US Heavy Cruisers 1943-75

Published: November 30, 2014
Book Author(s): Mark E. Stille, illustrated by Paul Wright
Company: Osprey Publishing

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

A-4E Skyhawk USS Midway

Published: November 27, 2014
Company: Hasegawa

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

TF-9J Cougar

Published: December 8, 2021
Company: Kitty Hawk

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

Metal Landing Gear for Kitty Hawk TF-9J

Published: October 6, 2014
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

Valve Hand Wheels

Published: September 6, 2014
Company: Hauler

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

Shopping Cart

Published: September 6, 2014
Company: Brengun

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

Kitty Hawk SH-2F Masks

Published: August 26, 2014
Company: Eduard

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

F9F Cougar - Digital Volume 2

Published: November 25, 2021
Book Author(s): Bert Kinzey, Illustrated by Rock Roszak
Company: Detail & Scale, Inc.

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.

Overview

This review of an exciting new format of a familiar product will take three parts; 1) content coverage, 2) how… more

SH-2 Seasprite Landing Gear (KH)

Published: July 23, 2014
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

U.S. Navy UCAS X-47B

Published: February 10, 2020
Company: Freedom Model Kits

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