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Bill O'Malley

IPMS Number
46473

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Front Cover

2025 Catalog, Plastic Model Kits & Acrylic Paints

Published:
Book Author(s): ICM
Company: ICM

My first two impressions of ICM's 2025 catalog:

  1. The high-quality photographs and printing of the book.
  2. The huge number and diversity of model kits produced by ICM. ICM continues to produce their high quality, detailed kits, despite the turmoil that exists in their home country of Ukraine. ICM is one of my favorite scale model manufacturers and I have enjoyed building many of their kits.

The 2025 Catalog is 92 pages (51 pages PDF) of high-quality photos of ICM’s range of kits. The variety of kits produced by ICM is amazing. The photos and printing of the catalog is very high quality. The catalog cover is printed on matte paper, but the image has a gloss finish, like an applied decal. Nice!

The catalog is organized in the following sections:
Packaging

Grex Genesis.XSi3 ES Airbrush Set

Published:
Company: Grex USA

GREX’s Genesis.XSi3 ES is a dual action gravity fed airbrush with an external cup that can be installed on either side of the brush. This set included a traditional top button trigger rather than a pistol style trigger.

The Essential Set comes with a 0.3 MM nozzle and a 7 ml side cup with lid, quick-fit magnetic nozzle, and needle. A magnetic cap snaps to the front of the brush to protect the exposed needle and can be removed for cleaning. The magnetic cap can also be stored on the back of the rear handle when not in use. A small wrench is also included.

The quick start guide offers tips for ways to hold the airbrush, how to install the quick fit needle caps, how to install cups and bottles, and how to seat the needle.

Brush Trigger Operation

The top button… more
Packaging

Instant Glue and Tips

Published:
Company: Green Stuff World

Instant Glue from Green Stuff World is a single component cyanoacrylate glue that is advertised to set in 5–10 seconds. In my use, I found the glue to set almost instantaneously. The glue is best used with dissimilar materials including plastic, photoetch, rubber, metal, wood, and ceramics. When dispensed, the adhesive quickly reacts with the moisture in the air, so drying time is affected by humidity. In drier climates, the glue will take longer to set. The glue sets so quickly that I found it best to hold the parts together in the correct position and then apply the glue. Applying glue to the parts and then placing them does not allow any time for positioning. The CA glue seems strong as I did not have any problems with photoetch parts coming loose after the glue set.

The… more
Fairchild A-10 A/C Thunderbolt II

Fairchild A-10 A/C Thunderbolt II

Published:
Book Author(s): Nicolas Deboeck
Company: HMH Publications

From the Back Cover

The A-10 was specifically developed as a close air support aircraft, and a replacement for the A1 Skyraider. The intended mission of the A-10 decided the looks of the aircraft: the forward fuselage was built around the avenger gun, while the cockpit was placed in a titanium armored tub. The engines were placed high on top of the fuselage and the wings equipped with a lot of pylons in order to take a huge weapons load. Some have suggested several times to retire the almost 50 year old jet, but soldiers on the ground have repeated that it is a lifesaver.

This is the 30th book in the Duke Hawkins series of aircraft Photobooks from HMH publications. The book includes very high-quality photos of almost every detail of the… more
Paint Chart

Chrome Paints Set

Published:
Company: Green Stuff World

Green Stuff World describes these chrome metal paints as a hydroalcoholic paint that imitates the appearance of chrome plating. Done correctly, these paints are easy to use and create the best chrome finish I’ve seen from a paint.

There are six bottles included in this set.

  • Antique gold chrome metal
  • Bronze, chrome metal
  • Gold chrome metal
  • Copper metal.
  • Tin plate, chrome metal
  • Chrome metal.

The paints come in a 17 mL .57 fluid-ounce bottle with a dripper spout. The spouts are sealed so they must be drilled open before using. GSW says to thin the paints with alcohol if required.

For the paint tests, I sprayed each color over a Tamiya gloss black base. GSW does not mention a requirement for the black base, but I… more
GSW Rust Pigments

Rust Liquid Pigments

Published:
Company: Green Stuff World

Green Stuff World’s Liquid Pigments are described as weathering filters with a powdered finish, no fixer required. The liquid pigments come in .57 fluid ounce bottles with a dripper cap. This rust set of colors included

  • 2286 orange rust
  • 2287 light rust
  • 2288 medium rust
  • 2289 dark rust
  • 2290 verdigris
  • 2291 turquoise oxide

My usual method for working with dry pigments is to apply the pigment by dropping onto the surface or applying with a dry brush. The excess pigment is then blown off, and the remainder worked in with a dry brush. The dry pigment is then left as is, or a liquid pigment fixture is applied in more exposed areas. I will also mix dry pigments with water into a thin, certain slurry that is applied by brush. When… more
Package

Weathering Sticks

Published:
Company: Green Stuff World

Green Stuff World Weathering Sticks are disposable sponge paint brushes that can be used to create stipple effects on models, similar to using bits of a sponge dipped in paint. The weathering sticks are like a pencil and in a much easier to use form than bits of sponges. The sponge material is enclosed in a white plastic sleeve, and the sponge can be pulled out and cut off to provide a new surface. The sponge can also be cut to different shapes to create different effects.

The weathering sticks come in two sizes, 8mm and 15mm. The 15mm size comes two to a package and the 8mm comes 3 to a package.

I use the sponge technique a lot when weathering models and I find these sponge sticks to be very convenient. The sponge can be pulled out of the tube slightly as paint dries and… more
Box front

American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 1918

Published:
Company: ICM

This box contains a compilation of several kits ICM previously issued individually. Included are 3 World War I vehicles and 2 figure sets. Most of the kits have previously been individually reviewed by IPMS USA:
Box front

Ford GT40 Mk.II ’66, Part 3, Engine

Published:
Company: Meng Model, Trumpeter

This Part 3 of the review of Meng’s GT40 Mk.II ’66 focuses on the engine and engine compartment of the GT40. A comparison is also made to the Trumpeter version of the GT40.

Ford GT40 Mk.II ‘66

Developed by the Ford Motor Company and Carroll Shelby to end the dominance of Ferrari in the preeminent 24 Hours of LeMans race, the Ford GT40 Mk.II become an iconic American built race car. After failing to finish the race in 1965, the Ford GTs finished 1-2-3 in 1966 to win at Le Mans in a humiliating loss for Ferrari. This also ended Ferrari's five-year-long dominance of this race.

Meng’s GT40 Kit

This MENG RS-002 Ford GT40 Mk.II ’66 is a large 1/12 scale model kit officially licensed by Ford Motor Company. The kit includes complete suspension system, power… more
Package

Military Provisions

Published:
Company: Hauler

Hauler is a Czech Republic company that produces high quality resin & photo-etched sets for AFVs, airplanes, cars, railway vehicles, accessories for dioramas and resin kits. Their products are available online or in the US from UMM-USA or from Stevens International through your local hobby shop.

The military provisions set includes various food supplies including wine bottles, several crates with various vegetables, a sack of potatoes, several wicker baskets, several bread loaves, cheese loaf, a ham, and several meats & sausages. The parts are crisply molded in resin with very nice detail. All the parts are attached to pour blocks that will need to be carefully… more