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Luke R. Bucci, PhD

Luke built all kinds of models starting in the early '60s, but school, wife Naniece, and work (PhD Clinical Nutritionist) caused the usual absence from building. Picked up modeling to decompress from grad school, joined IPMSUSA in 1994 and focused on solely 1/700 warships (waterline!) and still do. I like to upgrade and kitbash the old kits and semi-accurize them, and even scratchbuild a few. Joined the Reviewer Corps to expand my horizon, especially the books nobody wants to review - have learned a lot that way. Shout out to Salt Lake and Reno IPMSUSA clubs - they're both fine, fun groups and better modelers than I, which is another way to learn. Other hobbies are: yes, dear; playing electric bass and playing with the canine kids.

IPMS Number
33549

Reviews By Author

Front Cover

The Japanese Destroyer Shimakaze

Published:
Book Author(s): Mariusz Motyka
Company: Kagero Publishing

Thanks to Casemate Books for the review copy!

Kagero Publishing has produced a large number of WW2 single-warship books from their Super Drawings in 3D series. Each book has roughly 80 pages (82 for Shimakaze), beginning with a short biography of the ship followed by a wealth of CG (computer-generated), three-dimensional, full-color drawings and a 1:200 scale B&W line drawing foldout of side/top views and details of fittings and close-ups on the obverse side.

These are reference works of the highest quality, detail and interest for modelers. All sorts of views, and close-ups of ship sections, and fittings (turrets, boats, torpedo tubes, masts, radars, etc.) are exquisitely illustrated in accurate color. Their detail is so well studied that this book listed the… more
Front Cover

The Japanese Cruiser Maya 16058

Published:
Book Author(s): Waldemar Goralski & Dariusz Miszczak
Company: Kagero Publishing

Thanks to Casemate Publishing for the review copy!

Kagero Publishing has produced a large number of WW2 warship books from their Super Drawings in 3D series, focusing on a single ship at a particular point in time (appearance). 16058 illustrates the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Maya in its final 1944 so-called Anti-Aircraft (AA) fit. Maya was one of the four Takao class heavy cruisers important to IJN naval efforts in WW2. Damage from a bomb hit from US carrier planes while at Rabaul in 1943 led to Maya becoming the first AA conversion of IJN five-turret heavy cruisers. The C turret (closest to the bridge) was replaced by two of the ubiquitous 127mm/40 Type 89 twin open antiaircraft mounts, along with additional 25mm mounts (triple and single) throughout the ship. Maya shipped… more
Figure 1 - Package

United States WW2 Naval Ensigns (Flags)

Published:
Company: Eduard

Thanks to Eduard for supplying the set.

Bottom Line: At first glance these steel, foldable flags look bright and colorful, but there are a few limitations. On a real model, they are good enough. Not to mention the unspoken scandal of oversized flags for all 1/700 WW2 warships kits, decals or paper. In that case, Eduard’s flags are at least good enough, sturdier and more flexible than other options.

Aftermarket Upgrade Parts Set Review

Flag Facts

The national flag flying on US Navy ships is called the national ensign (I prefer to use the more common term flags in this review). The blue flag with white stars generally flown at the bow of US Navy ships is called the Union Jack (jack). The jack is the same size as the blue part of the… more
Front Cover

US Flush-deck Destroyers 1916-1945

Published:
Book Author(s): Mark Lardas
Company: Osprey Publishing

Thanks to Osprey Publishing for the review copy!

Mark Lardas is a real “rocket scientist” who has worked on Space Shuttle analytics and navigation. He is also an accomplished author with at least ten books on naval topics, and a model maker as well. See his website for more details (www.marklardas.com).

New Vanguard 259 covers the large number of WW I era US Navy destroyers known as the flush-deckers and four-pipers, another overlooked topic. Like other Osprey books, this issue is 48 pages (not counting the front/back covers) – enough for an excellent synopsis of design, characteristics and historical highlights of these warship classes.

This book provides three one-page illustrations of specific actions, three one-page… more
Cover of book

Italian Cruisers of World War II

Published:
Book Author(s): Mark Stille; Illustrator: Paul Wright
Company: Osprey Publishing

Mark Stille is a retired Commander of the US Navy and has written a succession of books for Osprey Publishing on naval topics. He continues as an intelligence analyst at the Pentagon. New Vanguard 258 covers Italian cruisers of World War Two, an overlooked topic. This book joints Stille’s previous Osprey Vanguard 182 book on WW2 Italian Battleships (previously reviewed for IPMSUSA in 2011). Like other Osprey books, this issue is 48 pages (not counting the front/back covers) – not enough for an in-depth treatment of WW2 Regia Marina cruisers, but enough for an excellent synopsis of design, characteristics and history of each ship.

This book provides four pages of full-color side profiles of specific Italian cruisers, a two-page cutaway illustration of the Pola, a heavy cruiser,… more
Box Art

IJN Mamiya Kanmusu

Published:
Company: Aoshima

Bottom Line: Same model as Aoshima 01035 IJN Mamiya kit, 1931 fit, but with Kantai Collection Fleet Girls (KanColle Kanmusu) extras to accompany the model. Simple but effective portrayal of a Japanese Navy supply ship. Great detail, easy to assemble (mostly), only one glaring issue. Note that Kanmusu collection kits are not intended for non-Japanese builders so instructions are in Japanese.

History

IJN Mamiya was an obscure vessel, ignored by wartime history, but a favorite of the fleet because it fed them overseas. IJN Mamiya was a fleet food supply vessel, until late wartime exigencies had her carrying ammunition and other stores. Her 15,820 standard tons size could feed 18000 men for three weeks and carried chefs and cooks. She carried two 5.5in… more
Package

British 4.7"/45 (120mm) QF Marks IX and XII Barrels

Published:
Company: Master Model

Thanks to Master-Model for the barrels and IPMSUSA staff for handling the request and publishing this review.

Bottom Line

Master-Model supplies the ultimate barrels for 4.7in/45 (120mm) main guns for most WW2 British destroyer classes.

Master-Models of Poland is rapidly producing almost all barrels for guns larger than four inches from the major navies of WW2 and most modern navies too. This barrel set fills a gap long needed for British Royal Navy destroyers. Very timely as more and more 1/700 scale WW2 Royal Navy destroyers are finally appearing. The British Mark IX and XII QF 4.7inch/45 caliber (120mm/45) guns were the most common destroyer main gun for British destroyers from 1930 until non-emergency classes appeared in 1943. They are listed as QF (Quick… more
Package

Tirpitz Photoetch Set

Published:
Company: Eduard

Bottom Line

Eduard has produced a single fret of finely detailed, finely scaled brass photoetch parts specific to the 1/700 scale Revell 05099 DKM Tirpitz injection-molded, polystyrene model. Highly recommended for this kit.

What You Get

A single, medium-sized, brass photoetch fret of railings, C30 20mm single guns, some masts and spars, multipart cable reels, catapult, aircraft props, radars, searchlight covers, ladders, ladder rails, pulleys, cranes, funnel grate, air intake grates and other parts to super-detail Revell’s 1/700 Tirpitz. Separate detail parts are numbered, with 116 different parts numbered on the fret, and 147 overall counting duplicates. Metal is intermediate in thickness and strength compared to other photoetch companies, which I prefer… more
Figure 1: Packaging

Heavy Duty Cruiser Aoba Class Aircraft Rails

Published:
Company: Hasegawa

Bottom Line

Very specific and highly detailed photoetch set to equip one of only two Imperial Japanese Navy WW2 warships: heavy cruisers Aoba and Kinugasa.

What You Get

This limited scope, steel photoetch set is strictly for two IJN warships: Aoba (Hasegawa 054, 43305, 43347 retool) and Kinugasa (Hasegawa 064, 43307, 43348 retool). Photoetch parts for the aircraft handling deck, deck rails, aircraft cradles and 2- & 3-blade propellers only are provided to equip one ship. Hasegawa has decided to market separate photoetch sets for specific areas of IJN Furutaka and Aoba class heavy cruisers, since these half-sister classes (Furutaka and Kako were earlier half-sisters) had different… more
Packaging

WWII IJN Ship Windows & Sealed Cap for Portholes

Published:
Company: Lion Roar

Lion Roar has produced an ideal product for superdetailers: a value-priced set of 1/700 scale (late-war) porthole covers and “eyebrows” for portholes (hull and superstructure) for Imperial Japanese Navy warships.

What You Get

Lion Roar photoetch set R7038, 1/700 WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Ship Windows & Sealed Cap for Portholes, does not actually contain any windows or portholes. The title for this set was obviously mangled in translation into English. This set has three sizes of “eyebrows” that are meant to be placed over portholes of various sizes and caps used to cover portholes later in WWII. Eyebrows are called rigols or rims in naval parlance, and they are an arc-shaped trough that goes around the upper third or half of a porthole (round scuttle) or window… more