Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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Bf 109G-6 WheelsPublished:
IPMS USA is grateful to Eduard for kindly providing yet another magnificent example of one of their new items to review, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me. This add-on release is designed for the new and vastly improved 1/48 ME-109 series. This wheel and tire set is designed to be used on the ME-109G-6, but also works on the G-5 and probably others. The four-part set includes a paint mask. It’s a simple thing to spray the parts with Automotive primer, paint the wheels separately, or use the masks to keep the gloss black off the tires if you assemble the hubs to the wheels first, and then carefully attach the whole thing to the wheel struts. Epoxy or superglue works, just be careful. Eduard’s new ‘109 is a fantastic kit… and this… more |
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Bf 109G-6 PropellerPublished:
IPMS USA is grateful to Eduard for kindly providing yet another magnificent example of one of their new items to review, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me.. This add-on release is designed for the new and vastly improved 1/48 ME-109 series. This propeller and spinner set is designed to be used on the ME-109G-6, but also works on the G-5 and probably others. The six-part set (including the prop installation Jig) makes easy work of a tough task. The spinner is better defined than the kit plastic, as are the propellers and the hub and backplate. Also included is a prop shaft with a highly-detailed castellated installation nut and hollow gun tube. This would be a great set for a diorama! After carefully sawing off the casting block off… more |
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ME-109G-5Published:
As usual, IPMS USA are eternally grateful to Eduard for kindly providing yet another magnificent example of their new items to review, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me.. This kit is the second release in the new and vastly improved ME-109 series. This being the ME-109G-5, the kit parts provide all that is required to add a properly outfitted -5 to your display. In the box are the absolutely magnificent base parts for generating the ME-109G and K series aircraft in 1/48 scale. Others have said it but I shall as well; Eduard’s model epitomizes the breed and has been well-worth the wait. This release utilizes the standard canopy hood with dessicant pips on the inside, along with the upgrades intended to show a high-altitude pressurized Gustav… more |
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Bf 109G-5 CockpitPublished:
IPMS USA is grateful to Eduard for kindly providing yet another magnificent example of one of their new items to review, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me. This add-on release is designed for the new and vastly improved 1/48 ME-109 series. This set is to be used on the ME-109G-5. The kit parts provide all that is required to add a properly outfitted -5 to your display, but this cockpit upgrade greatly improves the kit item. Read on… In the box are parts sufficient to upgrade the kit G-5 cockpit set. The fantastic color instrument panel PE set, along with other items, dresses-up the resin side panels and floorboard. Beginning with the floor, you are provided breech cover options for the 20MM or 30MM “through the driveshaft” cannon; also… more |
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Su-24M (Fencer D) Pitot TubePublished:
Once again our friend Piotr keeps cranking these things out… THANKS VERY MUCH for sending IPMS USA another of your growing line of turned metal Pitot tubes, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it on to me to review…. This is, again, a world-class improvement and upgrade to the kit plastic. Actually, it’s a step beyond, as included is what appears to be a 3-D printed part with all the vanes (which cause us old guys to have apoplectic fits) molded on one tube! FANTASTIC!. The Master data probe consists of two metal parts and one resin part with all 8 vanes attached to it and protected in a foam cutout box. These three simple items directly replace the kit pitot probe and air data vane assembly. This is an easy addition to improve the longevity of your kits… more |
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AM-48-118 TSR.2 Pitot TubePublished:
Master Models once again provides IPMS USA with examples of machine-shop excellence… We are extremely thankful to Piotr for providing examples of his work to review, and I appreciate the opportunity to use and report on Master Model products via the Leaders of IPMS USA The Airfix TSR.2 was one of the last models to come out of the Airfix stable back in the late 2000-2005 year group, before Hornby took over and totally restarted their lineup. I bought the kit as it was (1) the only 1/48 non-Vacform version of this aircraft, and (2) thought I could have a great time building it. I also invested in CMK resin to bring it up to a higher level of detail. What a masochist I am. Needless to say, after four years and three trips to the shelf of doom, I finally said to… more |
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Su-24 Fencer Landing Gear (Trum)Published:
Ross at SAC just keeps cranking these things out. THANKS VERY MUCH for sending IPMS USA another of your expansive line of metal landing gear, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it on to me to review. This is the now-expected, much improved upgrade to the kit plastic. The real SU-24 has a complex landing gear which is, per Russian standard, designed to allow the aircraft to operate from less-than-optimal runways. Trumpeter has done a great job in emulating their design engineering, but due to the limitations of injection molding, has turned the already complex gear into a more complex assembly. The main gear consists of one core (either metal or plastic, builder’s choice), two strut halves, two gear swing arm halves with axles, and detail parts and struts. To… more |
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T-28B - D Metal Landing GearPublished:
Ross at SAC just keeps cranking these thinks out… THANKS VERY MUCH for sending IPMS USA another of your expansive line of metal landing gear, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it on to me to review…. This is the now-expected, much improved upgrade to the kit plastic. Consisting of 15 metal parts directly replacing the kit items, they are an easy addition to improve the longevity of your kits as they sit on display… With the T-28, like their 1/48 counterparts, the nose gear is particularly vulnerable to damage; it is not a fork-mounted axle, but an offset arm, and this weakness usually results in strut sag/failure within a year on bigger models. … Not much to say on this one; I glued everything together and installed on the mostly-finished… more |
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Wheel, Tire, and Canopy Mask SetPublished:
First up, a "Heavy duty" THANK YOU to the Furball Aero Design team for this Mask set, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it to me to use and review…. As always we appreciate the generous support of our smaller companies who provide us great things we never knew we needed or could use, but now find harder to do without! Masking of canopies before airbrushing is one thing I still do the hard way; apply tape, burnish down with a toothpick, and cut around the canopy. Either kabuki paper tape or Scotch magic frosted tape have been my standard mask for years. I have tried masks from vinyl from other companies, and have had limited success, mostly because they tend to be in flexible, too stiff, aggressively stick to the plastic when I don't want, and don't when I do,… more |
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Mirage IIIC Landing Gear (Ita)Published:
Once again, extreme appreciation and thanks to Ross at SAC for sending us another of your expansive line of metal landing gear, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it to me. This is the standard SAC upgrade to the kit plastic. The set consists of 11 parts: Two main struts, two main strut actuators, and the remainder builds up into the detailed nose gear assembly of strut, nose gear fork, and steering actuators with shimmy dampers. The SAC solution for stronger gear; superglue the upper strut and lower fork together, let it cure. The shimmy damper arm and the damper itself are cemented to the strut, and the extension/drag brace is glued into place. Then carefully glue the whole thing into the nose gear well. To finish after installation, spray with… more |