SU-24M Fencer D Interior SA Set (Zoom) and Seatbelt Set

Published: August 14, 2011
Company: Eduard

Eduard. Say “Almost Perfect Instrument Panels.” Something I cannot do by my own hand…yet Eduard continues to provide excellent detail sets for not only instruments and switch panels, but also seat belts and ejection seat details. Thanks most high to our friends at Eduard for providing IPMS USA a chance to review more of their excellent sets!

I did the review of the Trumpeter SU-24 last year; it was a competent out of box build, but I thought at the time, “Too bad Eduard hasn’t released a decent instrument panel and detail set for the kit.” And here they are a year later! Both of these sets fully detail-out the already impressive Trumpeter cockpit for the SU-24. I purchased an Aires cockpit set for the kit a while back, but when the Eduard parts arrived, it was time to go to town… more

B-52B with X-15 Experimental Aircraft

Published: August 10, 2011
Company: Monogram

One sure way to mess up the kit speculators is to re-release a rare kit. In this case, re-releasing the classic Monogram B-52 with X-15 combination was eagerly awaited, as some on the open market paid over $400 for this particular kit, which was released in the “Young Astronaut” series back in 1992 or so. Thanks to Revell/Monogram for providing us this excellent kit!

For those of you who remember when this kit came out, the venerable 1967/68 Monogram B-52D mold was modified to include the cutout on the starboard inboard flap to accommodate the X-15 fin assembly, and the clear parts tree was modified to include the viewing bubble prominently protruding from that side of the aircraft. The tail quad.50 caliber machine gun stinger turret was omitted like on the real aircraft, and… more

MIG 23 Packed Drogue Chute and Clamshell doors for Trumpeter Kit

Published: August 9, 2011
Company: Quickboost

Thanks once again to Quickboost for providing IPMS USA review items; I’m always amazed they find more to detail out, even on the most complex of today’s models…

In this case, Quickboost provides a simple replacement for the closed kit drogue chute housing. Three parts; two clamshells, and one drogue chute container. I painted the two clamshell doors RLM 02 on the interior, a medium green on the outside, and yellow/tan on the chute. Detail is superlative; there are even actuator cables and a lock loop on the back of the chute container. (yep, it looks like an ear of corn). Inside the clamshells are open bays and rivet/cable details. You could spend hours doing this from scratch; someone at Quickboost did!

This was an opportunity for me to try something on an already… more

CVN-65 USS Enterprise Hangar Deck Scale Drawings

Published: July 24, 2011
Book Author(s): Tom Pope
Company: Tom Pope

Editor: Contact Tom Pope for obtaining the drawings.

It’s not often I do a review on something before I have fully worked it, but this one deserves the time. How many of you have the Tamiya 1/350 USS Enterprise in your stash? And how many of you have thought of making a hangar deck for the model, but didn’t want the hassle of cut/fit/throw away, repeat? I just finished the Dragon Independence, and can categorically state a hangar deck makes a major impact on the final product… Why not the Enterprise? Although this is not provided in the kit, it doesn’t require too much work; that is, unless you don’t have dimensions and detail.

Enter Tom Pope’s drawing. He worked on this for two years, and is now ready to offer it on… more

Vickers Valiant BK. Mk 1

Published: July 9, 2011
Company: Airfix

Airfix. This iconic manufacturer that has come and gone, and returned throughout the years; they have returned under the support of Hornby, a well-established, forward thinking company, delivering what can only be described as world class kits. Reasonably priced, detailed far better than the old days, and coming back with models we have asked for; In this case, we have yet another example of what Airfix/Hornby can do; the Valiant! I have walked around underneath the surviving Valiant back in 1984 when visiting IWM Hendon, and it is a lot bigger than it looks in model form!

Included are 142 parts molded in medium gray plastic and clear. The overall texture is perfect for any of the required finishing options, and engraving is set so that after a coat of paint, it will still be… more

Airbus A330-200

Published: June 27, 2011
Company: Dragon Models

A huge “thanks!” to Alain at Dragon for providing IPMS/USA this kit. I was under the impression this would be a review of one of their famous 1/400 prebuild die-cast models… WRONG! This was a full-fledged build! This is the first of their new series of model aircraft which are to be built, not pre-made with Tampo markings…

Nobody does this scale like Dragon… Impressive off the bat; on to the model…

First: This is not just one model in a box; there are two A330’s in there! And markings for two, in this case “Air China”. Very colorful, and complex. Try painting that by hand, those of you who brag at being brush painters! In the box are two aircraft, one in-flight stand, and a set of landing gear. Now: if you have not experienced true microscopic modeling, try one of these… more

P-38 propeller and Spinner (with jig)

Published: June 23, 2011
Company: Quickboost

Thanks once again to Quickboost, and Aires Hobby Models for providing IPMS USA review items; more cool stuff for us!

This is a “well-then” item for me. I wondered why, and learned soon. Enclosed in the upgrade are propellers, spinners, and a jig to make sure the props are properly aligned. This is a cool set, and here’s why: in the side-by side pictures, you will note the kit items have a split spinner, with front and back parts. The props are ok, but could use a bit of “tweaking”. These are ok if you don’t mind a seam through where the props attach. I’ve built a few of these kits, and always had a bit of filler required to finish the spinner.

Enter Quickboost… filler no more! Remove the pour cast on the back by careful sanding, use the prop jig to mark and drill a hole on… more

SU-24M Fencer D Air Scoop

Published: June 23, 2011
Company: Quickboost

Thanks once again to Quickboost for providing IPMS USA review items; they have become quite prolific in output!

As usual, Quickboost provides a fast one-for-one replacement for the kit item, in this case the dorsal intake on the SU-24. A very visible item, the kit intake is a two-part box, and is “OK” out of the box; it uses the fuselage as its lower floor... Quick boost steps up and improves, providing an intake that has a more refined, rounded intake, and an exhaust section with the lower “floor” incorporated, which when carefully removed from the pour stub fits right in place of the kit items; it even has the locating tabs to make it easy.

I’ve heard some people ask “why” on other forums concerning Quickboost parts... In this case, having built the kit before, they just… more

H-13H Helicopter 2'n 1

Published: June 21, 2011
Company: Revell

One more excellent re- release from Revell; the copyright date is 1994 on this one, and I remember being able to purchase it for about the same price as it is being offered today. Thanks to Revell for providing IPMS USA this review item and the opportunity to build this kit again without collector prices!

This is a basic kit; originally released as a MASH bird, with a co-release of the MASH cast in another kit, targeted for the TV audiences. It is an accurate 1/32 kit of a late H-13; earlier versions had a single flat tank with non-tip weighted main rotor blades… Later ones had more power, twin fuel tanks, and weighted rotors to maintain rotor energy during autorotation. Up front, this is not a simple build.

The “2 in 1” theme refers to the options; gunship, medivac, and… more

De Havilland Mosquito FB VI Instrument panel

Published: June 9, 2011
Company: Airscale Model Aircraft Enhancements

Thanks first to Airscale for providing IPMS USA this product sample…. We sincerely appreciate it!

This is a simple, yet effective upgrade for the huge Airfix Mosquito. Consisting of a small set of instrument and panel decals, and an acetate sheet, the instructions guide you through installation. I unfortunately had sold my Mossie before this upgrade showed up; last week! (The postmark showed Dave Morrissette had put it in the mail back in March!). Lost in transit; a first for me. Guess I’ll be buying another Mossie… Because this would be an excellent upgrade to an already noteworthy kit.

If you have not viewed one of these instrument panel decals up close, let me warn you; addiction is a nice word. Absolutely a fantastic idea; the kit decals in the basic 1/24 Airfix… more