IPMS Number
11198
Gino Dykstra
Reviews By Author
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WWII RAF CadetsPublished: June 29, 2021 ICM continues with its growing tradition of providing suitable pilots for its newest 1/32nd releases, in this case the Tiger Moth training aircraft. Like most ICM figure sets, this one is comprised of four figures – three RAF cadets and an officer/trainer. One cadet is trying on a parachute harness while his classmates look on. This is a very simple set of figures to assemble, as there is only… more |
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Eastern Front Volume 1 (Camouflage and Decals)Published: January 26, 2022 Talk about a modeler’s reference. This slim, 40-page volume consists of little more than profiles of vehicles used on the Eastern Front during World War 2. What writing there is (in both Polish and English) is used mainly to provide a little information on the vehicles shown. A decal sheet – not surprisingly heavy on the Polish markings - is also included to make it easier to duplicate a… more |
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CR. 42AS WWII Italian Fighter-BomberPublished: May 24, 2021 I’ll admit it – I’m totally hooked on ICM’s line of 32nd scale aircraft. In just the last couple of years they’ve managed to produce exceptional models of some of my dream kits – aircraft I’ve always loved and wished they were made in my favorite scale. ICM has released yet another version of one of these dream models – the ground attack version of the incredibly elegant CR… more |
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The Danish Army of the Napoleonic Wars 1801-1814 Volume 2: Cavalry and ArtilleryPublished: May 15, 2021 As a figure modeler for roughly half a century, I’d like to think I know a wee bit about the Napoleonic Wars. And yet, up until recently I really had no idea that the Danes were much involved in that series of scuffles until I sat down with this little volume. Although the author David Wilson doesn’t dwell a great deal on Denmark’s direct involvement, apparently Denmark joined sides with… more |
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Ju EF-126/Ju EF-127 German Experimental Fighter PlanePublished: May 2, 2021 Toward the end of World War 2, the Germans were coming up with more and more desperate attempts to halt the U.S. and British aerial juggernaut that was daily pummeling their cities and the remnants of their industrial capacity. Cheap, easily assembled point defense weapons became the order of the day, resulting in such oddities as the Me163 Komet rocket fighter and the He162 Salamander, both… more |
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CR.42 LW with German PilotsPublished: April 19, 2021 ICM has lately really gotten into making combo kits, and this one, which combines their excellent CR. 42 Night Raider with their equally excellent German pilots set, is one of the latest. I will review each item separately, so let’s start with the airplane. As most of you already know, the Italian CR. 42 biplane was perhaps one of the most elegant aircraft of its day. Late in the war,… more |
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Gloster Gladiator Mk. 1 with British Pilots in Tropical UniformPublished: March 14, 2021 Gloster’s elegant Gladiator biplane was a staple of the British Air Force through the 1930’s and soldiered on through some of the tougher early campaigns of the Second World War in such places as Egypt, Libya and the Maltese Islands. Battling against often superior and newer opponents, it nonetheless distinguished itself before itself being replaced by newer, faster, and more heavily armed… more |
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WWII French Tank CrewPublished: March 13, 2021 ICM continues to please with their latest figure offering – three French tank crewmen showing off their pride and joy to a couple of typically bedazzled kids. Not surprisingly, the sculpting is first-rate, with distinctive character to every face. As the figures don’t come with a lot of equipment, assembly is very straight-forward with no real glitches. A wee bit of putty here and there is… more |
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Les Suisses au Service de la France 1715-1820Published: February 27, 2021 I didn’t really know this, but the Swiss have a long and distinguished history of serving as mercenaries in other country’s armies, especially France, from as far back as the Late Middle Ages all the way through the Age of Napoleon and beyond. The last vestige of this type of Swiss service remains in the Swiss guards at the Vatican today. In some ways, these mercenaries were the harbingers of… more |
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Les Italiens de L’Emperur: Les Armées de la Péninsule Italienne 1800-1815Published: February 27, 2021 I’ll be the first to admit it – I’m getting hooked on these Heimdal uniform books. Any dedicated figure modeler is well aware of the fact that the period roughly 1790 – 1815 constitutes the highlight of colorful uniforms worn by any belligerents in any war, before or since. The development of coal tar dyes led to the creation of a bewildering range of bright colors, almost immediately employed… more |