Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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F-16 Static DischargersPublished:
Thanks to Piotr at Master models for providing these incredible static dischargers to improve our models, and thanks to IPMS Reviewer Corps leaders for sending it to me… What is in the packet: an instruction sheet, and 14 very-tiny, jewelry-quality Static dischargers used on most F-16’s. Static dischargers are frequently molded on our models. And we modelers, being who we are, frequently break them off during construction. I personally remove them and install replacements or the kit items at the end of the build. Sometimes I won’t even bother; they are just fragile or are just way out of scale. Here is where Master’s turned metal items shine… As on my recently-reviewed Sukhoi 1/48 dischargers, these little 1/32 jewels for the F-16 are great. They have the proper… more |
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Mosquito Armament and Pitot TubePublished:
Thanks to Piotr at Master models for providing these incredible items to improve our models, and thanks to IPMS Reviewer Corps leaders for sending it to me… What is in the packet: a detailed instruction sheet, four .303 Machine gun barrels and cooling jackets/spring mounts, with flash hiders, four 20MM cannon barrels, and one turned metal pitot tube. These are simple replacement items for the kit barrels; they provide a better appearance than the kit items, and are well worth investing in for installation Replacing the kit .303 gun barrels is easy; carefully cut off the kit barrels, drill holes for the metal barrels, install the spring assemblies then the metal barrels, then slide the cooling jackets over the barrels. The flash suppressors then are cemented on… more |
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Lockheed C-2 Ejection SeatPublished:
Thanks to Aires for providing more of their excellent aftermarket parts for IPMS USA to review, and to IPMS leadership for sending it my way. This aftermarket set item replaces the kit ejection seat in any F-104A to C. It is not complex, but does require some vision assistance and gentle skills in the sheet-metalworking department. This set contains seven extremely-detailed, hard gray resin parts - the entire seat in one cast piece, with two separate foot plates, one ejection initiator handle, two ejection net extension arms, and a buckle fitting; one soft, flexible resin hose, and a fret of photoetch for the harness and fittings. First step is to spray all the gray resin and metal photoetch resin parts with primer. I used my favored primer, Tamiya Gray in a rattle can… more |
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B-29 Enola Gay / Bocks CarPublished:
Sincere appreciation to Model Rectifier for providing yet another review item, and to the IPMS USA reviewer corps leaders for sending it to me! The progeny of this kit goes back to 1992, when it was first released by Academy. It has been available on several occasions with different markings, and parts of it (Most notably the wings and stabilizers) have been re-released as a B-50 and a KC-97 with appropriate additional sprues to address the major differences on these aircraft. I originally reviewed this kit back then, and can say the same observations on that kit are valid today. First, the overall condition of the kit parts is outstanding. There is NO flash to be found, and the panel detail is crisp and clean. The assembly of the kit showed the parts fit to be accurate… more |
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British FRS 1 Sea HarrierPublished:
First: Sincere thanks to Lucky Model for sending us this most excellent kit, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for once again believing in my ability to deliver within a deadline…. OK so almost to the year I have the FRS 1 kit in hand; it really is great to have a new, accurate and easy to build Sea Harrier (SHAR) on hand. Let’s begin… The basic kit is the same as the FR 2; in the box, there are more external stores, and a decal sheet to be savored. If you really want to build every SHAR you have the decals to do it. Check out the scan… Cartograf manufactured, CROSSDELTA designed. VERY WELL DONE! Like last year, it was pleasant to have minimal aftermarket to deal with and have a great result. This time, instead of metal gear, I found a Martin Baker Mk 10… more |
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Sukhoi Static DischargersPublished:
Thanks to Piotr at Master models for providing these incredible “Nano-size” static dischargers to improve our models, and thanks to IPMS Reviewer Corps leaders for sending this my way! What is in the packet: an instruction sheet, and 14 microscopic jewelery-quality Static dischargers used on modern Sukhoi jets (Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34 and others). These are the newer, shorter versions; longer versions for early Sukhoi aircraft are available from Master under set 48-088. Quick history of the “Why are these here” on Static Dischargers. Static dischargers are just that; on most aircraft they are installed to facilitate static electrical discharge from the airframe, generated when the aircraft moves un-grounded through the fluid mass called air, In the old days they were… more |
C-54 Landing GearPublished:
First, THANKS SAC and IPMS USA for another review opportunity! SAC has been around for a few years, and to my mind fills a serious need for models. As kits get more expensive, they have more detail, weigh more, and you have more invested in it. Enter SAC. This set adds structural strength to the fragile gear on a 1/144 scale airliner-sized model, in this case the Minicraft C-54. The C-54 has a fork nose gear with one tire; the kit requires about ½ ounce of nose weight, so there is added stress to the nose gear. The gear is also scale in size, meaning it’s very fragile. Metal makes the difference between gear snapping off on provocation, or gear that withstands handling. Use of this SAC gear is simple, four parts: two main gear, the nose gear (the fragile part of the kit… more |
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Kagero DestroyerPublished:
Thanks ahead of time to Tamiya USA for providing IPMS USA this review kit, and thanks also to the reviewer corps leadership for sending it to me to build and review! This kit was originally released by Tamiya back in 2006 as the “Yukikaze”, which was the only survivor of the Japanese Kagero-class “A” of Destroyers in World war II. This new release of the kit is the lead ship Kagero itself. Kagero definied in English translates to “Mirage” or “Heat haze”. The net has a lot on it; I just found it interesting to read the history. Tamiya has, to my mind, an excellent sales process. The kit box captures your attention; a professionally-painted rendering of the actual ship in action, side-view diagrams of the craft, pictures of the assembled model with or without full hull,… more |
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B-1B External Upgrade SetPublished:
Roy Sutherland has been around for a bit, providing resin details we never knew could exist, but now do because of his commitment to improving basic products. This set is one of four that I used on the new (but old) Revell B-1B… they are in Roy’s “Barracudacast” resin accessories branch of his company. On to the review! This set is comprised of nine antennas for the most recent upgrades to the B-1; Preparation is simple; soak for a while in a cleaner like automotive spray tire cleaner (I used “bleach-white”), 409, or whatever, to get rid of the silicone mold lubricant that is inherent in resin casting. Run an old tooth brush over all, rinse fully with water, then allow to dry. I removed the casting blocks with a razor saw, then cleaned up with a metal “T” sander… more |
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B-1B Landing Gear for Revell KitPublished:
SAC has been around for a few years, and to my mind fills a serious need for models. As kits get more expensive, they have more detail, weigh more, and you have more invested in it. Plastic landing gear is not such a great idea in this case This set adds structural strength to the huge Revell B-1B. It also prevents the model from taking damage as simply as plastic or resin gear would. And face it, with all the resin I just put on this kit, it needs metal gear Now, I know many have not or will not build this kit. It’s huge. It has presence. And it’s an accurate rendition of the “Bone” .For the most part. But with work, it looks great when complete. This model is now on display on the overhead desk of my pod in our B-1/B-52 System Program office, and has garnered a lot of… more |