Scott retired from the commercial nuclear industry with over thirty years of experience in Maintenance, Engineering, and Training. Prior to that he served on two aircraft carriers during his time in the U.S. Navy. He has been building models for over 50 years with his first kit being purchased with money from his grandparents for his sixth birthday. With a stash that consists of more aircraft than anything else, Scott still enjoys building a little bit of everything (including but not limited to tanks, cars, show cars, military vehicles (aside from tanks), ships, figures, real space, and some science fiction), which keeps his stash growing. Scott and his wife Fern reside in southwest lower Michigan, not far from South Bend, Indiana, and have three adult children and currently three grandchildren as well as a small dog and a large cat.
Unique Master Models, or UMM, is well known to many modelers for the model work of the owner, and for the many unique tools offered over the years. One of the newer products is the Profiler – Scribing and Contour Guide. Available in small, medium, and large sizes, this tool is a great addition for modelers who scratch-build, as well as for those needing to scribe around curved surfaces.
This tool measures 130mm by 3mm, it consists of a soft metal strip that is smooth on one side and textured on the other and is coated with a rubber-like substance. The coating prevents the tool from slipping during use, and the metal will hold its shape, but can be straightened to allow for repeated use. Small 110mm by 2mm and large 150mm by 4mm Profilers are also available, depending on the needs… more
Quickboost products are part of the Aires line of resin and 3D printed detail items known to many modelers over the years. One of the latest products is this set combining resin and 3D printed resin steps and ladder parts for use on the Tamiya F-14D Tomcat. Modelers with some experience with small resin parts should have no problem utilizing this set.
This set contains a total of four resin parts held on a single block as well as a single 3D printed part. The set will replace kit parts A5/6 and 24 and there is also a single-page instruction sheet included to assist the modeler in using the replacement parts. The replacement pilot and RIO steps are conveniently molded to replicate the tabs used on the kit parts, which will aid in their installation. There is an option of… more
Quickboost products are part of the Aires line of resin and 3D printed detail items known to many modelers over the years. One of the latest products is labeled as “Antennas” but consists of both antennas and sensors for use on the Tamiya F-14D Tomcat. Modelers with some experience with small resin parts should have no problem utilizing this set.
This set contains a total of ten resin parts held on a single block. The set will replace kit parts J2/3/4/5 and 6 as well as a molded in conical AOA probe that will require removal. The resin block conveniently spells out which kit part is replaced by the resin ones. There is also a single-page instruction sheet to assist the modeler in using the replacement parts.
My hits for this set are the high level of detail provided in the… more
One of the newest releases from venerable Tamiya is this wide-wheel version of the Schwimmwagen Type 166, which incorporates parts from their previous release (kit 224) back in 1998. The new release includes new sprues C and V which include the wide-wheel parts, new figures, and new weapons. As with any Tamiya kit, the engineering is perfect, which makes this kit ideal for modelers of nearly any skill level, and it is therefore highly recommended.
Upon opening the box, you will find four sprues molded in Tamiya’s tan plastic, a separate lower body, a mesh screen, clear acetate, and decals. Also included are a ten-page instruction sheet, a Tech Tips sheet, and Background Information. The Background Information includes Development, Design, and Production and Deployment information… more
The IPMS-USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. Kaleido ColorWorks is their premium sub-brand of water-based paints, which are developed with RapidAir Technology. In addition to all the individual colors, Gaahleri also has sets of paint available for consumers.
One of the latest releases is the 24 Auto Colors Set. Using their Rapid Air Technology, the paints deliver a lacquer-like performance in a water-based paint that is non-toxic, and environmentally responsible (as described on their website). These paints are formulated for airbrushing and are contained in unique 20ml bottles made of clear plastic that supports easy… more
The IPMS-USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. In addition to their individual and sets of paints, they have also released their own Cleaner, which can be used on both paint brushes and airbrushes. This cleaner is advertised as being non-toxic, odorless, non-flammable, and safe for the environment by Gaahleri.
The Kaleido ColorWorks Cleaner used in this review came packaged in a 210ml (7.1fl oz) bottle that sells reasonably at $9.99, which is comparable to other airbrush cleaners. I have successfully used the Cleaner for the Gaahleri ColorWorks Metallic paints as well as several of their Auto Colors. While the Cleaner does a… more
The IPMS/USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. Kaleido ColorWorks is their premium sub-brand of water-based paints, which are developed with RapidAir Technology. In addition to all the individual colors, Gaahleri also has sets of paints available for consumers.
One of the latest releases is the 12 Metal Colors Set. Using their Rapid Air Technology, the paints deliver a lacquer-like performance in a water-based paint that is non-toxic and environmentally responsible (as described on their website). These paints are formulated for airbrushing and are contained in unique 20ml bottles made of clear plastic that supports easy… more
Scale Aircraft Conversions has been around since 1990 supplying resin and white metal parts to model builders, and their product listing continues to expand. I have reviewed a few of the landing gear sets from SAC over the years, and once again, they have provided an excellent white metal option for kit-supplied landing gear. This set is intended for the 1/48 scale A-12 Avenger II released by Model Collect and I happen to have kit UA48001-RM47054 (Navy version) in my stash. The purpose of this replacement set is to provide stronger landing gear that is adjustable, if necessary, to obtain the proper angles. Even with no previous experience of using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no issue installing.
During the holiday season of 2025, I became interested in some YouTube videos about the Gaahleri Mobius 0.2mm airbrush. What intrigued me the most was the MAC (Multiple Air Channel) nozzle with its spiral-shaped channels, which makes the overall nozzle easier to handle than some brands. I purchased my airbrush during the Gaahleri Black Friday Sale through Amazon, and I have been very pleased with everything that I have used it for. If you are looking for an airbrush made for detailed work at a nominal cost, I would highly recommend looking at this model.
I have been using airbrushes for nearly 40 years now, all double-action and mostly from a single manufacturer, so I do not sway from my typical brand much at all. I own six airbrushes in all from that manufacturer, and I now have… more
Recently received from the folks at ResKit is this US Navy A/S32A-31A “Mule” tow tractor, short version, with exclusive markings in 1/32 scale. These tow tractors are used aboard ships as well as land bases to move aircraft as needed. Suggested aircraft to pair this vehicle with include the following: AV-8B, F-14B/D, F/A-18 C/D/E/F/G, C-2, E-2C, EA-6B, S-3B, UH-1, UH-60, CH-47, CH-53, and SH-3. Modelers with some experience with 3D printed resin kits should have no issues with adding this tow tractor to their collection.
Upon opening the box for this kit, you will find 11 gray resin printed items, the body of the vehicle and back plate are single items, while the remaining parts are printed in groups. There is a single clear resin print of the front headlight lenses along with… more
