Reviews of general scale modeling products such as paint, glue, etc.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$15.25

OKB Grigorov is a Bulgarian company producing resin after-market bits, full kits, and accessory items. Some of their most recent releases are some 1/35th scale weapons sets. These include The M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle (35037), the M79 Grenade launcher (35005), a 30K Panzerfaust (35009), and the M16A1 assault rifle with M203 grenade launcher ( 35035).

The weapons sets appear to be 3D printed and are made from dark grey resin. The detail is excellent, with a plethora of detail for each specific weapon. They are packaged in clear, poly-vinyl zip bags, with eight examples for both the Garand and the M16A1. The 30K Panzerfaust has fourteen weapons, and the M79 grenade launcher has ten weapons in the bag.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
NA
MSRP
$12.99

ICM continues to be prolific with both kits and paint sets. The Acrylic Paint Set for WWII US Navy Vehicles is no exception and consists of six 12ml paint bottles, that are surprisingly not dropper top style, but rather are wide mouthed. The colors include:

  • Natural Steel (No. 1025)
  • Blue Grey (No. 1032)
  • Rubber Black (No. 1039)
  • Deck Tan (No. 1055)
  • Camouflage Green (No. 1071)
  • Varnish Satin (No. 2002)

Painting instructions are on the side of the packaging, stating

Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$12.99

In The Box

The ICM WWI German Aviation acrylic paint set contains six bottles, 12 ml each. The paints are water-based. The box contains the following:

  • White (1001)
  • Black (1002)
  • Blood Red (1046)
  • Light Earth (1056)
  • US Dark Green (1072)
  • Deep Sky Blue (1076)

The ICM website states that this set is best to be used with #72111 and #72121. These are WWI kits from ICM in 1/72 scale: Fokker E.IV and Pfalz E.IV fighters.

Application And Experience

The following instructions on how to use the paints can be found on the side of the box:

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.99

Yahu Models has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a 1/72nd scale instrument panel detail set for the Fw-190D that will fit into the Tamiya, AZ, and IGB kits. This set also includes photo-etch (PE) details for the side instrument panels and seat warning placard.

In the Package

The instrument panel (IP) detail set is enclosed in a plastic bag with two photoetched IPs already assembled and one PE etched sheet for side panels and a seat warning placard. The parts come packaged in an individual Ziploc bag and cardboard backing which also has instructions printed on it.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a nice detail set to upgrade your Fw-190D instrument panel in 72nd scale. The close-up picture shows off the minute detail printed on the PE parts and the fidelity at such a small size is amazing.

I want to thank Yahu Models for providing the Fw-190D instrument panel set and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Highly recommended!

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$12.99

ICM hobby company has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a six (6) bottle acrylic paint set based on the colors of the Medieval Warriors.

In The Box

The paint set contains six, 12ml bottles with nontoxic, water-based acrylic paint. The following colors are included:

  • Natural Steel (1025)
  • Oily Steel (1026)
  • Tan Earth (1058)
  • Leather Brown (1053)
  • Gold (1017)
  • Rusty Brass (1019)

Straight out of the bottle, the paint viscosity is thick and purposely prepared for brush painting. The instructions do recommend thinning 40-60% with water or thinner for airbrushing. All surfaces are recommended to be primed prior to painting. Volume wise, the paint takes up about 70% of the bottle and has “room” to add thinner if so desired.

Note that the bottles are not the usual dropper style (think Vallejo) but a twist off cap and a large opening to allow paint brushes easier access.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$18.99

A trend, among scale model manufacturers, is producing their own line of paints. Others (AK, Vallejo, etc.) have been packaging their paints in sets geared toward finishing a specific model. ICM Holding has positioned themselves by not only manufacturing the kits but also providing their own line of paints to finish said model. Which brings us to a recent acrylic paint set from ICM Holding, item number 3058-American Cars of the Early 20th Century.

This acrylic paint set includes six bottles. The 12ml bottles of colors included in this set are: Grass Green, Extra Dark Green, Deep Blue, Olive Green. There is an additional 12ml bottle of Varnish Gloss and a 17ml bottle of Primer Black.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Grex USA
MSRP
$119.00

GREX’s Genesis.XSi3 ES is a dual action gravity fed airbrush with an external cup that can be installed on either side of the brush. This set included a traditional top button trigger rather than a pistol style trigger.

The Essential Set comes with a 0.3 MM nozzle and a 7 ml side cup with lid, quick-fit magnetic nozzle, and needle. A magnetic cap snaps to the front of the brush to protect the exposed needle and can be removed for cleaning. The magnetic cap can also be stored on the back of the rear handle when not in use. A small wrench is also included.

The quick start guide offers tips for ways to hold the airbrush, how to install the quick fit needle caps, how to install cups and bottles, and how to seat the needle.

Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1:32
MSRP
$11.99

When the Italian Italeri company brought their injection molded 1/32 scale Macchi MC.202 to the market, several other manufactures of accessories rushed to produce alternate parts for it, such as resin wheels or metal instrument panels. Yahu Models produced their 1/32 scale instrument panel for the Italeri Macchi MC.202 in 1/32 scale at the end of 2023 as an alternative to the kit’s instrument panel.

This product comes in a small clear plastic bag and contains three elements: a photo etched fret for the two smaller control panel raised panels, the main brass instrument panel and a clear sheet for one of the instrument faces. There is a simple color drawing on the cardboard insert showing how to assemble the provided elements.

Review Author
Jason Boggans
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
NA
MSRP
$8.99

Box Art / Packaging

The ICM Paint set for Ancient Warriors (ITEM 3068) is presented in a stiff glossy cardboard sleeve and contains 6 12ml paint pots. Box art depicts a Roman Centurion on the front with depictions on the rear of a Roman Centurion and a Roman Gladiator with recommendations for use of the colors provided for each.

The Kit / Paints

The provided paints are presented in small 12ml plastic pots with screw tops and each lid also clearly depicting the color and color ID which is useful for storage. In this case we are provided with Paint# 1019 (Rusty Brass), 1020 (Bronze), 1024 (Silver), 1026 (Oily Steel), 1047 (Matt Red) and 1053 (Leather Brown). No ball bearings are added to the paint for easier shaking/mixing, however the paint pots are small and vigorous shaking is sufficient to prepare appropriately.

The Build / Paint Use

To test out these paints, I 3D printed a crude representation of a Roman Soldier as my test subject.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Green Stuff World
MSRP
$6.33

Instant Glue from Green Stuff World is a single component cyanoacrylate glue that is advertised to set in 5–10 seconds. In my use, I found the glue to set almost instantaneously. The glue is best used with dissimilar materials including plastic, photoetch, rubber, metal, wood, and ceramics. When dispensed, the adhesive quickly reacts with the moisture in the air, so drying time is affected by humidity. In drier climates, the glue will take longer to set. The glue sets so quickly that I found it best to hold the parts together in the correct position and then apply the glue. Applying glue to the parts and then placing them does not allow any time for positioning. The CA glue seems strong as I did not have any problems with photoetch parts coming loose after the glue set.