Scott Hollingshead

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.

IPMS Number
34786
Public Email Address

Reviews By Author

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Helmet and Dress Sewing Markings

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Company: HAD Models

For aircraft modelers of the 1/48 scale Tomcat, the folks at HADMODELS have recently released decals for the often-overlooked helmet and flight suit markings worn by the pilots and RIOs (Radar Intercept Officers) of the F-14. The set that I reviewed include helmet markings and patches for VF-2 (Bounty Hunters), VF-31 (Tomcatters), VF-101 (Grim Reapers), as well as the IRIAF (who still fly the F-14). The decals are produced by Cartograph, so they will not present a challenge to most modelers.

The decal sheet itself provides markings for two helmets for each squadron and the VF-101 marking can be used on up to four helmets. There are also the famous F-14 triangular and circular sleeve patches for each of the squadrons, name patches, shoulder rank patches, additional circular… more

Cover Image

Post War Essex Class CV Markings

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Company: Starfighter Decals

For ship modelers, specifically aircraft carrier enthusiasts, with an interest in post-WW2 Essex-class ships, Starfighter Decals has released a two-sheet set to improve your models. The set provides decals for use on 17 of the Essex-class carriers as well as for the three Midway-class carriers. In addition to the flight deck and hull numbers, flight deck stripes, elevator safety lines, island safety reminders, and ship names are provided. The sheets measure approximately five inches by eight inches (126mm by 200mm) and are printed by Microscale.

While I am not currently building an Essex-class aircraft carrier, I have the Dragon 1/700 scale USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) for service during the Korean War (kit 7063, released in 2007). As the kit includes early US Navy jets, these… more

ICM KFK

KFK Kriegsfischkutter

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Company: ICM

ICM is known for their production of detailed kits of various genres of military and civilian subjects. Even with the current events taking place in their home country Ukraine, the company continues to provide new offerings for modelers of nearly any interest. One of their latest releases is this 1/144 scale Kriegsfischkutter. I appreciated the detail available as well as the relatively compact size of the completed model. Modelers with some experience handling very small parts should enjoy this representation of a unique subject.

Beginning in 1941, the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) began developing fishing trawlers for various uses in the coastal waters near their occupied lands. These boats were manufactured by different companies in Germany as well as Sweden. They could be… more

Box

SdKfz. 2 Kettenkrad

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Company: Zoukei-Mura

Zoukei-Mura is a name recognizable to many aircraft modelers, mostly for their incredibly detailed 1/32 and 1/48 scale planes. Their first offering in the armor genre, or Super Weapons Series, was the 1/32 scale Kleines Kettenkraftrad (typically shortened to just Kettenkrad). This kit includes markings for use of the vehicle by the Luftwaffe to tow planes in the later stages of WWII and will look great alongside any of the 1/32 scale German aircraft offerings from Zoukei-Mura.

The idea of a tracked motorcycle was conceived by Heinrich Kniep in 1939 as a vehicle that could move small loads over rugged landscapes and first entered service in 1941. Produced by NSU Werke initially, Stӧwer Werke would later add to the construction of over 8,000 of these vehicles by 1945. While one… more

Package

Cactus Air Force Deluxe Set – F4F-4 Wildcat and P-400/P-39D Over Guadalcanal

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Company: Arma Hobby

Arma Hobby continues to build on their 1/72 scale inventory with the release of this Cactus Air Force Deluxe set. I have previously had the pleasure of reviewing their F4F-4 Wildcat Expert Set (kit 70047) as well as their P-39Q Airacobra (kit 70055) and this release essentially combines the two kits albeit with a different version of the Airacobra. With the addition of 3D printed parts for both aircraft, the already great level of detail is improved for some key areas. I highly recommend this kit to modelers experienced in handling small parts looking to represent the Cactus Air Force planes between August 1942 and February 1943.

The “Cactus Air Force” was the name given to a combination of Marine, Army Air Force, and Navy planes that operated from Henderson Field on… more

Cover

P-39Q Airacobra

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Company: Arma Hobby

This is the second Arma Hobby kit that I have been fortunate to review, and once again, the company has delivered a wonderful representation of a 1/72 scale aircraft, this time, the P-39Q Airacobra. Arma Hobby produces some of the finest detailed kits that I have seen in some 50 years of modeling. I would highly recommend this kit to anyone who wants to add a model of the final variant of the Airacobra to their collection.

The Bell P-39 Airacobra was first ordered by the USAAC as an XP-39 in October of 1937 and was known to Bell Aircraft as the Model 4. The P-39 was unique among American aircraft as it had a 37mm cannon in the nose, like the German Bf-109 with its 23mm cannon. In order to fit the armament in the front of the plane, the engine was placed in a mid-position within… more

Product

US Army Helicopters Paint Set

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Company: AMMO by Mig Jimenez

For anyone painting United States Army Helicopters from the Vietnam-era onward, one of the latest releases from Ammo by Mig is an Air Set providing three different greens and flat black for the rotor blades. The bottles include a mixing ball (as identified by the yellow cap) which greatly aids in agitating the paint prior to use. I find the paints of a consistency that allows for brush painting straight from the bottle, and I add a small amount of thinner when airbrushing. This is a great set that I highly recommend if you have any US Army helicopters in your stash.

This set includes four bottles of paint as follows: A.MIG-0019 4BO Russian Green, A.MIG-0046 Matt Black, A.MIG-0925 RLM83 Olive Drab Dark, and A.MIG-0929 Olive Drab Shine. To try out this set I used a bagged kit of… more

Package

Ford Mk. II Le Mans 1966 2nd Place

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Company: Starfighter Decals

If you enjoyed the movie “Ford v Ferrari” that was released back in 2019, Starfighter Decals now provides you with the ability to replicate the Ken Miles and Lloyd Ruby driven Ford GT Mk. II that took second place at the 1966 24-hour race at Le Mans (or you can watch the movie and decide who really won). This decal sheet was produced to aid the modeler in more accurately reproducing the Ken Miles vehicle and are recommended for any modeler.

I noticed this decal release at the Starfighter booth at the IPMS USA Nationals this year and was fortunate enough to pick them up at the Review Corps get together. I previously purchased the 2021 Meng release of this car (kit CS 004) thinking it was good out of the box with the Meng decals. According to the “Builders Notes” included with… more

Product

F/A-18 Hornets Part 2 Super Bug “E” VFA-81 & VFA-143

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Company: Squadron

After going out of business after decades of serving modelers needs, Squadron Hobbies has been resurrected like a phoenix from the ashes. Since being purchased by Brandon Lowe, the company has moved from Texas to Georgia, and is quickly reestablishing itself as one of the best mail order hobby shops around. In addition to a growing selecting of model kits, Squadron is also getting back into the production of accessories, including decals.

Printed by Microscale here in the USA (a name I had not seen for some time), this is the second release in the 1/48 scale line, and the second of five current sets for the Hornet (three for the “C” variant, and two for the “E”). The suggested kits are those produced by Revell and Hasegawa, and both squadrons represented on this sheet have blue… more

Product Package

Ukrainian Soldier with NLAW and AK-74MN

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Company: CMK

As I sit writing this review, the invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for approaching seven months, and the Ukrainian forces are currently making gains in their eastern territory against their invaders. This recent and timely release from the folks at CMK was kindly provided to the IPMS USA at the Nationals this year in Omaha, Nebraska. Consisting of polyurethane and 3D printed parts, along with a small decal sheet, this is a relatively easy build that nearly any modeler can enjoy. If you are looking for a symbolic kit of a current conflict, I would highly recommend this offering.

As this kit contains a single figure and weapons, the packaging is simple, but thoroughly adequate for the task. Upon opening the packaging, you will find four parts cast in polyurethane, four parts… more