Reviews of scale model kits.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:72
MSRP
$38.00

Reference: the ICM website:

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the most widely produced lightweight fighter aircraft in the world. As of 2018, a total of 4,604 units had been built, and it was operated by the air forces of more than 30 countries. The aircraft was developed in 1974 by General Dynamics and was notable for its high degree of standardization in parts, assemblies, and systems. Over the course of its service, the F-16 has undergone several upgrades, allowing it to remain in the military aviation fleets of many countries around the world.

Since August 2024, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has also received multirole F-16 fighters. It is known that Ukrainian F-16s can employ AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs such as the SDB, JDAM-ER, and GBU-39. One of the key features of the Ukrainian F-16s is their use of ECIPS+ electronic countermeasure pods designed to disrupt enemy radar systems.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Bandai
Scale
NA
MSRP
$50.00

So I had an opportunity, thanks to IPMS Usa and Hobbytyme to build a Gundam, suit. I have seen them become more and more popular over the years and the local hobby stores have rows of them, so I was curious as I do not limit my modeling to one genre. First, what is Gundam? Gundam is a Japanese military science fiction media and features giant robots called Gundam’s. It started in 1979 and has spread to movies, TV shows, manga, novels, video games as well as of course models.

The subject of this review is from the movie Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Endless Waltz special edition released in 1998. They remind me of Pacific Rim which also featured large, cool giant robots.

Inside the box you will find 14 sprues in colors ranging from white, to gray to metallic to blue and a sprue which also is molded in 5 colors. Molding is great and there is no flash. There are about 362 parts.

Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Atlantis Model Company
Scale
1/104 (box scale)
MSRP
$24.99

Atlantis has made a name for itself reboxing vintage kits. The Neptune is typical of these older molds. There is flash due to the age and mold features that were standards of this era. According to Scalemates.com, the model was originally manufactured in 1955. Atlantis has cleaned up the mold and, given its age, it is pretty good. The kit is molded in dark blue plastic and there are 57 parts, including one frame of clear parts. Thankfully, there are fresh decals along with vintage instructions.

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Bandai
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$35.00

I have built several Gundam kits, but this figure is not typical of what you might envision. This kit features a character named Miorine Rembran, which is a deuteragonist (in literature the 2nd leading character), the mobile suit of the Witch from Mercury.

Before proceeding, a quick primer on Gundam. Gundam are mechanized mobile suits, popularized in Japanese Manga and Anime books and films. The Gundam universe contains a vast assortment of characters: this character, Miorine, is a 16-year-old schoolgirl at the Asticassia School of Technology.

The Bandai kit contains five color sprues and one clear sprue (the stand). Two sticker/decal sheets are provided. The colorful instruction guide is easy to follow.

Review Author
Chris Surber
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$25.00

History

The Chukar target drone was developed and produced by Northrup Ventura in 1968. It can be launched from land based or ship based zero length launchers. JATO rockets were used to accelerate it to stable flight speed and a Williams J-400-WR-400 turbojet provided 121 pounds of thrust for propulsion. It could travel at speeds up to 400 knots and had a ceiling of 40,000 feet. It was ingeniously designed to include passive or active radar, wingtip infrared flares and a smoke system for visual tracking. It can be rigged with flotation equipment for recovery over water. After a training mission a parachute is deployed and telemetry information on defensive missile performance can be downloaded. The drone is named for the Chukar Partridge, a game bird that thrives from the Western Mediterranean, through the Middle East and into Asia.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
X Scale
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$49.99

X Scale's latest release in their Airliner range is the classic B707-124. Included in the kit:

  • Seven grey Sprues
  • One Clear Sprue
  • One Decal sheet
  • One Mask set
  • One Instruction guide

The sprue quality is great with this kit as it’s a new tool, with crisp and detailed molding.

The assembly is quick and easy.

I will not write about each stage. Instead, here are just a few points and comments for when you build this great kit

The cockpit is the first assembly. The only points I had here were. 1- a decal for the instrument panel would have been nice. 2. There are two holes in the cockpit floor for the control columns but done were included in the kit (I scratch built mine)

Review Author
Chris Martin
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$107.00

Summary

ICM continues their run of “dioramas in a box,” this time by kitting the kits as one; the He‑111H-3 WWII German Bomber (Kit 48261). Luftwaffe airfield equipment (Kit 48409), and German Luftwaffe ground personnel (1939-1945) (Kit 48229).

Background

The He-111 was initially designed as a fast airliner. But the secret Luftwaffe wanted an aircraft that could also be converted to a bomber with minimal adaptation. The first He-111 flew in February 1935. The first incarnations of the He-111 looked nothing like what became an infamous bomber of the Blitz. The He-111A through 111F all had a normal nose and cockpit configuration. Not until the introduction in 1938 of the He-111P did the full glass nose appear.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$35.41

One of the latest items provided to the IPMS-USA Review Corps by OKB Grigorov was this 1/350-scale submarine representing the Barracuda-class of submarines developed after WWII. The boat is 3D printed and is under the Trimotium Historic Miniatures name within the OKB Grigorov company that comes from Bulgaria. The kit contains a total of ten pieces and should not present too much challenge to any modeler familiar with working with either resin or 3D printed kits.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$105.99

ICM has released this kit, which uses the older release American Made truck G7117, now with the addition of the Mobile Field Chapel, figures and accessories. Such chapels were used by British Army Chaplains to perform their duties in all theaters of war. The kit contains:

  • Nine grey Sprues
  • Two clear sprues
  • One Decal sheet
  • One instruction guide

The detail quality is excellent in every way with this kit -- crisp and detailed molding has become the norm for the latest ICM kits.

The assembly is quick and easy as we have come to expect from these kits. It was seamless in every way, so I will not spend time writing about each stage. Instead, here are just a few points and comments.