Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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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 |
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Waco CG-4A GliderPublished:
IPMS/USA welcomes the proprietors of Masterpiece models back, and serious appreciation for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their newest releases, in a scale never before attempted: 1/35th! A perfect diorama subject, we certainly will see some of these in a D-Day or Market Garden setting. And my personal thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. Both wings are two-part and fit extremely well. Using the instructions, pre-drill holes to accept the pins from the struts. These are functional and required items, and do a great job on supporting the almost no-dihedral position they are installed in. There are engraved lines in the wings, chord-wise, that represent where the ribs go. On another build I will be filling those… more |
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Scale Aviation Modeller, December 2019Published:
IPMS/USA appreciates the opportunity to review this periodical and report on the content! OK, I am one of “those guys” who really enjoys reading periodicals/magazines. They provide a method to weed out the potential poorly manufactured models out there (a rare occurrence these days with modern molding techniques) and highlight the benefit of a given kit. A win for me as I therefore know of and don’t buy poorly executed plastic. And if I do, it’s because it saves me a lot of scratch building. Plus, I learn a lot of technique and history from modeling. What is not to like? My first experience with hard-core modeling magazines was the few produced here in the United States in the late 1960’s. Royal Air Force Review, a predecessor to many of the magazines currently produced… more |
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F-117 Sixteen Marking OptionsPublished:
IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Caracal Decals for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their growing number of releases, with useful additions for those who build. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. Kurst does a great job on his products… accurate, perfect resolution, and handling subjects which we have needed for many projects others won’t touch. Caracal crams as many various color schemes into one sheet as will fit, and offers a second, “stencil and detail only” sheet to allow one to model a squadron of 16 different F-117 markings if so inclined. (You get one in this sheet) . He also offers the stencil and generic information sheet, so you could take one of these (of which, again, you get ONE in the F-117 sheet… more |
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AMC DH.2 Landing GearPublished:
Thanks once again for another great set from SAC, and thanks to Bill and Phil for sending it out for review. Recommended Kits
The review item is the typical high standard and normal from SAC; a direct replacement for the kit items except these are cast metal. Consisting of three parts; the two main gear “A” frame braces, and the cross brace/axle assembly. WARNING: Make sure you look at the kit parts to determine how much of the casting frame to remove. On the camel I built a couple of years ago, I did not do so and ended up with a short, butt matched installation verses having two tabs adding strength inside the plastic… be forewarned to not remove too much metal off the struts!… more |
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Bristol Beaufighter TF.X Landing GearPublished:
Thanks once again for another great set from SAC, and thanks to Bill and Phil for sending it out for review. Recommended Kits:
The review item is the typical high standard and normal from SAC; a direct replacement for the kit items except these are cast metal. Consisting of 20 parts (!!!), providing two main gear and two tail gear (one extended, one compressed), there is not much to describe except to remove the parts from the pour runners with side nippers, use flat 220 wet/dry to prepare the cut stub, then install the gear on the model… more |
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Detail Set for DO-335APublished:
IPMS/USA sends warm regards once again to Piotr at Master Model for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of his masterful (!) Turned metal releases, which have become a gold-standard for many of us who do a lot of model building. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. I am constantly amazed at what comes out of Piotr’s shop… sure, some of us can cut brass tubing with the best.. but the machine work on the MG 151 cannon, the “Through the engine crankshaft centerline cannon, the pitot tube, and the very delicate IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) FuG 25 antenna always has me wondering how. Then again we live in an age of metalworking (and other material) magic. Certainly this set fits a niche that is difficult to… more |