Rob Benson
Reviews By Author
|
SSN-637 USS SturgeonPublished:
Overall SummaryI recommend this kit for any collection of USN submarine models. This kit is for intermediate-skill modelers, and will result in very nice representation of any of the short-hull Sturgeon class attack submarines that served in the U. S. Navy. Assembly was straight forward, with no major problems. No alignment pins or sockets are present in the kit design, and many parts may require addition of pins or wire for positive location. This is not a detraction from the kit, but something to think about when you start assembly. The resulting model looks proper in comparison to photographs and references. Initial Impression in the BoxThe kit arrived in an 11.75 x 6. x 1.5 inch box, featuring colorful artwork of the Sturgeon surfaced in ice pack. Poly… more |
|
SSBN-598 USS George WashingtonPublished:
Overall SummaryI recommend this kit for any collection of USN submarine models. This kit is for intermediate-skill modelers and will result in a very nice representation of any of the George Washington class submarines that served in the U. S. Navy. Assembly was straight forward, with no major problems. No alignment pins or sockets are present in the kit design, and many parts may require addition of pins or wire for positive location. This is not a detraction from the kit, but something to think about when you start assembly. The resulting model looks proper in comparison to photographs and references. Initial Impression in the BoxThe kit arrived in a 17.75 x 5.5 x 2.3 inch box, featuring colorful artwork of the George Washington underway on the surface… more |
|
Detail & Scale Colors and Markings Series Digital Volume 3 U. S. Navy F-14 Tomcats, Part 2: Pacific Coast SquadronsPublished:
Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for bringing another tremendous digital resource to the modeler. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching colors and markings of my favorite jet of all time, the F-14 Tomcat. A very significant plus of this updated version is that the entire history of all the Pacific F-14 squadrons, including TOPGUN/NSAWC and evaluation squadrons, is now available in a single publication. OverviewThis review of an exciting new format of a familiar product will be in two parts; 1) content coverage, and 2) how effective and useful the digital e-book format is from a modeler’s perspective. I certainly would expect the first question a reader would ask is, "Why do I want an e-… more |
|
P5M-2G Marlin "Coast Guard"Published:
I am very appreciative of Hasegawa USA and Hobbico for provided a review example of a limited edition, reissued kit of one of the last flying boats used by the U. S. Navy and Coast Guard. I also wish to extend a very deep appreciation to the IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps for choosing me to review the P5M-2G variant of the Martin Marlin. Overall SummaryI recommend this kit for a collection of flying boat and amphibious aircraft. I completed an earlier version of this kit in 1985, and was surprised to see the very same instruction format as back then, with eight pages of black-and-white instructions, predominantly in Japanese. A short black-and-white instruction insert with new and replacement part descriptions, decal placement, and a painting color guide supplement these… more |
|
FM-2 EnginePublished:
Thank you to Aires-Quickboost and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the privilege of reviewing this excellent aftermarket resin engine. The replacement engine adds an eye-catching crisp detail in a highly visible part of the Hobby Boss FM-2 kit, which represents the latest tall-tail version of the Wildcat. The package contains the engine on a single casting plug, molded in medium brownish-gray polyurethane resin. The application is very simple; trim the engine off the plug, clean up, and replace the kit parts. This is nearly a direct drop-in replacement; all you need to do is carefully remove the engine from the plug, trim out the casting webs from the cylinder backs, and modify the new engine to fit the kit engine mount. Be sure to mount the new engine in the correct… more |
|
Detail & Scale Colors & Markings Series, Digital Volume 2, F-102 Delta DaggerPublished:
Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for continuing to bring back a tremendous resource for the modeler, in a digital format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching history, details, versions and markings of the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger. The official title is Colors & Markings of the F-102 Delta Dagger in Detail & Scale, by Rock Roszak, Colors & Markings Series, Digital Volume 2. OverviewThis review of an exciting format of a familiar product will be in two parts; 1) content coverage, and 2) how effective and useful the digital e-book format is from a modeler’s perspective. I certainly would expect the first question a reader would ask is, "Why do I want an e-book format?" I… more |
|
F-4S Phantom II: Part 2, CompletionPublished:
I am honored and privileged to review a beautiful new scale model offering in the Super Wing Series from Zoukei-Mura, Inc. I also wish to extend a very deep appreciation to the IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps for choosing me to review the F-4S variant of the famous McDonnell Phantom II. The kit was released on 26 JUL 17, following on the heels of a previous F-4J release in the same scale and series. This review is the second of two sequential reviews, including my adventures in completing the kit build. This final review dovetails with the previous IPMS reviews of the Zoukei-Mura F-4 kits. I am not a subject matter expert (SME) on the F-4x family, but I sure enjoy a well-designed kit and fun build, learning about the real thing as I go. The Zoukei-Mura F-4S does not disappoint! … more |
|
Black Bunny F-4J VX-4 DecalsPublished:
Thank you to Furball Aero-Design for providing excellent specific markings set for this very unique aircraft. I am certain that F-4 fans will be thrilled with this set! Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them, I am very appreciative of the chance to contribute back to the scale-modeling community. The words that capture this decal set are “stunning detail.” Furball chose the striking color scheme of Vandy 1, the gloss black test F-4J aircraft operated by VX-4, providing both the original 1969 markings and the later “bunny” markings. What makes this set different from kit decals and aftermarket decal sets are the nearly 200 crisply-printed stencils printed in white. Modelers often correctly make the argument that stencils are often quickly worn… more |
|
F-4S Phantom II: Part 1, Comparison and Cockpit BuildPublished:
I am honored and privileged to review a beautiful new scale model offering in the Super Wing Series from Zoukei-Mura, Inc. I also wish to extend a very deep appreciation to the IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps for choosing me to review the F-4S variant of the famous McDonnell Phantom II. The kit was released on 26 JUL 17, following on the heels of a previous F-4J release in the same scale and series. This review will be the first of two sequential reviews. I thought at first I would compare the F-4S kit with the earlier F-4J and describe the build planning in this first review. I actually couldn’t wait to get started, so construction of the cockpit is described here as well. The second and related review will include my adventures in completing the kit build. Both of these reviews will… more |
|
Vought F-8 CrusaderPublished:
Thank you to Andrea Lindell of Specialty Press for providing a review copy of their new release, Vought F-8 Crusader, Development of the Navy’s First Supersonic Jet Fighter, by William D. Spidle. Specialty Press has sweetened the debut of this new book by providing an author-signed limited-edition of the book directly on their website or by calling 1-800-895-4385. As always, I appreciate all those in the IPMS Reviewer Corps, whose work is critical to sharing new and exciting modeling products with the world. OverviewThis book is not a description of operational and combat records of the F-8. It instead tells a seldom-detailed story of the nitty-gritty, fascinating process of bringing an unproven supersonic shipborne fighter… more |