thanks go to Aires for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for… more

Spitfire Mk.XVI Bubbletop - ProfiPACK

Published: February 6, 2016
Company: Eduard

This is the latest Eduard Spitfire release and is the Mk.XVI Bubbletop version. This series is great and I have three of the other version in my stash. As this is the ProfiPack version it comes with the additional the Eduard accessories to add the extra details.

In the box is:

• 5 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 photoetched details parts
• 1 mask set
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 instruction booklet

All the sprues are extremely well molded and super fine details we have come to expect from Eduard’s kits.

The kit can be built as any of five versions; you need to decide before commencing the built which you are going to do. I originally was going to do version B but as explained later I ended up finishing… more

SM.01 Fish Submarine

Published: February 6, 2016
Company: Rinaldi Studio Press

I have several of the Rinaldis Tank Art books and they are great guide books so I was looking forward to this one on the Industria Mechanika Fichten Foo’s Fantastical Fish Shaped Submarine. I love the Industria Mechanika products and all things Steam Punk/ Diesel Punk.

Unlike the standard Tank Art book format and size this book is small and compact only 6.5” x 7.5”, which is a great way to show it’s for a single subject. I love this concept and look forward to more of these from Rinaldi. Even the look and feel of the paper in the book gives it a vintage feel!

As soon as I open the book I was impressed. This book has all the great methods and style that Rinaldi has put into the great Tank Art books. The graphics are perfect and enhance the whole enjoyment of the book.… more

Mirage III E Interior Detail Set

Published: February 5, 2016
Company: Eduard

Eduard continues to release great photoetch sets this is no exception. This is for the Kinetic Mirage IIIE. This set adds a lot of missing detail to the cockpit that really add to the kit.

The photoetch parts are for the:

• Seat
• Instrument panel
• Canopy details

In the packet is:

• 2 x photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a must have set for the Kinetic kit as it makes it into a great model with all you need to improve the detail of this aircrafts cockpit. The instruments are great and make the cockpit very impressive.

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

Mirage III E Exterior Set

Published: February 4, 2016
Company: Eduard

Another very nice photoetch set this time for the Kinetic Mirage III E kit. This set adds a lot of extra detail to the exterior of the kit.

The photoetch parts are for the:

• Engine exhaust details
• Air brakes
• Landing gear doors
• Landing gear bays

In the packet is:

• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a must have set for the Kinetic Mirage kit as it makes it into a great model with lot of additional exterior details for this aircraft. I really think the exhaust detail alone is worth getting this set for.

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

Gloster Gladiator, Limited Edition

Published: January 27, 2016
Company: Eduard

Eduard has issued this kit based on the Roden model kit with the additional the Eduard accessories.

In the box is:

• 6 x light grey sprues
• 1 clear sprue
• 1 photoetched details parts
• 1 mask set
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 instruction booklet

All the sprues are well-molded, although there is some flash and a few sink marks which are easily fixed. The detail is very fine and crisp.

The kit can be built as any of eight versions, you need to decide between before commencing the built which you are going to do. I went with Version B, one of the Swedish Volunteer force which was sent to Finland to assist in the winter war against Russia in 1940.

Construction

First, based on the order in the… more

Gladiator Upgrade Set

Published: January 24, 2016
Company: Eduard

Eduard continues to release great photoetch sets for many kits and this is no exception. This is for Eduard’s own Gloster Gladiator kit 1145. This set adds a lot of missing detail that really adds to the kit. The photoetch parts are for the:

• Cockpit sidewalls
• Internal guns
• A complete seat
• Cockpit doors
• Control surfaces
• Cowling hinges
• Exterior parts
• And a few more

In the packet is:

• 1 photoetch sheet
• 1 instruction sheet
• Summary

This is a must have set for the Eduard kit as it makes it into a great model with all you need to super-detail the aircraft. The only issue I found was that the seat was not easy to install.

Thanks go to… more

Street Lamps

Published: December 31, 2015
Company: Hauler

This Hauler set allows you to make two nice 1930’s European style Street lamps.

In the box is:

• 3 x Resin groups of parts
• 1 x Photo Etch sheet
• 1 x Film sheet
• 1x Instruction sheet

The parts are all is very crisp and well molded with great detail.

Construction

The build starts by removing the excess resin from all the resin parts using a razor saw.

The next stage is the main body of the street lamp. Then the Photo Etch lamp top which is a little tricky and need to be annealed before bending to shape.

Summary

These would be an excellent little addition to any diorama.

Thanks go to Hauler for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them… more

Japanese Steel Pillbox

Published: December 31, 2015
Company: Hauler

Hauler has produced a nice World War Two Japanese Pre-fabricated Steel Pillbox. These were mainly used on Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll. They had two internal levels, the upper was an observation area where the top opened to give a higher view. The lower area had to machine gun ports, a small arms port and a door. This is a very nice resin set.

In the box is:

• 1 x Resin Pillbox
• 1 x Photo Etch sheet
• 1x Instruction sheet

The Pillbox is very crisp and well molded with great detail.

Construction

The build starts by removing the excess resin form the lower part of the pillbox using a razor saw. The next stage is the Photo Etch gun port shutters. The one thing missing from the kit was the door which these Pillboxes… more

Blohm & Voss BV-40 ,,R” German Rocket Powered Fighter (Project)

Published: December 31, 2015
Company: Brengun

Brengun has produced a very nice proposed German Aircraft design by Blohm & Voss based on the all wooden construction of the BV-40 Glider of which several prototypes were flown in 1944. The detail and high quality of this product is very good and the sprue also includes the Glider fuselage.

In the box is:

• 1 x light brown Sprue
• 1 x clear Sprue
• 1 x Photo Etch sheet
• 2 x Resin Rockets and launch rack
• 1 x Decal sheet
• 1x Instruction sheet

All the sprues are well molded with no flash at all.

The detail is very fine and crisp for such a small aircraft.

Construction

The build start with the cockpit which is nice for the scale, the pilot flew this aircraft in the prong position.… more