Metal Landing Gear for P-51D

Published: January 21, 2018
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

Metal Landing Gear for P-47D

Published: January 20, 2018
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

Metal Landing Gear for F-35A

Published: January 2, 2018
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

Metal Landing Gear for 1/48 ICM/Revell DE MiG-25 RST

Published: December 30, 2017
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

Metal Landing Gear for Academy 1/72 F-15E

Published: December 11, 2017
Company: Scale Aircraft Conversions

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

F-14A Wheels and Tires (Early) BIG SIN for Tamiya

Published: November 12, 2020
Company: Eduard

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:

Product #	Product	Price
	XB-70 Photoetch Detail Set Published: October 21, 2017 Company: Brengun Thanks once again to Brengun for providing a copy of one of their sets for IPMS USA to review; Brengun continue to address projects which we never thought would be handled in a lifetime; in this case, it’s the venerable AMT/Italeri XB-70. Thanks to Dick “Monty” Montgomery for hand-carrying the set to the nationals for me as well. OK, how many of you have seen one of these built? Next question: How many actually BUILT the kit? I was commissioned back in 1995 by Harters Hobby house to build one for the shop in Belleville, IL. In payment I got my own copy of the kit to build. Don’t know if the place is still there, but I know it was an interesting build. Interesting in, Like, I hated the kit. Fit was awful; warped parts, and I had to use Green stuff (remember that… more
	Big Scale Eagles Published: October 18, 2017 Company: Speed Hunter Graphics, Reid Air Publications Speed Graphics is that sub-part of Reid Air products which have focused (initially) on Modern Fighters, particularly USAF and some export birds. Their line-up to date is small but impressive. Thanks to Reid Air for sending IPMS USA this review item, to Dave for the nod to move out on them, and Dick for bringing the sheet to the Nationals for me. This release is a complex, well-researched product. Designed for Tamiya’s venerable, accurate, F-15C and E kits in the huge 1/32 scale, this is a great place to start your aerie for Eagles. Better have a new addition to the house as well. For the record, this kit was built up to the point of decal use and application/finishing, due to this being a Decal review and not a total kit review. For the record, here is the content… more
	Heritage Vipers Published: October 15, 2017 Company: Speed Hunter Graphics, Reid Air Publications Speed Graphics is that sub-part of Reid Air products which have focused (initially) on Modern Fighters, particularly USAF and some export birds. Their line-up is impressive, filled with USAFE , PACAF, and Stateside Rhinos and Vipers… take a look. Thanks to Reid Air for sending IPMS USA this set, to Dave for the nod to move out on them, and Dick for bringing the sheet to the Nationals for me. This release is a complex, well-researched product. Designed for Tamiya’s superlative-laden F-16 series, you can build from an early block 10 Viper all through the block 42. Invest heavily in the aggressor version, as you will need it to properly configure your jet, or you can go the resin route and have an AMS feast. Your budget limits the choice. The instructions deserve copious… more
	BLU-27 Fire Bombs Finned Published: February 4, 2020 Company: Videoaviation Videoaviation is a small company out of Italy manufacturing big things; in this case, they provide large scale modelers the items missing from many of our 1/32 models to bring them to life, particularly in a diorama setting if you have room! Having built their Dash-60 Power cart earlier this year, I was aware of the quality of Videoaviation products… and this continues with this simple, effective set of two firebombs. The BLU-27 firebomb set will produce two, Vietnam-era Napalm with stabilizing fins. The BLU-27 was utilized as an effective anti-personnel weapon during a war where the world was less concerned about environmental issues. Common employers of this weapon were the A-26, A-1, F-100, F-4, and F-105 (not so much when their mission changed later in the war). I… more