Reviews of products for scale automotive models, including motorcycles and motorized vehicles.

Review Author
Michael Scott
Published on
June 23, 2011
Company
Hobby Design
Scale
1/20
MSRP
$29.95

This detail set if for Tamiya's new F1 F60 car kit. It incorporates three frets of etched metal parts. The fret for the wing and aerodynamic body parts is relatively heavy, which should make these parts more resistant to breakage and warping as well as being more in scale. The other detail parts on the two remaining frets are of lighter material, not brass, but seem to be a light steel or perhaps aluminum alloy. As a nice touch, a Bridgestone tire painting template is included which would be useful for many other kits that do not include pre-painted Bridgestone tires.

Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
June 12, 2011
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$23.00

In the heyday of muscle cars, if the buyer knew what boxes to check on the order form, they could get a rocket right from the factory, in effect doing the much same thing as having Yenko or Baldwin-Motion “improve it” after driving it from the dealer’s lot. This dealer option was abbreviated COPO---Central Office Production Order.

Revell’s re-released their ’69 Nova SS kit in a less-glitzy COPO version, with additional parts for the 427-cubic-inch L-72 V8, and applicable chrome parts as well---the SS chrome parts are still included in the kit.

Review Author
Dave San Souci
Published on
June 1, 2011
Company
Hobby Design
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$12.00

The Parts

Designed for the Fujimi 1/24 scale Ferrari 458 ITALIA, this photoetch set comes with two photoetched sheets covered with a plastic film. The film helps keep from losing the part when cutting them off the frets. Some of the parts are new brake disc; new Ferrari emblems; gas and brake pedals and air vents, to just name a few.

Review Author
Dave San Souci
Published on
June 1, 2011
Company
Hobby Design
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$4.25

The Parts

Hobby Design makes a number of detail parts for automotive subjects from metal parts, to resin wheels, and photo etched detail sets for a wide variety of modeling subjects.

I reviewed the HD07-0057 1/24thAntenna Set [C] which comes in a pack of 2 priced @ $4.25 USD. These are all metal and nicely machined.

Assembly

Assembly is pretty straight forward: I removed the molded plastic antenna holder on top of a Tamiya 1/24 SAUBER-MERCEDES C9 with a photo etch saw; then, using my pin vice and a 0.5mm drill bit I drilled a hole into the plastic. That’s pretty much it. The antennae come in to parts making it easy to paint any color you like. Some CA glue is perfect to hold the antenna into its base.

Review Author
Dave San Souci
Published on
May 18, 2011
Company
Hobby Design
Scale
1/20,1/24, and 1/25
MSRP
$6.49

The Parts

Hobby Design makes detail parts for automotive subjects. They offer a wide range of products from metal parts, to resin wheels, and photo etched detail sets for a wide variety of modeling subjects.

Here I review their HD07-0002 0.5mm Rivets. They are all metal and come 40 pieces per pack.

Assembly

It’s pretty straight forward I remove the molded plastic rivets from the part with a #11 blade. Then I used a #80 drill bit in the spot for the rivets to be placed that’s it pretty simple.

Conclusion

I highly recommended these products for anyone who wants to add realism to their models. Hobby Design makes a wide range of rivets to fit into all different application. Thanks to Hobby Design and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review these excellent products.

Review Author
Perry Downen
Published on
May 16, 2011
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/12
MSRP
$62.99

History

Established in 1949 by the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing. Currently it consists of an eighteen-race series visiting fourteen countries, and four continents. Eight nationalities of the world's most skilled riders are mounted on purebred racing bikes. These purpose-built, high tech prototypes are fielded by four manufacturers; Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki. They are not available for purchase by the general public and cannot be legally ridden on public roads.

Review Author
Steve Jahnke
Published on
May 7, 2011
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$24.95

In this review, we have the sister kit to Revell’s other Kurtis Kraft Midget racer, the V8-60. The Ford V8-60 Kurtis Kraft model and trailer is reviewed by Jim Stratton elsewhere on the IPMS website. This subject review is the same Kurtis Kraft race car fitted with an Offenhauser 4 slug motor. Jim did a great job telling the history of Frank Kurtis and the racing success of his Kurtis Kraft cars. I will give you a little background on the Offenhauser engine part of the story.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
April 22, 2011
Company
Hobby Design
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$7.32

The Detail Parts

Hobby Design offers the modeler a wide range of detail products, tools, masking materials and decals for a wide variety of modeling subjects. The three items discussed in this review are compatible with 1/20th, 1/24th, and 1/25thautomotive subjects.

Each of these three items are contained in a small plastic baggie that is, itself, protected with a larger plastic baggie sealed with a cardboard fold-over flap. The double wrapping secures the individual pieces nicely and protects against accidental loss since both bags must be opened to remove the contents. This extra security will certainly be appreciated by the modeler and makes storage of the items much easier.

The Toggle Switch baggie contains 20 pieces, as does the baggie for the Electric Connectors. The baggie containing the Knob Switches contains 5 pieces.

Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
April 21, 2011
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$24.00

Monogram’s venerable ’58 Thunderbird kit---first released in 1964---has been updated and re-packaged under the “Car Show” banner, meaning it can be built stock or with extra customizing parts in the kit---including a double-bubble clear top of really heroic proportions. Moilded in white plastic, the kit has just a couple of fit issues, but is generally an easy build, and despite its age, can hold its own with today’s releases.

Since I grew up “back in the day” with these classic cars, I opted to build the kit stock. I had some questions with the instructions’ colors for the engine components, so eventually consulted a website for “Squarebird” enthusiasts (www.tbirdranch.com) and though there was a bit of conflicting info there too, I decided to paint mine per the website’s Concours table for ’58 Thunderbirds---Ford light engine blue block with black valve covers. (Great site, by the way.)