Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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1/32 Scale Ruler (with Metric Conversion)Published:
IPMS/USA thanks Masterpiece models for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one of their unique (and very useful) tools. I understand this was one of the items debuting at the Nooga Nats… Lucky you guys! And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me for a review opportunity. This is a clear ruler, approximately, well, ok, it’s actually exactly six inches long end to end. It is, however, a simple concept. Making accurate measurements for larger kits on a clear (Styrene or Lexan, I can’t tell) ruler. VERY nice. A very convenient and accurate tool, this ruler does what it says; measures in 1/32 scale feet and meters, one on each side of the face. No turning over to read calculations, no math. Just hold it up to the part to ensure it is correctly scaled out. Can… more |
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Nose Gear Door and Actuator Piston for A-4B/CPublished:
IPMS/USA welcomes Jeffrey Kubiak of Hypersonic to the list of producers of useful bits and bobs for those of us with Advanced Modelers Syndrome (AMS). And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. Jeffrey began Hypersonic models in the UK, and has recently moved to Japan… a major change of scenery. Originally he started up with resin and detail upgrades for the Special Hobby X-15 kits… and now he’s expanding… making up for lost time, so visit his site for not only this item, but several upgrades aimed at improving the Academy F-4 kits, and, most recently, the Zoukei Mura Phantoms as well. Consisting of 2 perfectly-cast resin parts, this nose gear door is a total replacement for the kit item. It addresses the “busy” factor missing on the venerable… more |
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Kittyhawk UH-1NPublished:
First, thanks to Glenn for providing IPMS USA with this kit, and IPMS leadership for passing it on to me. Kitty Hawk’s new UH-1N has obvious ties with the recently released UH-1W from the same firm. The “Whiskey” has four-bladed main and tail rotors along with scabbed on antenna and systems, giving it a purposeful, definitely non-aerodynamic look, along with weaponry fit for a short, hot firefight. The kit also draws on the recently released UH-1D/H from Kittyhawk, as many of the sprue trees are from that kit as well. The UH-1N (November) however, was originally developed under Bell’s auspices of the natural improvement of a helicopter in overwater and hot, low-density air environments, whereby two-engines are better than one. The “November” has proven longevity and is still… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for 1/48 Eduard Spitfire Mk IXe and XVIPublished:
IPMS/USA again thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. Consisting of two (that’s 2!) complete sets of gear, it’s pretty simple. Two main gear struts, two external torque links, and one tail gear. The tail gear is not the standard “Bar and lever” we see on so many early spitfires, but an actual oleo. This set includes the torque scissors. It can be added as an afterthought to building, thereby preventing one from breaking it off during construction. Test fit into the wing and tail sockets to make sure no cleanup… more |
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Mig-29 (9-13) ExhaustPublished:
IPMS/USA continues to welcomes the return of the Advanced Modeling/Amigo team for sending us this new-technology set; their lineup continues to grow! And thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team… Advanced Modeling/AMIGO (Hereafter referred to as AM for simplicity) is a Russian company specializing in modern Soviet and Russian aircraft accessories; their first items released a few years ago were weapons, and they have recently branched out into other items, in this case an upgrade to Zvezda’s Mig-29 9-13 kit exhaust, augmentor tubes, and afterburner nozzles. Once again, AM’s accessory shows the extent 3-D printing has improved the appearance of our available aftermarket… included are 8 resin parts: Exhaust augmentor tubes with excellent cooling liner… more |
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Metal Landing Gear for SU-30MKK Flanker GPublished:
IPMS/USA again thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed. Consisting of 7 separate well-cast white metal parts, this gear is the usual replacement for the kit gear. Hobbyboss provides excellent kits with great detail, but usually has some things simplified. In this case the landing gear has everything it needs attached to the main gear, and as to the nose you add kit shimmy dampers, doors, and taxi lights. The FOD/Mud Guard is supplied with the set as well. This SAC set adds the usual structural strength to the… more |
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New Ware B-2 Masking setsPublished:
NWAM0360: Windows, Wheels, and Landing Lights: $6.03 (140 Czech Koruna as of 16 Aug 2019) NWAM0361: RAM panels: $17.21 (400 Czech Koruna as of 16 Aug 2019) Every once in a while this reviewer makes a serious mistake…due to whatever reason. In this case I fell into the trap of writing a review for a company product (New Ware, in this case) and crediting a different company ( DN Models, who I have been using frequently on other projects). No excuse for this and my sincere apologies for both companies. IPMS/USA thanks a new supplier, New Ware, for… more |
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Tempest Mk. V Photoetch Set - LEPT DecalsPublished:
EVEN more THANKS VERY MUCH to our friends at Eduard in Czechoslovakia!, and Phil and John in the specialized shipping to reviewer’s business. This review is uber simple without a tip requirement for the driver. It’s the basic stencils from the Tempest Profipak kit decal sheet, to which you can apply to the marking you want from the kit OR some other source. It’s all there… and the only decals I didn’t use were those specific to certain kit markings; like the door outline in red with a lot of instructions on how to open it, the yellow “cut here on the canopy, and myriad two-dot decals to indicate airframe bolts with specialty metal composition. I did not have time or vision to put the dots on. Sorry. These are some of the best decals I’ve used in a while; they… more |
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Tempest Mk.V OVERTREESPublished:
Once more a rousing THANK YOU VERY MUCH to our friends at Eduard in Czechoslovakia! How I ended up doing this review? A co-reviewer ran into some personal difficulties and I volunteered to finish his review for him. Thanks David for sending these items, and John for supporting my effort to help a fellow reviewer. When I received the box from David, I knew what I was getting. The review will be in four separate tomes: first, this one, to cover the Overtree kit, the resin Brassin wheel set, a brassin etch detail fret, and the Overtree stencil decal set. Eduard is on to something here, and it’s very sensible to me. The Overtrees line provides an economical alternative to buying a full-up kit with more decals, resin, etc, and I am very appreciative to Eduard for doing the “… more |
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Tempest Mk. V Photoetch SetPublished:
EVEN more THANKS VERY MUCH to our friends at Eduard in Czechoslovakia! When I received the box , I knew what I was getting. The review will be four separate tomes to cover the Over tree kit, the wheel set, and the over tree stencil decal set. This continues my comment about Eduard having a great business model. In this case, the overtree is an “Over PE”, an additional parts set containing instrument panels, seat harnesses, all the cockpit levers and handles, along with myriad side panel and quadrant details. What is also added is the fish-plates which were riveted on certain circumferential panels on the tail section, (right in front of the stabilizer and fin), to spread out vibration and stresses which were causing fatal operatonal crashes due to the tails ripping… more |