Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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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 |
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Osprey Combat Aircraft Series 133, Vickers Wellington Units of Bomber CommandPublished:
If not for the continued support of companies such as Osprey, IPMS USA would not have the excellent review opportunities we do. Thanks very much to our stateside distributor of these great books, Mr. Wellington. Was not he the guy who’s Army someone else’s’ Army, named Napoleon, at Waterloo? (Answer: yes) And where is “Waterloo”? (Answer: Belgium). I’ve seen that battlefield from both the air and ground (flew over it in an H-53C in a typical European Rainstorm) and it’s not very big as battlefields go. And not once did I associate it with a bomber. Until I put two and two together and got seven (new math). Oh, and it’s not a set of waterproof rubber boots (“Wellingtons”, or “Wellies” as the Brits call them) either. Fast forward to 2018: Airfix releases a really GREAT Wellington… more |
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AGM 45 Missiles and Launch RailsPublished:
IPMS/USA appreciates the continued support of Jan at Hauler/Brengun for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of his unique and useful products! Today’s review is a pair of AGM-45 Missiles and Launch rails from Brengun. What you get: Two Missiles, launch rail adaptors, decals (YAY), and diorama parts. The diorama parts are the transport spreader bars in PE for the aft Missile launch lug, and the electrical umbilical’s for a pre-loaded missile. Also included are the missile motor nozzle rings. The missiles are well detailed with appropriate screw holes and scribing. The missile forward wings are separate, which allows them to be displayed in “off-line” condition, or in a missile transport coffin with the wings off. (This is not included).… more |
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Atlantis White-Fruehauf Gas TruckPublished:
IPMS/USA appreciates the continued support of Atlantis Models for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with another step back in time for us old guys! Atlantis Models continues their release schedule of one more kit I did not remember being on the shelves in my younger years. This Tractor/Trailer is advertised as a multiple use model, for both civilian and Military use. Included in the box are bright green injection molded parts, and a decal sheet for “Dino the Dinosaur”, company mascot for the Sinclair oil company. I found this particularly intriguing, as one of my favorite gasoline companies when I was living in Rapid City, South Dakota was Sinclair oil company with it’s trademark Dino the dinosaur. If you are familiar with the “Dinosaur park” on one of the hilltops… more |
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Mirage 2000Published:
IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Glenn and the Kittyhawk team for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their “nobody else did it” releases So, on to the next Kitty Hawk “new” kit… This kit is one of Kitty Hawk’s better releases. The plastic is strong yet easy to work with, and receptive to standard cements. The parts have a clean appearance on the runners, and when assembled were accurate in dimensions and fit. External tanks that are round and require a minimum of seam cleanup made me happy. On to the build: this is not going to be a horsey/ducky rundown; everyone has a different view on how to do these things, and I thought this would be better. First: It is my personal opinion KittyHawk did not go overboard on cockpit detail. The… more |