Reviews of products for scale miscellaneous models.

Review Author
Jim Stratton
Published on
January 25, 2015
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$10.50

History

The Browning M1919 was introduced after the end of the First World War and soldiered on for several decades. It saw action in WWII, the Korean Conflict as well as in Viet Nam. It was used as a light infantry support weapon, mounted in aircraft and vehicles as a self-defense weapon and used as an anti-aircraft machine gun. It was used by several countries. It can be seen sticking out the frontal armor on all US tanks, as well as being the common coaxial gun alongside the main gun in US built armored fighting vehicles. These sets will be a welcome addition to modelers wanting to update their .30 caliber crew serviced machine guns. Each set includes two turned brass barrels with perforated cooling jackets. Set 35-004 has the two piece conical shaped muzzle and 35-005 has the one piece cylindrical shaped muzzle. Set 35-004 represents the early gun muzzle and 35-005 the later type. Each set comes with two turned barrels and cooling jackets.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
January 8, 2015
Company
Hauler
MSRP
$8.00

Hauler’s glue applicator will definitely get you into tight spaces with just the right amount of glue for tiny jobs. Handle this product just as you would any photo etched piece, removing the tips from the carrier sheet in the same manner as a photo etched part would be removed.

Hauler provides 17 single tips and 16 double tips in the product package.

To use the product, simply remove the tip from the carrier sheet and insert it in an Xacto Knife handle (the type that has a threaded collar that loosens and tightens down on the Xacto blade or, in this case the photo etch Hauler Glue tip.

The business end of the tip narrows down into two arms that have a slot in between which, when dipped into super glue, will hold a very small quantity of the adhesive in that slot. Simply touch the tip to the part(s) being glued and you’re done!

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
December 31, 2014
Company
Iwata Medea
MSRP
$73.13

As the name Neo implies, this is Iwata’s entry-level airbrush label, and it is offered in the two main styles of airbrushes: siphon- or gravity-feed. Our review sample is the Neo CN, a gravity-feed type. Gravity-feed airbrushes perform well at lower air pressures, which help create greater detail.

Another differentiating feature between airbrushes is the trigger style: single- or dual-action. To explain the difference in simple terms, a single-action trigger delivers paint and air at the same time when depressed. The dual-action trigger has a slide, which means when you depress the trigger only air comes out, but as you slide the trigger aft it feeds the paint out around the needle. Our Neo CN has a dual-action trigger with a 0.35 mm needle and nozzle combination. Most lower-end airbrushes are commonly single-action.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
December 26, 2014
Company
Iwata Medea
MSRP
$28.95

For many modelers the airbrush is one of the most significant tools that they possess, and it can also be one of the most finicky tools. If not kept clean then the airbrush will not provide the “quality” paint job for which it was purchased in the first place. We all have our accessories for cleaning these devices and I found a “cleaning set” by Iwata that combines a number of these tools into one package. Don’t tell the Iwata folks but I also use a Grex, a Badger, and a Passche, and I’ve found that the Iwata Cleaning Kit works on all of the airbrushes.

The price varies from around $20 to $28.95, the former being a “sale” price and the later being the MSRP. Do some shopping and you’ll find a low price. Also be aware that these items are popular and it is not uncommon to find them “out of stock”.

Inside the plastic box are some items that you’ll recognize and some that you won’t, so let’s look at each item and its purpose.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Camden Koukol
Published on
December 26, 2014
Company
Iwata Medea
MSRP
$15.00

Finally! Yes -- finally a product to relieve the angst of modelers worrying about losing or damaging delicate and precision parts during the dreaded airbrush cleaning process. It’s simple, it’s attractive, and it’s ingenious – it’s Iwata’s Raised Ridge Airbrush Cleaning Mat.

Although, unfortunately, it does not clean your airbrush for you, it provides a soft, durable surface with a raised boundary edge – much akin to a giant mouse pad with wall around the edges. Springs, nozzles, needles, tips, seals, and the like have little to no chance of escaping into the jaws of the carpet monster or into cracks between work surfaces. It’s non-skid backing keeps it securely in place – even against moderate bumps or jostles while moving around at the workbench.

Kudos to Iwata for this gem! I highly recommend this product to all airbrush owners who actually tear down their airbrushes for cleaning. You can’t go wrong with this – especially for under $20!

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Camden Koukol
Published on
December 26, 2014
Company
Iwata Medea
MSRP
$10.00

Ever wonder what kind of condition your airbrush needles or nozzles are really in? It’s tough to tell without some magnification help (more than your garden-variety optivisor) and some good lighting. As part of its expanding line of cleaning accessories, Iwata has introduced a 30/60X magnifier with LED lighting to provide a one-tool solution to satisfy that need.

Although my sample’s internal switch was a bit touchy (had to jiggle the assembly a bit to get it to stay on), the quality of the test subject images was exceptional at 30X and 60X under both the white and the blue lights.

Upon concluding my tests, I took a couple of minutes to determine battery type and accessibility. After disassembling the outer case (snap fit), it was apparent that the batteries were of the wrist-watch variety and could be accessed by removing 4 tiny phillips-head screws from the inner case.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
November 30, 2014
Company
Aerobonus
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$10.00

Aires Aerobonus line continues to pump out great add on sets for dioramas for kits and the latest release is a set of Compressed Gas cylinders in 1/32 and this time specifically acetylene tanks. The set has four casting blocks of materials. two of the blocks are the tanks with four bodies being provided. the remaining two block have the options for each tank. There are four closed tops and enough hardware to make the tops open and have gauges. the instructions show you both ways and the decision is the modelers.

Construction is simple. Cut the tank from the casting block and sand smooth. For the closed tank, cut the lid off and sand smooth and glue on the top of the tank. For one with the pressure regulator, cut the regulator and dial off and glue those on the tank as shown in the drawing.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
November 29, 2014
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$10.06

Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty eight years.

The October issue starts off with several small articles which include the IJA/N Airplane Illustrated and a build article on the Tamiya 1/35 WW1 British Tank Mk. IV Male. This features a beautiful diorama and photos of a Mk. I, Mk II and Mk. IV and a opened up MK. IV.

The main article this month features the IJN Carrier Akagi shown through models in the different configurations of it's career. This article consists of thirty two pages and utilizes several 1/700 scale models and one 1/350 models. Most of the configurations are of the single flight deck, but one model is of the "Three flight deck" version. This aricle consists of multiple color photos and many helpful tips on making the most accurate looking Akagi.

Book Author(s)
John F Winkler; Illustrator: Peter Dennis
Review Author
Al LaFleche
Published on
November 27, 2014
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$21.95

In the months before the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Pennsylvania and Virginia had disputing claims over the trans-Appalachian area that would become southern Ohio and Kentucky. This area had been ceded by the French at the end of the French and Indian War, aka the Seven Years War. Of course, the native people, the Shawnee, Mingo, and their allies including members of the Delaware, Miami, Ojibwe, Kickapoo, Ottawa, Potawatomi and Wyandot, also contested the rights to his land.

In time, the colonists allied with each other and sent militias to take the land under the leadership of Virginia’s governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (Lord Dunmore). The regular armies, i.e., the Redcoats did not participate to any great degree in this campaign which culminated in the Battle of Point Pleasant at the convergence of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers near present day Charleston, WV.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
November 13, 2014
Company
Scale Modeling Quarterly
MSRP
$7.99

Scale Modeling Quarterly is an interesting new magazine that nice variety of subjects of interest to many modelers. This is the second edition of the relatively new modeling magazine by Hobbyscale Press. The magazine is described is a journal for and by scale modelers. The magazine is published quarterly and costs $7.99 per issue.

The magazine is 8.5” x 11”, printed on a gloss paper and is 52 pages including covers. The typeface is large, easy to read, and colors are used to accentuate paragraph headings and titles. The photographs are sharp and are all printed in color.

The magazine includes a nice mix of editorial articles, modeler profiles, build articles, and modeling techniques.

Contents of this issue include: