Reviews of products for scale miscellaneous models.

Review Author
Steven J. Corvi
Published on
November 29, 2023
Company
Green Stuff World
MSRP
$2.69

From the GSW Website, here are the use and application of these new items. I used them on my review build of a Supermarine Spitfire and you can see the results.

GSW Decal Fixer helps the application of decals onto surfaces of models, miniatures and dioramas. The GSW Decal Fixer prepares the surface with special agents that soften the solvents of modern paints making decals more resistant and glue stronger. In addition, the decal fixer makes the decal more flexible and increases the adherence, preventing the silvering effect.

Decal Fixer

Content: 1x 17ml bottle

Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
November 29, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$16.09

Introduction

The dry brushing technique is a popular and effective method used in scale model building to enhance surface details and bring out textures by selectively applying a small amount of paint onto the raised areas of a model. This technique is particularly useful for replicating weathering effects, highlighting edges, and adding depth to intricate details.

When given the opportunity to evaluate any Ammo by Mig products I jumped at the chance. I received Ammo by Mig’s set number A.Mig-7301 containing Dio Drybrush Medium Green (A.MIG-0606), Dio Drybrush Green (A.MIG-0607), Dio Drybrush Light Olive Green (A.MIG-0608), and Dio Drybrush Medium Olive Green (A.MIG-0609).

Book Author(s)
Jon Diamond
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
November 25, 2023
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$34.95

The book’s title, Allied Victory Over Japan 1945, is a little misleading as the first, very detailed chapter delves into the strategic overview of the Pacific and Asian War with the Japanese blitzkrieg beginning in December 1941 through 1942. The Japanese victories in China, the Dutch East Indies, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaya, New Guinea, the Solomon, Mariana and Marshall Islands and the Philippines set the stage for this book on a long forgotten and neglected theater of World War II. The author does an amazing job simplifying the complex conditions, multi-national components, and the incredible distances encountered. The more one studies the Pacific War, the deeper the rabbit holes; the author’s strength is making it understandable and relatable. The first two maps alone are worth the price of the book and really help the reader understand the complexities of these campaigns with their vast distances.

From the Acknowledgments,

Book Author(s)
Martin Smisek
Illustrators: David Bocquelet and Tom Cooper; photo credits to the author, DoD, and Aero Vodochody
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
November 22, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

This is the fourth book in Martin Smisek’s Czechoslovak Arms Exports to the Middle East series. The previous three volumes were previously competently and eloquently reviewed by Paul R. Brown of the IPMS/USA Review Corps:

Book Author(s)
Various
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
November 17, 2023
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$12.50

This is the 2024 Cross & Cockade Calendar published by The Great War Aviation Society located in England. The organization focuses on WWI aircraft and provides more than 50,000 pounds British Sterling toward the maintenance of the British Air Services Memorial at St-Omer, France, through annual calendar sales.

The calendar consists of 12 beautifully detailed artworks of WWI planes. Each painting has been done by a different artist. They include the well-known "kites" in their normal environment - flying, and on the ground. Only two paintings show them in a battle/combat situation. Other lesser well-known aircraft are also featured.

The renditions are superb and the subject descriptions are also good. Each painting will look great framed!

Book Author(s)
Alan Ranger
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
November 13, 2023
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$22.00

The Camera On series is unique for modelers in that it not a specification/tech manual for the subject under discussion, it is a pictorial study with pictures taken directly from archives and the original prints and detailing visually the subject in question. In this case, the subjects are Luftwaffe Search Lights and Range Finding Equipment, Volume 1.

As an overview, the book contains dozens of period pictures of search lights and range finding equipment in various forms of use. The pictures are WWII period and are all black and white. From the foreward, Alan Ranger explains the goal is o present the pictures of the equipment as taken by the German soldiers not professional photographers. The goal is to get the feel and way of life of the soldiers that manned these batteries. This includes wonderful shots of the men manning their machines and the installations. Not only are search lights included but the Luftwaffe range finding equipment is included with explanations.

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
November 11, 2023
Company
ICM
MSRP
$19.99

ICM continues to announce new models despite the ongoing Russian initiated war in Ukraine. While most subjects released by ICM are welcome, the current conflict subjects are even more relevant and timely. The Acrylic Paint Set for Armed Forces of Ukraine (Camouflage Uniform) is designed to be used with ICM figure sets No. 35752 (“Quietly came, quietly went…” Special Operations Forces of Ukraine) and No. 35754 (“Always the first” Air Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine). This paint set is designed for the Multicam, not the Ukrainian pixel, camouflage.

The Acrylic Paint Set for Armed Forces of Ukraine consists of six 12ml paint bottles, that are surprisingly not dropper top, but rather are wide mouthed. The colors include:

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
November 9, 2023
Company
ICM
MSRP
$19.99

ICM continues to come out with interesting paint sets for their kits, and this one is no exception. As with all of the ICM acrylic paints that I’ve tested so far, I’ve found these to be smooth and creamy with no pigment separation in the bottle. They have excellent opacity and cover nicely with one coat and are clearly intended for hand painting rather than airbrushing. I’m finally overcoming my reluctance to paint figures with acrylics because of the excellent quality of these paints.

This set includes all the basic colors necessary to paint British infantry of World War 1. However, it is also applicable to British infantry in World War 2, U.S. Infantry in World War 1, and various Commonwealth forces in World War 1.

Here are the paints supplied in the set:

Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
October 15, 2023
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$15.00

"Scale Aircraft Modelling", or SAM as it is affectionately known, is well known to aircraft modelers around the world. I had not seen a copy since our local Barnes and Noble closed. The magazine has really done well under Gary Hatcher’s leadership. This issue is packed full of useful information and interesting articles. Aside from the usual sections of new kits, accessories and books coming out, the reader is presented with then articles.

One article that stood out to me is about Jon Tabinour’s AMX in a commemorative WWII Italian scheme. This aircraft has a truly intricate paint scheme and his technique for replicating it, while exhaustively time consuming, has yielded outstanding results! To replicate the intricate and dense squiggle pattern, he used Winsor Newton ‘Promarker’ brush pens to individually lay down each squiggle!

Book Author(s)
Athol Yates and Cliff Lord
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
October 11, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

The Military and Police Forces of the Gulf States Volume 4: Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar 1921-1980 is the fourth in the series. The previous three volumes are:

This volume covers three Gulf Arab states. While small in physical size, they have become an economic and security center of the Middle East.