IPMS Number
33653

Reviews By Author

Box Cover

Lockheed F-35B Lightning II

Published: March 13, 2024
Company: Tamiya America

Tamiya follows it 1/48th F-35A Lightning kit with a new and very updated 1/48th F-35B. I have been lucky enough to review both. The F-35A Review is here: https://reviews.ipmsusa.org/review/f-35a-lightning-ii-4

For this review, I will focus on the differences between the two kits.… more

Box Art

Russian 9P149 Launching Vehicle w/9K114 Shturm-S

Published: March 11, 2024
Company: Trumpeter

The 9P149 is a tank destroyer of Soviet origin and in this example, it is a vehicle carrying radio guided anti-tank system designated 9K114 Shturm which uses the 9M114 Kokon (Cocoon) missile. Same missile as used by the Mi-24 helicopter.

The kit comes in standard gray plastic in 15 gray sprues, two clear sprues, decals and 2 photoetch frets. Total is 790 parts many of which are very tiny… more

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HH-60J Jayhawk Conversion

Published: March 11, 2024
Company: Werners Wings

Floyd Werner and Werner Wings produces wonderful aftermarket and decals primarily (but not wholly) aimed at helicopters. That not surprising as that was what Floyd’s does- fly helicopters. This set consists of parts and decals to convert the Kitty Hawk 1/35th scale HH-60H to the Coast Guard version of the HH-60J Jayhawk. Wait, Kitty Hawk is out of business! Zimi Models to the rescue… more

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Heinkel He162 Volksjäger - From Drawing Board to Destruction: The Volksjäger

Published: March 9, 2024
Book Author(s): Robert Forsyth and Eddie J. Creek
Company: Classic Publications

The He-162 Volksjaeger has long been a popular model subject with great kits in all popular scales from Tamiya to Revell to Trimaster. It is an interesting plane and now we have an excellent book documenting the development to deployment to the end of the small jet fighter. Written by Robert Forsyth and Eddie J. Creek, this is a wonderful book with great profiles, pictures and information on… more

Iliad Design P-38J Decals

P-38J Decals

Published: November 28, 2023
Company: Iliad Design

Iliad Designs makes a bunch of decals with really great schemes in all the popular scales. The object of this set is the P-38J with several kits being available. I had a Tamiya kit looking for some markings so I jumped at the chance to review the decals.

Inside the package there is a single sheet of well printed decals with two full color instructions sheets with profiles of the plane… more

HAD Decals F-14A VF-41 Black Aces

F-14A VF-41Black Aces Decals

Published: November 28, 2023
Company: HAD Models

HAD Models is a group out of the Budapest Hungary and specializes in decals and masking sets for aircraft kits in the all-major scales from 1/144 to 1/35. They range from WWII to modern era planes. This set is in 1/48th scale and covers F-14A’s from the VF-41 Black Aces. Markings are included for seven unique planes:

  • Fast Eagle 106, BuNo 160398 from the Movie Final Countdown… more

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The Scrapyards - Aircraft Salvage Around Davis-Monthan AFB, Vol. 1980’s

Published: November 13, 2023
Book Author(s): Graham Robson
Company: Tempest Books

New from Tempest Publishing is a great book covering the Davis Monthan AFB Scrap yards and this volume focuses on the 1980’s. the book starts with an introduction and Mr. Robson goes into his love of the fields and there is a great overall shot of the many planes stored and dismantled there.

One of the first things I learned was that there are multiple actual scrapping and recovery… more

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Luftwaffe Search Lights and Range Finding Equipment, Vol. 1

Published: November 13, 2023
Book Author(s): Alan Ranger
Company: Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books

The Camera On series is unique for modelers in that it not a specification/tech manual for the subject under discussion, it is a pictorial study with pictures taken directly from archives and the original prints and detailing visually the subject in question. In this case, the subjects are Luftwaffe Search Lights and Range Finding Equipment, Volume 1.

As an overview, the book contains… more

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CH-54A Tarhe US Heavy Lift Helicopter

Published: July 6, 2023
Company: ICM

When ICM announced and started showing drawings of a new CH-54A Tarhe (more commonly called a skycrane), people were excited and then realized, it was in large, glorious 1/35 scale too. When the opportunity to review it came up, I begged for it and was lucky enough to get the opportunity.

Inside the box are 14 sprues of grey plastic and one sprue of clear. Decals are also included. The… more

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F-35A Lightning II

Published: May 5, 2023
Company: Tamiya

Tamiya caught everyone by surprise with its announcement of a 1/48 F-35A Lightning II. The kit is out now and it is fantastic. Let’s take a look into the box. The sprues are classic Tamiya, perfectly formed with great panel lines, no flash and the great Tamiya plastic. Starting off with the sprues, the top and bottom of the fuselage cover the majority of the fuselage with a total count of nine… more