Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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P-51D Wheel BayPublished:
Thanks to Aires for providing IPMS USA this wheel well set to review… We appreciate your support, and thanks to IPMS USA leadership for allowing me to review this item. OK, so does the Hobbyboss P-51D kit require a new wheel well? I’d say yes, due to the low cost and relative accuracy of the kit. In the photos you can see the side-by-side comparison, of which I say “There is no comparison”. There will be modifications required on this kit even if you don’t have AMS. The Aires item makes a difference! If you have the Hobbyboss kit, buy this upgrade! There is nothing else to say here… Thanks again to Aires for providing this review package to IPMS USA! |
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KFIR C2/C7 Pitot TubePublished:
First: Thanks to Aires for providing IPMS USA this pitot tube to review! We appreciate your support, with the usual nod to IPMS USA leadership for allowing me to review this item. A simple upgrade for the Kinetic KFIR; it is a direct replacement, complete with the forward part of the under-nose fairing tip. Superglue one of the three pitot tubes into place, paint it, and call it a day! This was literally a three-minute install. I tested one of the spare pitot tubes for “twang” durability; I held the end in my hand, bent it back about ¼ inch, and it sprung back into shape. It will NOT bent back totally on itself; that results in a bent or broke tube. That said, unless you run the model off into a wall or stick it in your buddy, this should last a long time. … more |
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USAF Maintenance Crew Farm Gate Operations Vietnam War 1965-1973Published:
First: Thanks to Aires for providing IPMS USA this figure to review! One of six in this review series, each shows a passion and dedication Aires have to providing the finest resin products. We appreciate your support, with the usual nod to IPMS USA leadership for allowing me to review these figures. Produced under the Aerobonus branch of Aires, this particular figure, a Maintainer, like the other figures has outstanding detail and fidelity. The figure is wearing the “campaign hat” with the edges folded up, and a standard set of two-piece issue fatigues with a holstered .45 caliber pistol and cartridge belt. He is in a standing position, looking level to his left, with both hands resting on his upper thighs. Judging by the appearance and sculpture, this guy was a senior NCO in… more |
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USAF Fighter Pilot Vietnam War 1960-1975Published:
First: Thanks to Aires for providing IPMS USA this figure to review! One of six in this review series, each shows a passion and dedication Aires have to providing the finest resin products. We appreciate your support, with the usual nod to IPMS USA leadership for allowing me to review these figures. Produced under the Aerobonus branch of Aires, this particular figure, a USAF fighter pilot in vietnam with equipment appropriate to 1960-1975, has outstanding detail and fidelity; consisting of four resin parts (main body, left and right arm, and flight helmet). The pilot is wearing the standard “Overseas hat”, which will require a deft hand for painting the silver piping and rank. The wearer does NOT have the obligatory “ducktail” in the back, so this guy can’t be a real fighter… more |
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Soviet Air Force Colonel, Korean War, 1951Published:
First: Thanks to Aires for providing IPMS USA this figure to review! One of six in this review series, each shows a passion and dedication Aires have to providing the finest resin products. We appreciate your support, with the usual nod to IPMS USA leadership for allowing me to review these figures. Included with each set are painting instructions in color! Produced under the Aerobonus branch of Aires, this particular figure, a Russian Colonel from the Korean War era, 1951, has outstanding detail and fidelity; consisting of three resin parts (main body, left and right arm). The figure is wearing standard pants, shirt, and coat for the period. The head and shirt collar with tie are separate, wearing a standard Wheel cap. The left arm is casually in the left pants pocket… more |
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Soviet Air Force Colonel, Korean War, 1951Published:
First: Thanks to Aires for providing IPMS USA this figure to review! One of six in this review series, each shows a passion and dedication Aires have to providing the finest resin products. We appreciate your support, with the usual nod to IPMS USA leadership for allowing me to review these figures. Included with each set are painting instructions in color! Produced under the Aerobonus branch of Aires, this particular figure, a Russian Colonel from the Korean War era, 1951, has outstanding detail and fidelity; consisting of three resin parts (main body, left and right arm). The figure is wearing standard pants, shirt, and coat for the period. The head and shirt collar with tie are separate, wearing a standard Wheel cap. The left arm is casually in the left pants pocket… more |
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The Red Baron, Manfred von RichthofenPublished:
First off, thanks to MRC for providing us this review item… we in IPMS USA appreciate and value your support! This review was a bit different for me; I tend toward aviation and naval subjects, and this particular series keeps cranking out interesting figures. I have a DR-1 that could use some company, so here we are… Comprised of 30 parts in gray plastic, with a red circular display stand, I dove in and had everything together in quick order. My preferred method of figure construction is to assemble everything that can be painted or needs filling ahead of time. This kit is broken down into right and left leg halves, upper torso halves, and lower mid-rise coat tails. The arms are single-piece items, as is the head and boots. The left arm is displayed with the… more |
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20MM Cannon Barrels for Zoukei-Mura 1/32 J2M3 RaidenPublished:
The continuing line of people who would say “thanks!” goes around the building, down the street, and across town to Quickboost for providing yet one more of their fast-assembly improvements for AMS modeling… also, thanks go to our tireless IPMS reviewer corps leaders for sending this item my way! This is a simple, four-barrel set. You may well ask, “So, they have hollow ends… and the Zoukei-Mura (ZM) kit has slide molded barrels that are already hollow”. Or you could say “spend 20 minutes with a #11 knife and thin the walls yourself”. (It’s also a great way to do a blood glucose test on your fingertips…) Well, that’s what I was thinking until I held these up to the kit items. The kit barrels ARE hollow, but the flash supressors are a bit thicker than the Quickboost… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for Airfix Sea Harrier FRS-1, FA-2, GR-3 HarrierPublished:
Thanks to Ross at SAC for yet another outstanding metal gear set; IPMS USA are pleased to receive the support from your contributions! This set is, the usual, a simple drop-in replacement for the kit items. The set contains a compressed oleo main gear strut, a two-part nose gear, and the retraction strut for the nose gear. Not much to say; use superglue to assemble; they fit perfectly, and impress with strength and “peace of mind” with attaching wheels/tires to the axles. As usual, SAC landing gear are an excellent investment. The Harrier, in particular, is noteworthy for having the fragile plastic gear on most kits breaking off during handling; not so with SAC gear! Thanks again to Ross and SAC for continuing their line of strong metal gear! |
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Kfir C2/C7 Antennas and Air ScoopsPublished:
THANK YOU to our friends and suppliers at Quickboost for these excellent antenna and air scoop details, which are for use on the Kinetic and Wingman KFIR C2/C7 kits. The link to the scoops is http://www.quickboost.net/Obrazky/48578.jpg Not much to say here; no seam on the air scoops, delicate details, and antennas that look better than the kit items… and no filling of the air scoop seams Highly recommended for improved detail on either kit version,Thanks again to Quickboost and IPMS USA for providing these items… |
