Rob Benson
Reviews By Author
US Heavy Cruisers 1943-75Published: November 30, 2014 Thank you very much to the wonderful folks at Osprey Publishing for providing this new publication for review.Thanks are also due to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to explore a fascinating historical documentation and description of the last class of heavy cruisers. The book was particularly interesting to me, since my father and one of my college professors served… more |
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A-4E Skyhawk USS MidwayPublished: November 27, 2014 Thank you to the wonderful folks at Hasegawa and Hobbico for an excellent kit of one of my favorite USN jets, the A-4 Skyhawk. The kit was a joy to build. Thank you also to the IPMS Reviewer Corps staff members who do the hard work in getting us kits to review. This re-release from Hasegawa as a “Limited Edition” provides a very nice building experience of a very unique aircraft. I… more |
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TF-9J CougarPublished: December 8, 2021 First, thank you to the wonderful folks at KittyHawk Model for providing a welcome addition to early US Navy jet modelers, the TF-9J Cougar. This new release from KittyHawk fills a long-standing gap in 1/48 scale USN jets. KittyHawk subjects are starting to fill out my collection more and more! Presentation (how the kit looks in the box)The kit arrived in a stout 14 x 10 x 2… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for Kitty Hawk TF-9JPublished: October 6, 2014 Many thanks to Mr. Ross MacMillan of Scale Aircraft Conversions and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to try this neat conversion and replacement set for the new Kitty Hawk TF-9J. I am delighted to report on another sweet add-on and upgrade. The 7 white-metal parts arrived in a blister pack, backed by the distinctive SAC company logo. The heft of the parts is very noticeable. All… more |
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Valve Hand WheelsPublished: September 6, 2014 My thanks to Hauler-Brengun and the IPMS Reviewers’ Corps for allowing me to review this excellent detailing accessory set. Valve hand wheels are everywhere, found on many different kinds of equipment. Plastic valve wheels are often mediocre, so helpfully, Hauler has produced a photo-etched brass sheet of valve hand wheels in several sizes and shapes. The valve handles arrived… more |
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Shopping CartPublished: September 6, 2014 First, I’d like to offer my thanks to Hauler-Brengun and the IPMS Reviewers’ Corps for allowing me to review this unique diorama accessory. The modern full-scale shopping cart has a fairly long development history, which is well documented on Wikipedia and other internet sources. The 1/48 scale Brengun shopping cart (or trolley, in many European markets) represents one of the smaller… more |
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Kitty Hawk SH-2F MasksPublished: August 26, 2014 Thank you to the ever supportive folks at Eduard Model Accessories for providing a yet another great finishing tool. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corp for letting me evaluate one of Eduard’s products. I always enjoy working with Eduard’s offerings and this mask set is no exception. Kitty Hawk Models recently released a newly tooled 1:48 model of the SH-2F Sea Sprite, a common USN… more |
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F9F Cougar - Digital Volume 2Published: November 25, 2021 Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for bringing back a tremendous resource for the modeler, this time in digital format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching the F9F Cougar. OverviewThis review of an exciting new format of a familiar product will take three parts; 1) content coverage, 2) how… more |
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SH-2 Seasprite Landing Gear (KH)Published: July 23, 2014 Many thanks to Mr. Ross MacMillan of Scale Aircraft Conversions and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to try this neat conversion and replacement set for the new Kitty Hawk SH-2F. I am delighted to report on another sweet add-on and upgrade. The 7 white-metal parts arrived in a blister pack, backed by the distinctive SAC company logo. The heft of the parts is very noticeable. All… more |
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U.S. Navy UCAS X-47BPublished: February 10, 2020 Thank you to Freedom Model Kits for providing a review copy of an excellent new release of a very unusual aircraft. Thank you to the many Reviewer Corps people who make the IPMS review system work. It is a continuing honor and privilege to be part of the team. This first release from a new company is a welcome addition to UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) subjects in the scale model world… more |