Rod Lees
Reviews By Author
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Bomb Rack Details for HK B-17Published: January 16, 2014 This set covers what is not included in the bomb bay set: the racks themselves, latches and placards in color etch, bomb carry racks, tail section cover plates for the bombs, fuse propellers (front and back), and some cats and dogs for the lift mechanisms. This was one of the more difficult sets to review, in that you must remove plastic side rails on the racks without destroying the… more |
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Consolidated B-24 Liberator Decals, Part 1 and 2Published: January 15, 2014 Thanks very much to Lifelike decals for providing IPMS USA these review sets. We appreciate your support and look forward to your future efforts! I had heard of Lifelike decals, but normally don’t work in 1/72nd scale. However, when these showed up, I had to throw my name in the hat… and am very pleased I did. The first set, 72-029, covers four B-24’s with four… more |
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Waist and Tail Gunner Compartment Details for HK B-17Published: January 14, 2014 … MORE on of our long review of Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit… thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets…!!!!!!!!!!!!! The waist section on this set contains several similar panels and gauges for the crew oxygen and intercom system. Ammunition feed chutes are provided for both waist weapons, as are crosshair gunsights, and an unusual modification in the form of spent ammo… more |
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Bomb Bay Details for HK B-17Published: January 14, 2014 Next step in our long review of Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit. Ongoing thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets… ! Having opened one other B-17 many years ago in 1/48th, using the Paragon resin flap and bomb bay sets, I vowed not to do that ever again, not due to the fault of the parts, but because it made it extremely difficult to move the model around. Here I am… more |
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Radio Compartment Details for HK B-17Published: January 13, 2014 This is part 4 of our long review of Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit. The usual thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets… The radio compartment on the B-17 had a large clear panel over it. On earlier aircraft, including some “G”s, the cover would drop down and slide forward, providing an emergency exit in case of ditching or belly landing, and was also provided with provision… more |
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F-35A Lightning IIPublished: January 7, 2014 Thanks very much to MRC for providing us this little gem, and thanks to Italeri for producing it! (and the usual appreciation to Dave and Dick for sending it my way to review...) This model requires a bit of skill, only in that it has many miniature parts which require care in installation. We'll address that more later, but the basic model is excellent in presentation and delivery.… more |
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Sea Vixen Ejection Seats with Safety BeltsPublished: January 5, 2014 Thanks again goes out to our friends and suppliers at Quickboost for yet another outstanding upgrade for a good kit, namely the Airfix Sea Vixen. If you are into Vacuforms, you could also use it on the Dynavector kit if you so desire (and have one). These seats are designed for “right” and “left” sides, i.e. the #1 seat is for the pilot (Stick actuator), and seat #2 (as indicated on… more |
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SAAB 37 Viggen Pitot Tubes and AOA ProbePublished: January 3, 2014 Master Models is one of those companies who have stepped up to deliver what we really need; durable, accurate metal pitot tubes and probes for our fast-mover jets. THANK-YOU VERY MUCH for filling the void! The only thing I will say is to be careful with them, as they can turn your house into a doctors’ office for injections in little time! These 3 little (and I mean tiny,… more |
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Plain Wheels and Offset Tread Tires for MosquitoPublished: December 28, 2013 Ultracast is one of those companies that we AMS modelers can’t live without… Thanks up front for this excellent set, and to IPMS USA for sending it my way…Now to figure out which Mossie I’m gonna build… These, like the previous set reviewed a few weeks ago, are simple replacement items for the Tamiya wheel and tire sets in their Mosquito kits. As previously done, I have assembled one… more |
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B-57B/G Canberra Landing Gear (Ita)Published: December 28, 2013 Thanks again to Ross at SAC for providing IPMS USA this review set, one of what must be by now hundreds of sets he provides for the modelling community. I’m a prolific convert to them! The Italeri B-57 series, released in the late 1980’s, was a serious jump forward for the modeling community. The only other kits at the time were modified from existing British Canberra kits with the “… more |