MIG 23 Flogger Air Scoops

Published: October 17, 2011
Company: Quickboost

Thanks once again to Quickboost for providing IPMS USA this review item!

At first you wonder “why” these have been developed… then look closer. The bases of all the air scoops have the diamond shaped mounting flange on them. The kit? Pah! NO! So, there is your answer. The kit air scoops are lacking! These are excellent additions to the basically excellent Trumpeter Flogger kit, and… more

SR-71 High/Low Viz Decals

Published: September 20, 2011
Company: Afterburner Decals

Afterburner decal sheets are jammed, literally, with detail. In these sheets are all the schemes you could imagine for this jet. Also, proper, well-researched stenciling is provided for both high- and low-visibility jets. They even have the sled that was operational at my favorite perch, RAF Mildenhall, in the 1984-86 timeframe! Ah, the days of standing in the mist just after sunrise, watching… more

HMS Warspite

Published: September 17, 2011
Company: Academy Models

This model is not a complex build, but it does have some details that are extremely small. Be forewarned: good tweezers, sprue cutters, and an extra fine razor saw blade are mandatory to release some of the over 650 parts of miniscule carpet-monster food that exist on the trees. An exploded diagram with two hull sides, 7 parts runners, one display base, a decal sheet with flags and early… more

Railings 45-deg. 3-Chain Bars, Short

Published: September 17, 2011
Company: Eduard

Thanks as usual to Eduard for providing us the latest upgrades for our AMS builds. Eduard’s photoetch is world-class; so here’s a simple upgrade opportunity for the ship builders… the elusive railings for stairways!

During my recent IPMS build of the new Academy “HMS Warspite”, I used a section of this railing for one of the stair sections to the upper fighting top area. Simple as can… more

Mig-29A with PE and Resin upgrades

Published: August 30, 2011
Company: Eduard

Eduard continues to lead the pack in taking older kits and upgrading them with PE and resin upgrades. In this case, we have the Academy MiG-29A, which in its own right is an excellent kit, with several items added to bring the basic kit to the next level. In this case, Eduard’s own PE instrument panel and detail set, combined with their in-house “Brassin” resin upgrades. Oh yeah, there is also… more

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… 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… 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… 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… 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… more