Rob Benson
Reviews By Author
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Naval Fighter #102 Grumman Tracker and Tracer - Part 2Published:
Thank you to Ginter Books for providing a review copy of their new release, Naval Fighters Number 102, a second volume covering the Grumman S2F/S-2 Tracker and the WF-2/E - 1 B Tracer. I also appreciate all of those in the IPMS Reviewer Corps, who do the heavy lifting to get the reviews done, from start to finish. OverviewThe Tracker holds a special interest for me beyond my personal enthusiasm for USN aviation, an interest honed after hearing two Navy veterans argue about how effective the aircraft was. Naturally, one was a submarine officer, and the other an S2F aviator. This volume adds to the material covered in Part 1, Naval Fighters Number 101, adding brief narratives, squadron insignia images, and photographs related to the aircraft as it was… more |
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Detail & Scale Series Digital Volume 3 F2H Banshee Part 1Published:
Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for continuing to bring back a tremendous resource for the modeler, exclusively 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 McDonnell F2H Banshee. The official title is Detail & Scale Series Digital Volume 3, F2H Banshee, Part 1: Prototypes Through F2H-2 Variants. 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-book format?" I like reading… more |
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How I Do It: Some Modeling Methods and Techniques from an Engineer ModelerPublished:
Thank you to author James Lyman, and to Hill Country Hobby for the sample book. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to review a new independent, self-published book that will be a great resource for many modelers at all skill levels. This excellent compendium of methods and techniques is produced and published using an independent (indie) publishing house, Create Space, an Amazon Company. I was unable to verify how the book is produced, but Create Space publications are often printed and bound on demand. Wholesalers often receive significant discount on bulk purchases. Modeling clubs, chapters and hobby shops may be able to take advantage of this format and discounts. Overview and Content CoverageAuthor Lyman has collected 22 techniques, from… more |
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Tapered Masts Set 2Published:
Thank you to Master Model and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the privilege of reviewing this excellent replacement part set for 700-scale ship models in the Sea Master Series offered by Master Model. The replacement masts will add a crisp eye-catching detail in a highly visible part of any modern ship model. Master Model is continuing an excellent line of replacement brass parts for ship models. The zipper closure package has 4 smoothly tapered, turned brass masts in a variety of sizes. A small spec sheet is included. The masts taper evenly and symmetrically from the base upward to the tip. Each mast is 60 mm long, with mast base/tip diameters of 1.4/0.4 mm, 1.6/0.5 mm, 1.8/0.6 mm, and 2.0/0.7 mm. This size range is effective for larger-size modern ships in 700-scale, however, the… more |
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Tapered Masts Set 2Published:
Thank you to Master Model and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the privilege of reviewing this excellent replacement part set offered by Master Model in the Sea Master Series for 350-scale ship models. The replacement masts will add a crisp eye-catching detail in a highly visible part of any modern ship model. Master Model is continuing an excellent line of replacement brass parts for ship models. The zipper closure package has 4 smoothly tapered, turned brass masts in a variety of sizes. A small spec sheet is included. The masts taper evenly and symmetrically from the base upward to the tip. Each mast is 100 mm long, with mast base/tip diameters of 2.2/0.7 mm, 2.5/0.8 mm, 2.8/0.9 mm, and 3.0/1.0 mm. This size range is effective for larger-size modern ships. The brass has a nice… more |
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Tapered Masts Set 1Published:
Thank you to Master Model and the IPMS Reviewer Corps for the privilege of reviewing this excellent replacement part set offered by Master Model in the Sea Master Series for 350-scale ship models. The replacement masts will add a crisp eye-catching detail in a highly visible part of any modern ship model. Master Model is continuing an excellent line of replacement brass parts for ship models. The zipper closure package has 4 smoothly tapered, turned brass masts in a variety of sizes. A small spec sheet is included. The masts taper evenly and symmetrically from the base upward to the tip. Each mast is 100 mm long, with mast base/tip diameters of 1.2/0.3 mm, 1.5/0.4 mm, 1.6/0.5 mm, and 2.0/0.6 mm. This size range is effective for small to medium-size modern ships. The brass has a… more |
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SBD-Dauntless, Volume 5Published:
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 history, details, versions and markings of the Douglas SBD scout/dive bomber. A very significant plus of this updated and digital version is the extensive review of many, many SBD modeling products released since the hard-copy publication was published in 1995. The original modeler’s section was 8 hardcopy pages, and the new edition has a 45 page modeler’s section followed by a beefy 15 page catalog of aftermarket materials. Furthermore, restorations of full-size SBDs are described, along with exquisite color profiles, a whole new chapter on SBD… more |
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US Navy Tomcats Detail and Scale Color and MarkingsPublished:
Thank you Furball Aero-Design for sending these excellent decals for review, and 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 one word that captures this decal set is “stunning.” Furball in collaboration with Detail & Scale (D&S) has produced a treatment of F-14A markings that spans twelve years of historical and colorful aircraft from 1981 through 1993. Tomcats from VF-32, aboard the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Independence, and VF-41, aboard the USS Nimitz and the USS Theodore Roosevelt, are very well represented in CAG and low-visibility colors. All of the F-14s that participated in the 1981 Gulf of Sidra events by shooting down Libyan jets may be… more |
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Modern Cockpit Dataplate and Warning DecalsPublished:
Thank you Airscale Model Aircraft Enhancements for sending these excellent decals for review. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them! I am honored to contribute back to the scale-modeling community. Airscale Model Aircraft Enhancements’ tagline is “High resolution cockpit detailing for aircraft modellers” and this decal sheet is an excellent example of their philosophy. A compact 3 1/16 x 2 1/8 inch (54 x 80 mm) sheet is richly populated with a wide variety of high-resolution modern jet aircraft data plates and warnings. All decals have minimal carrier film. Multiple copies of each decal are included. Six generic blocks of hazard stripes allow custom trimming for specific applications. Side-console labels, ejection seat and other danger and… more |
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F-14 WalkwaysPublished:
Thank you Furball Aero-Design for sending these excellent decals for review. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them! I am honored to contribute back to the scale-modeling community. Six F-14 sets of over-the-intake walkways are provided on a 4 x 4 ¼ inch (100 x 110 mm) sheet. The decals have minimal carrier film. There are two sets in each of three colors: black, dark gull gray, and engine gray. Decal opacity is excellent. Test decals worked very well with Microscale solutions and plain water. The decals are thin and durable, snugging down nicely without coaxing. I did not try stronger solutions like Solvaset, but I do not believe that such solutions would be needed. In short, these simple decals work, and work well. I highly recommend these… more |