Robert Folden
Reviews By Author
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War MachinePublished:
After reviewing the Moebius Models Iron Man Mk.II and Mk.III, it probably comes as no surprise that I am an Iron Man fan. More so, I am a huge War Machine fan. So when Moebius came out with the War Machine kit, I pre-emptively requested the review (I also pre-ordered one just to be sure). I was beyond happy when I received the review kit. Now, a bit of history for you. The War Machine is officially the US Air Force Variable Threat Response Battle Suit. The suit is piloted by Col. James Rhodes, who “borrowed” the suit from Tony Stark. The suit started life as the Iron Man Mk.II suit. It was then upgraded with additional armor and weaponry to become the War Machine. Later, it was redesigned, stripped of a lot of the armor and weapons, and re-designated the Iron Patriot (per the… more |
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Iron Man Mk. IIIPublished:
Having built the original release of the Moebius Models Iron Man Mk. II, I jumped at the opportunity to review the “updated” Mk. III kit. Prior to the kit’s arrival, I knew it was based on the original, but with an updated pose. When the kit arrived, I was pleased, yet also slightly disappointed. The kit features most of the original release parts. Moebius molded new (or at least modified) parts for the arms and legs to create a new action pose that still uses the original base, just turned around. While I welcome the new pose (it is MUCH better than the original standing pose), I was a bit let down on the quality of some of the parts. Now, it may just have been my sample, and I will note that I have several of the original release kits, and none of them have mold issues, but the… more |
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T-28 Super Heavy TankPublished:
When I first heard this was coming out, I just couldn’t wait. It is such a unique and interesting piece of US military history, and personally one of my favorite tanks ever built. When it was announced that IPMS had received one for review, I was certain it would be requested instantly. Now, whether it was overlooked, or whether everyone simply wasn’t as eager as me to build this beast of a kit (or didn’t have the space to display it), it hadn’t been claimed. So I jumped at the chance to review it. Oh, what a build I was in for… The T-28 Super Heavy Tank is officially designated as 105mm Gun Motor Carriage T95, and was a US prototype tank designed and built during WWII to be used to break through the Germans’ Siegfried Line. Weighing in at nearly 90 metric tons and sporting 12-… more |
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SB2C-3 HelldiverPublished:
Having built the Academy Special Edition 1/72 Helldiver a couple years ago, I jumped at the opportunity to review the new Cyber-Hobby Helldiver. The kit represents a slightly earlier Helldiver, with one of the most noticeable differences being the solid dive flaps. When the kit arrived, I was very impressed. The molding was well done, with crisp detail and no molding flaws. The kit is the high quality we have come to know from Dragon/Cyber-Hobby. ConstructionAs I began building the kit, I decided to compare it to the old Academy kit (even though it’s an SB2C-5). So, with my built Helldiver on the bench with me, I commenced working on the interior. Immediately it was evident that the Dragon kit was far superior when it came to the interior. The detail was great, and… more |
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Mansyu Ki-98 Ground Attack FighterPublished:
Meng Models has released yet another great kit. Having built four of their kits now, I cannot say enough good things about them. One of their latest offerings is this great Mansyu Ki-98 Ground Attack fighter. Similar to their first aircraft release, the Katsuodori, the Ki-98 is another Japanese WWII prototype. This one, however, never made it past the wood mock up. SubjectThe Ki-98 was a Japanese prototype high-altitude ground attack fighter. The design has been rumored to be based on a cross between the Shinden fighter and the American P-38 Lightning. The twin-boom, single-seat fighter used a rear-mounted pusher engine, allowing the nose to house two 20mm cannons and a 37mm cannon. The prototype was destroyed prior to Japan’s surrender to Allied forces. The… more |
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Samurai WarriorPublished:
Though well known for their various diorama kits, MiniArt also has a long line of 1/16 scale historical figures. One of the latest, and quite possibly the most complex, is their Japanese Samurai Warrior. Being somewhat of a fan of the Samurai culture, I jumped at the opportunity to review MiniArt’s kit. Little did I know just what I was getting into. The Samurai were the elite warriors of the Emperor. Appearing in references as early as the 8th Century and becoming a prominent feature in Japan throughout the 10th to 13th Centuries, the Samurai managed to live on into the late 1800s. Officially, the last form of Samurai, known as Shizoku, ceased to exist on January 1st, 1947, when the name was formally removed from Japanese law as a result of the occupation following WWII. For… more |
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USS Arizona (1941) Replacement Gun BarrelsPublished:
The USS Arizona is one of the most widely known and publicized battleships in US Naval history. As such, there have been many kits produced of the Arizona. Of those, one kit stands out. In late 2010, Trumpeter released the massive 1/200 scale USS Arizona. With such a large scale, it comes as no surprise that there have been numerous aftermarket detail sets released, including a set from Trumpeter.
Master Model has established themselves as the leader in turned metal barrels. Their attention to detail and accuracy has earned them a top spot in the aftermarket world. Recently, Master released two new sets designed for the 1/200 Arizona. I already had the base kit and the… more |
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StuG.III Ausf.G Mid Production mit Schuren, "Black Knight" SeriesPublished:
“Die Erzählung des Schwarzen Ritters” is the story of a German Oberleutnant during World War II. It is, however, a fictional story that was the basis for a comic book series alternatively known as The Story of the Black Knights. For a more in-depth background, and a look at the first release in the Black Knights series, check out a previous review. This release is the second in the Cyber Hobby Black Knights series, and was followed by a Hetzer and a Panther Ausf. G. The fifth, and final, release has not yet been announced. As with the… more |
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RMS Titanic - Centenary Anniversary EditionPublished:
Monday, April 15th, 1912 – While on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, New York, the White Star ocean liner RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean as a result of striking an iceberg. The tragedy resulted in the loss of 1,517 lives and forever impacted the Ocean liner industry. Billed as the largest passenger ship in the world [at the time], the Olympic-class Titanic was referred to as “unsinkable” due to its compartmented sections and watertight doors. Design flaws, however, rendered these features useless. During the night of April 14th, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg along her starboard side, causing the rivets which held her steel hull plates to break. This opened the hull along multiple compartments, something the designers had not foreseen.… more |
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Titanic and Her Sisters Olympic and BritannicPublished:
With the approaching 100th anniversary of the tragic loss of the Titanic on April 14th, 2012, the modeling world has seen an influx of Centennial edition kits. To go with those new kits, Seaforth Publishing has released a new book in their well known ShipCraft series. ShipCraft #18, Titanic and Her Sisters Olympic and Britannic, follows the same format as previous editions in the series. The book features a history of the ships, followed by a section on modeling the Titanic, and finishes up with a section on paint schemes and modifications. Perhaps the best part of the book is the reference photos. Because the book is not solely focused on the Titanic but also covers the other two ships, it includes a lot of photos of details from those ships that were shared with the… more |