Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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Resin Wheels and Tires for 1/48 F-16I "Sufa" (Storm)Published:
IPMS/USA thanks the crew at Aires for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, In this case another example of CAD-assisted resin wheel and tire assembly. This is a useful and timely landing gear addition in the ever-growing detail world for the sufferers of Advanced Detail Syndrome like me. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it my way to be reviewed. This review is of the Aires/Wheeliant F-16I Sufa’s wheel and tire set. It is truly an improvement over the basic kit items, as a mere glance at the photos can show. The one really noticeable bit is the writing on the tire sides (“Goodyear”), and the deep, scale tire grooves of the “heavy” landing gear rubber. Be aware that 148018 is the set for Kinetic’s Sufa, and 148016… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for C-5Published:
IPMS/USA thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. New crew is on point and clearing well… This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the new release 1/144 C-5. I shall refrain from calling the C-5 “Fred” in public because my old boss might find out. Old Generals show up at the most inopportune moments… and we were told not to call it that. BUFF is for the B-52. We’ll just call it “the Screamer” and leave it there. This C-5 kit has been anxiously and impatiently desired by the community for decades, due… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for P-51DPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with another great landing gear addition for the modeling community. This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the new Airfix/Hornby 1/48 P-51D. This kit was heralded as the “Ultimate” 1/48 P-51D. After the Meng kit, I wondered… it is a high-class act as well. But having built one Airfix pony now, I agree. Best game out there in my opinion. The shape is spot on, canopies are thin with three different versions of the kit, and the detail is just “There”. The wing has the puttied look to it, without rivets, and overall it sits like a pony. Various other panels like the carburetor vents are separate, and there is one more really cool feature; the… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for P-47DPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the Hasegawa or Eduard Re-release of the Hasegawa P-47D. This set replaces SAC’s previous release of a set #32015 for the same base kit. Another simple strengthening opportunity for a heavy kit, with my usual admonition to use metal gear for larger models. Larger models put more stress on plastic than metal. This kit is still, in my opinion, the best P-47 on the market in this scale. When done it looks… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for F-35APublished:
IPMS/USA thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the relatively new 1/48 MENG F-35A. (If they do an F-35B and C, we are truly going to be blessed, Meng’s new kit has great details, fit, and has a host of appropriate ordinance with proper dimensions and appearance…). Personal note: While the official name of the F-35 is “Lightning II”, I personally refer to it as “The Horny Toad” because that’s what it looks like to me from the side while taxiing by. I have been fortunate to see most the test articles at Edwards… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for 1/48 ICM/Revell DE MiG-25 RSTPublished:
We at IPMS continue to thank Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with what has turned into a monthly release schedule with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the relatively new 1/48 ICM Mig-25. As to the basic kit, it is well designed and accurate BUT also is not for beginners; a lot of locations are vague on where parts should line up, and I have struggled with the afterburner/augmentor petals, and the overall assembly of the basic fuselage. A bit of misalignment during side panel and top fuselage installation will result if the fumble-fingers among us (like me) having more than a few blue clouds riding… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for Academy 1/72 F-15EPublished:
We at IPMS continue to thank Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with what has turned into a monthly release schedule with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. What started out as an “I don’t know if they will sell” idea a few years ago has flourished into a busy worldwide trade for modelers seeking just a bit more out of their model accessories… This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the relatively new 1/72 F-15E from Academy. This kit is a jewel; there are two areas needing true replacements for a contest level model, that being the “featherless” open afterburner nozzles, which are supplied simplified, and the rather thick one-piece canopy over the… more |
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F-14A Wheels and Tires (Early) BIG SIN for TamiyaPublished:
Thanks once again to Eduard for providing a copy of one of their sets for IPMS USA to review; They continue to support us and ask for feedback and it’s great to be a part of the process. Also, thanks to Dick “Monty” Montgomery and our fearless leader Dave Morrissette for ordering the set for the review. From Eduard’s website, the following individual part number sets are included in this Big Sin Set; beside it are the title and Standard Retail costs, and then the overall “savings” of purchasing the “Big SIN” with all three smaller sets in it is at the bottom:
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