Reviews of scale model kits.

Review Author
Mr. Greg Kittinger
Published on
February 17, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$34.95

The modeling community waited for many years for an update to the Revell or MPM offerings of the Ki-21 Sally, and ICM has delivered in spades, creating several variants and boxings of the Japanese heavy bomber. Whereas I paid around $250 for a Revell boxing, and a bit less for the MPM boxing, the Sally is now available from ICM at affordable prices and with quality moldings.

Whereas the Revell offering contained raised panel lines and rivet detail, and built into a respectable kit, and the MPM offering contained somewhat updated molds but poor canopy fit, the ICM kit is in line with the latest high-quality injection molded expectations. There is plenty of interior details (more than will be clearly visible), the exterior has nicely engraved panel lines, the glass components are crisply molded and very clear, and the fit is impeccable!

Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
February 16, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$65.00

A Very Brief History the Krankenpanzerwagen

The Krankenpanzerwagen is another lesser-known version of the Sd.Kfz. 251 and as such a lightly armored semi-tracked vehicle—in plain English, it’s an ambulance.

From the manufacturer’s webpage, this is how ICM describes this vehicle:

Sd.Kfz.251/8 Ausf.A WWII German Ambulance

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
February 15, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$96.00

Brief History - From Wikipedia

The Go 244 was the powered version of the Gotha Go 242 military glider transport. Studies for powered versions of the Go 242 began early in the design of the glider, with one early proposal being for modification to allow a single Argus As 10C engine to be temporarily attached to the nose of the glider to allow recovery back to base after use. This idea was rejected, but the alternative of a permanently powered twin-engine version was taken forward.

Review Author
Mike Kellner
Published on
February 15, 2024
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$30.90

The Douglas built A-20 havoc first flew on October 26, 1938. Designed by Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann, Douglas produced over 7000 of them, making it the most produced light bomber. The Douglas A-20 Havoc (known as the Boston by the British) was a light attack bomber, powered by two R-2600–23 engines, each producing 1600 hp and turning a 13' 3” Hamilton Standard propeller. Riding on a wing span of 61 feet 3 1/2 inches, it reached a maximum speed of 325 miles an hour at 14,500 feet.

Review Author
Chris Gibson
Published on
February 15, 2024
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$179.00

Italeri has brought out the long awaited 1/32 scale Macchi MC.202 Folgore (Italian for Thunderbolt) just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Regia Aeronautica (RA; Royal Italian Air Force). The MC.202 was a development of the earlier C.200 Saetta, which was a radial engine design. The MC.202 used the Italian built version of the German Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine and a redesigned more streamlined fuselage. Considered to be one of the best wartime fighters to serve in large numbers with the Regia Aeronautica, the Folgore served on all fronts the Italians operated in.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
February 14, 2024
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$48.41

This is a re-boxing of the Two Bobs kit first released in 2009. Special Hobby has since issued three versions. In this the “Anniversary Markings”, version we get a US Navy bird celebrating the American Bicentennial and a Greek AF, T-2 marked to commemorate 40 years of service with that organization. The T-2 first flew in 1958 and was the backbone of the Navies jet training syllabus till its replacement in 2008. The Hellenic or Greek AF received a total of 40 T-2Es and is just now in the process of phasing the last out of service. Venezuela also used this venerable trainer. In total 609 were built giving thousands of military aviators their first experience of jet flight.

Review Author
Mr. Paul Dunham
Published on
February 13, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$50.00

Although not as famous as the U.S. Army’s GMC CCKW ‘Deuce-and-a-half’ the Studebaker US6 trucks were historically important trucks in their own right. Over 200,000 were built by Studebaker and Reo, with the vast majority of these trucks provided as ‘Lend-Lease’ to the Soviet Union and other allies. Although not ‘standard’ in the U.S. Army, many trucks were used by the U.S. Army Corps of engineers and transportation units in building and using supply routes such as the Alaska-Canada Highway, the Ledo Road from India to China, and the Persian Corridor from the Persian Gulf to the Soviet Union. (Tankograd Technical Manual Series #6037 and Wikipedia).

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
February 10, 2024
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$108.00

When ICM released their 1/32nd scale AH-1G series of models there was an outcry from US modelers, why in this scale? Helicopters are not like other aircraft where there are ‘preferred scales. Airplanes typically are sold in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32nd scale. Helicopters come in a more varied scale assortment. The common thought is that they are more akin to armored vehicles so they have been molded in 1/35th instead of the common 1/32nd scale so you could take advantage of armor figures and accessories. European manufacturers, namely Revell-Germany, have released helicopters in 1/32nd but they are not as common as the 1/35th offerings. So, US helicopter modelers reached out in forums and said that we prefer 1/35th scale. ICM listened and decided to downscale their offering to the more common helicopter scale for the US market of 1/35th scale.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
February 9, 2024
Company
Platz
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$23.00

F-Toys/Platz have been producing small-scale (1/144th) aircraft kits for a few days now and originally released their F-16 kit in 2015. This latest iteration has new parts and decals that will allow you to build an F-16C with conformal fuel tanks. The new parts, in a soft resin, are those tanks and decals for a test bed aircraft stationed at Eglin AFB circa 2001 and another assigned to the 14th Fighter Squadron at Misawa AFB, Japan.

The kit comes in an open-ended box with some extra bits that will allow you to build several different configurations should you so choose. At the very least you will have some excellent parts (various under-wing stores) for the spares box. There is even a pilot figure. Another nice addition is an alternative vertical stabilizer with the braking parachute housing.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
February 4, 2024
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$74.98

It has been an honor to review Special Hobby’s new AH-1G kit, and hereby express extreme thanks to them for providing IPMS USA with this new release. We continue to be fortunate with their ongoing support of the reviewer corps!

Special Hobby continues to provide subjects avoided by others… as a business model, this ensures they continue to exist and thrive on the concept of “do what others can’t or won’t”.

(Note: the Air Force Reserve unit here in Oklahoma has always had “SH” as their Fighter unit tail marking, meaning what everyone should know it does. In the case of this review as a transplant Okie I shall use SH as an abbreviation for Special Hobby, intending it to mean “S-Hot” in their case for untouchable ability and a quality product)