Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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A-4 Skyhawk 300 Gallon DroptanksPublished:
From Barracudacast’s website:
Released to accompany the “KAHU” conversion, it is also valid with the standard A-4. Comprised of four parts for each tank and a set of six mounting brackets (Spares included, heck yes I tested it out) This took me all of 20 minutes to finish the review… more |
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P-51H Mustang Landing Gear (Mvit)Published:
This is the SAC gear is made with the brand-new Modelsvit P-51H. This was the last in the Mustang line, and essentially was a totally different aircraft; in outward appearance the lineage was there, but new wings, fuselage, cowling, combined with sub-parts of the previous P-51D tooling, led to a faster aircraft, with a bit more performance. Unfortunately for it, the Jet age had arrived, and as the jets arrived, the majority of users being U.S. Air National Guard units. And no, you can’t turn a D into a H. (well, if someone wants to try, go ahead, new wings, prop, fuselage, cowling, canopy… landing gear, wheel well… I guess you could use a stabilizer and fin/rudder, with an extended bit for the latter). As the previously reviewed F-82, This is a kit not for the faint hearted,… more |
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XA2D-1 Skyshark Landing Gear & Wing Folds for Clear PropPublished:
SAC is an interesting company; started around the year 2010 or so, they continue to provide model landing gear and other stress-handling parts in a world that some would say at the time “has no place for them here”. I differ in this view, one of their first sets was for the Italieri S-3 Viking, and I learned they had released a 1/32 set to replace the Revell JU-88 plastic set that was notorious for breaking off the wheel axle just in moving the model around; I was sold. SAC proves itself resilient where the naysayers are proven wrong (continually, I add) in the value of these vital bits. Others make stronger brass versions, but you will pay dearly for them in my experience, and they are more difficult to install due to being too stiff. I like SAC’s choice of metals. The Clear… more |
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Tiny Tim Rocket Set for Late WWII AircraftPublished:
Brengun/Hauler provides the modeling community with items considered perfect for limited run production. In this case, who would have thought the much-vaunted but not really that effective unguided rocket weapon, affectionately called “Tiny Tim”, would end up as an available add-on? A logical development of 5” unguided rockets employed by Navy and Marine aircraft in the later portion of the Pacific war, Tiny Tim was essentially a standoff-penetration weapon attached to a rocket tube, designed to be used against bunkers or ships. (Supposedly the rocket body was manufactured by tubing used in oil field work, if you believe wiki). The weapon was aimed, dropped like a bomb, and a lanyard fired the rocket motor when it cleared the aircraft. Accuracy was, as expected, questionable,… more |
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Avro Vulcan B Mk.I Landing Gear (Replacement for Airfix, 2021 Mold)Published:
Here we are with one more of SAC’s white metal replacement to improve the longevity of the models we slavishly spend so much time and cash on. In the case of the new-tool 2019 release Vulcan, it’s a LARGE model and the metal replacement is a good idea. How do I know this? Wellllll, back in 1984, around May, I had purchased the then-new Airfix Vulcan in 1/72 scale as my first acquisition while stationed at RAF Mildenhall. I bought the kit at a housewares store on the high street. What a concept, model kits for sale EVERYWHERE back then it seems. I took a year to build it due to a lot of reasons, but in the end I had a great model. And the gear wheels and tires kept breaking off. Particularly when I moved and boxed up my built up kits. I know this because I still have… more |
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Mig-27,Mig-27M Flogger D/J Landing GearPublished:
Once again SAC comes up with a solution to the problem of failing Plastic Landing gear on a “different design” landing gear situation. The idea of “dead cockroach” landing gear is not new; it is a solution to a problem aircraft designers have had to deal with for years. My personal favorite are all the Cessna’s (Cardinal and Skymaster come to mind) which had the gear partially extend or retract, making for dicey and spectacular landings when the pilot runs out of fuel and absolutely HAS to land. Videos are out there, go to Youtube or whatever to see for yourself. In this case, the MIG 23/27 series has a really interesting set of gear that pretty well folds up, around and in to the fuselage. On the real thing physics work differently than in model form Metal Origami is… more |
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Cold War Soviet Fighters #1Published:
FIRST THINGS: THANK YOU to Mig Jimenez and his team for supporting IPMS USA and the reviewer Corps. We collectively advance when we work with Manufacturers who have the dual goal of (1) customer satisfaction and (2) having a great product. Read more anon… OK I have to confess, I have used some MIG products in the past, and was impressed (Metallics), but had not used “standard” coatings from Mig. Reason? I have too many bottles of paint, and every new manufacturer has to make a living. More on MIG (from their website): “With this set, you will be able to paint the complex schemes used by the former Soviet Union consisting of 4 to 5 different colors, a solution saving precious modelling time. These exact colours have been slightly lightened to compensate for the '… more |
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SBD-3 Dauntless Canopy Vacform (Brengun Kit)Published:
One other little detail Brengun does well is VACFORM canopies for their models. In this case, you get two types of canopy closed or open. Use a REALLY new #11 blade, ceramic since the old style won’t do anything but bend. Use your favorite cementing method. I use blue-light clear cement, it works great and doesn’t cloud the plastic. I painted the canopy with acrylic, and then used a toothpick to clean up the old man brush painting squiggles… it worked great. and the new canopy was better than the two-scale feet thick model original, the better to show off the detail I could not paint into place. Brush painting the model seemed best (for me) and I didn’t have too many problems. Glosscoat, decals, and install the prop and spinner. Highly recommended for… more |
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SBD-3 Dauntless Exterior (Brengun Kit)Published:
Think SMALL. Then realize PE really does a good job of upgrading one of these kits. Thanks to BRENGUN for providing (once again) a couple of great upgrades for our use. IPMS USA Sincerely appreciates your support! The subject of this review is the 24 part PE upgrade set for Brengun’s own SBD-3, along with engine, main bomb, four wheel/tire assemblies, and a challenge to the small builder’s eyesight. I had the basic kit, in a moment of insanity thinking “nice size”. Then I realized it was really small. Almost too small. But Brengun, being experts at this figured out a solution. That solution being an upgrade set for their own kit! PE flaps/dive brakes, resin bomb body and PE details for same, Wheels and tires for both land and sea (A-24 and SBD) versions… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for Meng 1/48 F-18E-GPublished:
Thanks again to our steadfast IPMS supporter, Ross at SAC… and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review. Metal gear frequently makes a difference in the longevity of your efforts in modeling, and Ross and his team are supporting us! This set simply replaces the main and nose gear for the new Meng F-18E through Growler series. Although Meng plastic is pretty sturdy, and the kit gear will serve the purpose out of the box, the simplicity of installing metal gear on the assembled airframe with a trailing-strut arrangement is a worthwhile effort. 19 Parts include two main gear struts with extension and drag/retraction arms incorporated, and a nose gear with the catapult arm and control rods. As stated before, Meng’s plastic is admirably durable, but the landing… more |