Pablo Bauleo
Reviews By Author
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German 2 cm L/65 Flak 38 Gun BarrelPublished:
Master Model from Poland specializes in aftermarket turned-metal parts for model kits. In my personal option, they are among the best in the market; I really like their products. This set is devoted to the German 2 cm L/65 Flak 38 and includes a turned-metal barrel and a flash suppressor. The set is very nicely detailed, capturing small details, even down to the holes on the side of the suppressor. The instruction sheet clearly describes where to cut and how to modify the plastic part to receive the aftermarket detail part. It is a very easy task, and any modeler with a bit of experience modifying parts will run into no problems. My sample suffered some minor damage during transit. However, it was easy to shape the flash suppressor back to its original size. I… more |
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Night Stalkers Part 2: GOTHIC SERPENT to PresentPublished:
Werner’s Wings is an aftermarket company own by the well-known modeler Floyd Werner. A former US Army helicopter pilot, the majority of his products and detail sets relate to rotary wing aircraft, however, he also has some fixed-wing products (Bf 109s!) and instructional DVDs. This 1/35 scale decal sheet is dedicated to the helicopters of the 160th Special Operations Aircraft Regiment, covering their operations in Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The decal sheet includes markings for 20 helicopters including the A/MH-6, MH-60, MH-47, and some special decals for the inside of Chinooks. The instruction sheet is printed in full color, and each profile has a short description on the location and history of the airframe, if available. The decal sheet itself is… more |
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Hurricane MkIIC Hispano 20mm Cannon w/Round Recoil SpringsPublished:
Master Model from Poland specializes in metal turned parts for aftermarket kits. In my personal opinion, they are among the best in the market. I really like their products, and this set in particular is really nice. This set is devoted to the weapons of the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC in 1/24 scale. As far as I know, there is only the Trumpeter kit of a Hurri MkIIC in 1/24, but they might be others and I’m sure this kit will fit any 1/24 scale Hurri MkIIC, perhaps with small modifications if needed. The instruction indicates to modify the wing fairings to accommodate the metal ones and then add the metal turned parts, as shown in the renderings from the manufacturer. This is a simple “drop-in” replacement set that only uses 4 replacement parts per cannon. This… more |
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Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC - Hispano Mk I 20mm Cannons (with Flat Recoil Springs)Published:
Master Model from Poland specializes in metal turned parts for aftermarket kits. In my personal opinion, they are among the best in the market. I really like their products, and this set in particular is really nice. This set is devoted to the weapons of the Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC in 1/24 scale. As far as I know, the only 1/24 scale kit of a Hurricane Mk IIC is made by Trumpeter, but there might be others. I’m sure this kit would fit any 1/24 scale Hurricane Mk IIC with minor modifications, if needed. The instruction indicates that you’ll need to modify the wing fairings to accommodate the metal version, after which you can then add the turned-metal parts, as shown below in the rendering from the manufacturer. This is a simple “drop-in” replacement set that… more |
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Metal Gun Barrel Set - Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) LangPublished:
Tamiya has recently released a great kit of the Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) (Stock 35340). This detail set is designed to enhance an excellent kit. This whole detail set is meant to improve the gun, and only the gun. It provides an extra sprue to build the gun breech –in plastic, and provides an aluminum turned replacement gun. The breech/loading mechanism builds together beautifully and without any fuss, as can be seen in the pictures. The metal barrel is flawless and incredibly smooth. So smooth that actually the paint peeled off the first time I painted it. Make sure to use a primer. If you add this detail set, you are instructed to not install the torsos of the crew or they will interfere with the gun. The kit itself is designed in such a way that you can remove the… more |
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Jagdpanzer IV/70(V)LangPublished:
ReviewI want to start this review with a disclaimer: I am not an “armor guy”. I built mainly airplanes and the occasional soft skin. But armor has been calling me recently and the release of an all new-tooling Tamiya Jagdpanzer was too tempting as to not trying it. This kit has a total of 252 pieces. It comes with plastic tracks, includes the torso of two figures and it has a small decal sheet with markings for 3 different tank hunters (one Eastern Front, two Western Front examples). Construction begins with the lower hull and the running gear. The bogies have a nice surface detail that would take a wash really nicely. I was a bit surprised as to the total number of wheels involved in the construction, but again, I’m an “airplane guy”, so anything beyond 3… more |
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Spitfire Mk IX Tubular ExhaustsPublished:
Ultracast from Canada has released several detail sets for the Eduard Spitfire MkIX in 1/48 scale. This particular set is a drop-in replacement for the Spitfire tubular exhaust. It has been casted in a pale cream-colored resin with a delicate pour stub that will make removal an easy task. As you can see, the surface is very smooth and the detail is delicate with thin, hollow exhausts. While the plastic parts are also hollow, this resin set allows for insertion after painting. To use the resin exhausts, you only need to add the provided exhaust supports to the model’s nose in the step where you would add the original kit exhaust pieces. The rest of the assembly can continue as usual, and once painting and finishing is complete, you simply add the resin exhaust by… more |
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX 4-Blade Propeller and Spinner ConePublished:
Ultracast from Canada has released several detail sets for the Eduard Spitfire MkIX in 1/48 scale. This particular set is a drop-in replacement for the Spitfire propeller. It has been casted in a pale cream-colored resin with a delicate pour stub that will make removal an easy task. There are no bubbles or surface defects anywhere. The only difference I can see between the kit’s propeller and the Ultracast version is the propeller’s blade chord being a bit wider in the resin parts. Moving on to the spinner, the resin version has rivet detail that the plastic part is missing. From an assembly point of view, the replacement propeller differs from the plastic part in that each blade comes as a separate piece, meaning you have to set the proper pitch to each blade.… more |
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Spitfire Mk IX Cockpit DoorPublished:
Ultracast from Canada has released several detail sets for the Eduard Spitfire MkIX in 1/48 scale. This particular set is a drop-in replacement for the Spitfire Cockpit door. It has been casted in a pale cream-colored resin with a delicate pour stub that will make removal an easy task. As you can see, the finish is very smooth and the surface detail is delicate and petite. It includes the crowbar, a small handle, and the forming ribs of the door. A note of caution, I believe the crowbar was painted silver during WWII, and it was only after the war that they got painted red. Check your references. I recommend this replacement part for modelers of all levels, except novices. I would like to thank Ultracast and IPMS/USA for the review sample. |
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Masks for Tamiya Light Utility Vehicle "Tilly"Published:
Res-Im is an aftermarket company out of Czech Republic that specializes in resin details and masks. This set is designed for the 1/48 Tamiya “Tilly”. The set includes masks for the tires, the clear parts (headlamp, windshield, windows), plus masks for the RAF version, as well as masks for the American version (Stars), with and without a surrounding circle. Applying the masks is very easy, just lift them carefully with the tip of a #11 blade and burnish in place. The masks are made of some sort of plastic material with a little bit of elasticity to it, so don’t handle them too roughly or they might deform. The masks are low tack, but tacky enough that there will be no bleed of the paint under the mask. I choose to do the RAF markings and I’ve found the interior… more |