Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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WWII German Infantry - Driver for KettenkraftradPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks the Aires Aerobonus team once again for sending us this simple, excellent items for use in a diorama setting. And thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team… This set consists of one perfectly cast figure of a Kettenkraftrad driver. These vehicles were used on many German airfields later in the war to move smaller aircraft around the local flughafen. (One of these also served as a “Rabbit” decoy in the movie “Saving Private Ryan” in the last battle scene). Not much to say here: It’s simple but can be done to excellent standard if you have the tools, time, and skills. With my painting ability, I could do a lot better, but I’m on deadlines. You get the idea. Paint, wash, highlight, done. I just love micro photography too: shows up every… more |
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WWII German InfantryPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks the Aires Aerobonus team once again for sending us this simple, excellent items for use in a diorama setting. And thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team. This set consists of one perfectly cast figure of an infantryman with a pail/bucket and a rifle. Six parts on one pour block, with main body/torso, two arms, one head with helmet, one bucket, and one rifle. Standard fare with a lifelike pose in walking mode, looking to his left with helmet in hand. The facial features are natural and after light priming take paint and detail wash well. Details include a cartridge container and overall fall/winter jacket. It looks to be around 1940-42 uniform to me as an uninitiated figure guy. I added a metal handle for the bucket from fuse… more |
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WWII German InfantryPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks the Aires Aerobonus team once again for sending us this simple, excellent items for use in a diorama setting . And thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team… This set consists of one perfectly cast figure of an infantryman carrying a rifle. Five parts on one pour block, with main body/torso, two arms, one head with soft field hat with front bill, and one rifle. Another walking pose, good for being alone or walking with the other members of this particular set, looking to his left with mauser in hand. The facial features are natural and after light priming take paint and detail wash well. Details include a cartridge container and overall fall/winter jacket. Triple “clip” pouch, and again a medium weight winter jacket. As on the… more |
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WWII German InfantryPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks the Aires Aerobonus team once again for sending us this simple, excellent item for use in a diorama setting. And thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team. This set consists of one perfectly cast figure of an infantryman carrying a Panzerschrek (PS) round on the shoulder. Five parts on one pour block, with main body/torso, two arms, one head with soft field hat with front bill, and one PS round. This one is a standing relaxed pose, good for being alone or walking with the other members of this particular set, looking to his left with weapon over the left shoulder. The detail includes the firing handle on the PS. The facial features are natural and after light priming take paint and detail wash well. Details include an overall fall/… more |
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FAC & BS BOMBER OSCAR DEUCES USAF/VNAF O-2A/O-2B Skymasters in the Vietnam WarPublished:
AoA (Angle of Attack) decals: Continuing their focus on Vietnam War subjects. We sincerely appreciate AoA sending IPMS/USA their latest release for review (and thanks also to IPMS USA Reviewer corps leadership for sending this sheet my way). This decal set includes stenciling for two aircraft, so you can get two, maybe three marking options out of your investment if you are careful. The modeler is up front provided options to build at least two of 14 different O-2 aircraft. First offerings are painted the plain “vanilla” gray with white top wings, (to help them stand out from the jungle and clouds). There are 8 subjects with different tail, zap, and other markings, including one South Vietnamese marked aircraft. Three more options are painted overall black for night… more |
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Big Ed Set for Revell 1/32 P-51-25 - Part 3 Masking and CanopiesPublished:
(Again, no preamble this time; only building reports. ) The exterior set contained one item overlooked by many; behind the set of holes on the cheeks of the chin scoop is a set of interior grating; What this is FOR, I have no clue, but it’s there, and the fun part of hogging out plastic on a small rectangular part is, well, not there. But it’s mandatory, and I’ve put it aside for now so I can finish up the rest of the other review items I have lurking in the “to build” pile. The final item provided in the Big Ed set is a set of canopy masks. Now, mind, I will remind myself to check in the future, because this is not your ordinary set of masks. No. It includes the interior masking! So, after I had dutifully fitted half the INTERIOR mask around the EXTERIOR of the bubble… more |
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Big Ed Set for Revell 1/32 P-51D-25 Part 2: The Cockpit Continued, Seat Harness, and Exterior SetPublished:
(No preamble this time; only building reports. ) The remaining item I tackled here was the seat itself. The Eduard set 32 920 included in the big Ed set has a very well-done P-51 seat, complete with the aft stiffener, and some other little details. It is pretty well self-explanatory how to fold it all into place. The seat requires some gap-filling superglue to properly assemble, as there is little surface on which to have the glue “Grab” the other parts, and hold together while under handling. Once these are complete, the armor plate is cemented into place. I had painted all these parts in Tamiya Gray primer, so there was no issue about missing some of the areas for painting. I shot Tamiya’s Olive Drab 2 over the primer, to give it all “tooth”. The seat structure is… more |
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Big Ed Set for Revell 1/32 P-51D-25 - Part 1: Impressions, Wheel Well Detail, and Cockpit BasicsPublished:
Thanks as usual go to our prolific supporter, Eduard, for sending the IPMS/USA review team this BIG ED for the new Revell 1/32 P-51D-5 series Mustang. This was another in my series of “On-the-road” reviews, and as such the background will change… a lot. I had misplaced the review item before I left the house while cleaning up my work area, and right before I left in desperation I sent an order to Sprue Brothers to please send me a replacement, (after I used my credit card), to handle on the road. I also asked they annotate my name and the point I was a guest in the “GJOEHOFOE” hotel in California. This was dutifully marked in large, clear lettering on the front of the box, and as such there was no confusion about who the guest (Me) was, or what do to with said package. It got there on… more |
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Fw 190A-4 Fuselage GunsPublished:
IPMS/USA thanks the Eduard team once again for sending us this simple, excellent set for the new Eduard FW-190 series. And thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team… This set consists of perfectly cast resin parts for the back of the engine, guns, cowl bits, plus a few bits of PE including parts for the armored windscreen and cowl latches. MUCH easier than scratchbuilding! This upper fuselage gun bay set is a simplified version of the advanced set with the engine abbreviated, i.e. just the gun bay parts and engine mount war part of the set, not the whole engine; the accessory section the intake distributor tube are also provided Since I had built the entire “bigger” set earlier, I knew what to expect. The gun bay was simpler, particularly with… more |
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Metal Gear Set for Revell 1/32 P-51D-25Published:
MORE SAC FUN! Yes, the Revell P-51D-5 receives the SAC treatment because it’s a big kit, and Ross and his team came up with metal gear for this kit. Thanks to Phil for sending it and Fearless Leader John for approving my working the set. Included in this set are two main gear, two Oleo strut braces, and a tail gear strut. All replace the Revell kit parts, and fit is just like the plastic except it’s stronger and can be re-adjusted as required. Why is readjustment good? OK, Mustang experts, where does the axle fall on the P-51 and why when the aircraft is on the ground? (Answer: Just in front of the leading edge when looking down). WHY? Because it makes the whole aircraft more stable on takeoff and landing with toe in and proper alignment, and helps the aircraft track… more |