Pat Villarreal
Reviews By Author
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Vought Corsair Decal CollectionPublished:
Euro Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for the WWII Vought Corsair in 1/32nd scale. There is no specific mention of a preferred model kit, however, the decals are for the following variants: F4U-1, -1A, -A, Mk. II, and Brewster F3A. This 1/32nd scale decal sheet covers seven (7) aircraft schemes:
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P-38L Lightning Instrument PanelPublished:
Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a 1/48th scale P-38L Lightning instrument panel. The base kit for this upgrade is designated for the Tamiya P-38J Lightning kit (61123). Referencing warbirdsresourcegroup.org, the “L” variant was an improved “J” variant with new engines and new rocket pylons. Thus, no differences in the airframe external shape. Of the P-38L-LO variant, 3,810 were built. In the PackageThe instrument panel (IP) detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with one (1) photoetched (PE) IP already assembled, one (1) clear acetate sheet with printed detail, two (2) PE etched sheets for other cockpit panels. My sample review was missing the PE sheet that would have added detail to part M24. I did note in the pictures which part was… more |
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P-39N AiracobraPublished:
Arma Hobby has released a new 1/48th scale P-39N Airacobra. It is the new tooled 2024 version following the P-39Q, released earlier, and they share the same sprues, but the wing sink marks noted in the “Q” boxing looks to be fixed. In The BoxThe kit is enclosed in a side open box with all the contents sitting in a sturdier cardboard tray. The sprues are enclosed in a single plastic bag and within are more bags that hold three (3) steel ball bearings (for nose weight), the clear sprue, and another for a small 3D printed nose air louvers. The injected plastic hardness is on the medium side. The recessed and raised molded details are good for this scale. Instructions are well illustrated and easy to follow. To obtain a P-39N variant, special… more |
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P-51D Mustang "Aces of the Eighth" Dual ComboPublished:
Eduard has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a 1/72nd scale Limited Edition P-51D Mustang “Aces of the Eighth” Dual Combo kit. In WWII, The Eighth Air Force (aka: Mighty Eighth) earned a reputation as a great warfighting organization. From May 1942 to July 1945, they flew over Nazi-occupied Europe and complied an impressive war record which included 566 Aces (261 fighter pilots with 31 having 15 or more victories and 305 enlisted gunners). This kit has markings for twelve (12) P-51D Mustang Aces for you to choose from. The hardest part may be choosing which two (2) you will want to build. In the BoxThere are two (2) complete kits in this boxing and it is encased in a beautifully illustrated top open box. The tooling is brand new for this scale and… more |
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Low-Viz Seahawk Family (1)Published:
AOA Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for low-viz options (Part 1) for the US Navy H-60 Seahawk family that covers the SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, and MH-60R variants, and includes MH-60R options for the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Danish Air Force. This 1/35th scale decal sheet of Low-Viz Seahawk Family, Part 1, covers the following squadrons: SH-60B:
SH-60F:
HH-60H:
MH-60R:
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Low-Viz Seahawk Family (3) DecalsPublished:
AOA Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for low-viz options (Part 3) for the US Navy H-60 Seahawk family that covers MH-60R squadrons, including two additional Romeos from the Royal Australian Navy. This 1/35th scale decal sheet of Low-Viz Seahawk Family, Part 3, covers the following squadrons: MH-60R
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Seafire FR Mk. 47 "The Last Royal Navy Propeller Fighter"Published:
Special Hobby has provided the 1/72nd scale Supermarine Seafire FR Mk. 47 for review. Subtitle on this boxing is “The Last Royal Navy Propeller Fighter” and (per Wikipedia) it was the last Spitfire/Seafire variant to roll off the assembly line at Supermarine in January 1949. Looking at Scalemates.com, the molds were produced back in 2012 and this 2024 boxing has new decal markings for No. 804 NAS, HMS Ocean (Mediterranean, 1949), No. 1833 NAS, RNAS Bramcote / HMS Gamecock (1953), and two (2) markings for No. 800 NAS, HMS Triumph (Korea 1950). In The BoxThe kit box is typical top opening with a nice illustration. All the sprues are packaged in a single clear plastic bag with the clear parts package individually bagged. A photo-etch sheet is also included… more |
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Southeast Asia Intruders (1)Published:
AOA Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for Vietnam War era markings for US Marine Corps A-6A, A-6B, and KA-6D Intruders. The rollout of this decal sheet coincides with the 2023 release of the 1/72 scale Trumpeter A-6A Intruder. This 1/72 decal sheet covers all four USMC A-6 Intruder squadrons during the Vietnam War:
This set also includes markings for MERs, fuel… more |
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Southeast Asia Intruders (2)Published:
AOA Decals has provided IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set for Vietnam War era markings for US Navy A-6A, A-6B, and KA-6D Intruders. The rollout of this decal sheet coincides with the 2023 release of the 1/72 scale Trumpeter A-6A Intruder. Five US Navy squadrons are covered in this decal set with multiple options for each squadron:
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Bristol Beaufort Mk. I, Bombing Raid, (Part 2)Published:
ICM has released a new 1/48th scale Bristol Beaufort Mk. I, Bombing Raid version with decals devoted to No. 22 and No. 217 Squadron. For this boxing, there is an additional Sprue W (3X) that will turn this Mk. I into a bombing raid ordnance configuration versus the torpedo version of the previous boxings (there is no F2 or torpedo trailer sprue in this kit). This is PART 2 of this kit review and PART 1 can be located here: In the BoxThe box and contents review are in PART 1. Review ProcessFor this build review, I decided on the Bristol Beaufort Mk. I, L9878 MW-R, No. 217 Squadron, Autumn 1941, as the final configuration. This is a box stock build but I did not follow the instruction build sequence since there are area of improvements noted below… more |