Book Author(s)
Author - Alexander Mladenov, Illustrated by Adam Tooby
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
November 23, 2013
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.95

The Su-25 made its maiden flight in 1975. Within five years it saw its first combat in Afghanistan. The Su-25 proved to be a durable airplane during the campaign in Afghanistan. The Su-25 can be found in both a single and two seat configuration. Of the 25 countries that have used the Frogfoot, it is still operated by 19 today. With modifications and upgrades, the Frogfoot is slated to remain in service until at least 2020.

This book takes a comprehensive look at the Su-25 Frogfoot from its design and development, the different variants, ordinance, modifications, and upgrades. There is also a section in the book that covers the use of the Frogfoot in combat.

This book is clearly written with an excellent use of photographs and captions. The digital artwork is really great looking.

I highly recommend this book for Soviet aviation fans. I would like to thank Osprey Publishing and IPMS/USA for allowing me to review this book.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
November 24, 2013
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.50

This accessory is for the Heller Lansen kit. The part is a replacement pitot tube.

The Kit

You get one finely done brass part in a plastic envelope, which is inside another plastic envelope. Good plan, since losing parts of this size would be a disaster, not to mention impossible to find.

I liked the instruction sheet, it was simple and showed you exactly where to put the pitot.

Assembly

I cut the remains of the old pitot off and drilled a hole in the wing where the old tube was.

I painted the brass part with Testors Aluminum Metalizer.

I put a bit of gel-type CA on the pitot and inserted it in the hole in the wing. I had enough time before the super glue set up to insure that the pitot was horizontal and straight, after which the project was finished.

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

The Product

My sample arrived packaged in the all-too-familiar orange-topped poly sleeve with the typical card insert. After close inspection of the parts, I found them to be perfect. These little beauties are just what the Doctor ordered. They’re a drop-in replacement for the kit parts. They’re easily detached from the pour block and ready to install. How easy is that?

The Bottom Line

I recommend these babies to anyone wanting to enhance his Skyraider build.

Thanks to, Aires/Quickboost and IPMS for the opportunity to review these nice little castings.

Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

The Product

My sample arrived packaged in the all-too-familiar orange-topped poly sleeve with the typical card insert. After close inspection of the parts, I found them to be perfect. As you can see, the kit parts offer excellent detail; even so, the Quickboost seats are by far superior in detail, and they’re a drop-in replacement. They are easily detached from the pour block and clean up with a few swipes from a sanding stick.

The Bottom Line

I recommend these babies to anyone wanting to enhance his Ju-52 build.

Thanks to, Aires/Quickboost and IPMS for the opportunity to review these nice little castings.

Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Azur
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$27.00
  • Azur MS-406C.1, Stock #A109, $27.00
  • Azur MS-410C.1, Stock #075, $27.00

History

The Morane Saulnier MS-406 series of single seat fighters originated in 1934 after a design competition, with the MS-405C.1 eventually being ordered into limited production in 1937; only 16 were produced. During that year, minor modifications were made, with subsequent Morane fighters receiving the designation MS-406C.1. Initially, 50 and 80 MS-406’s were ordered on different contracts, and with the threat of war looming, an additional 825 were ordered from the SNCAO factory during May, 1938. Production ended in March, 1940, with 1079 MS-406’s being produced. A number of developmental aircraft were considered, using different armament and engine combinations, but the only one to enter production was the MS-410C.1, which featured a revised radiator and additional armament. After the surrender in 1940, 11 MS.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.50

This accessory is for the Heller Tunnan kit. The parts are replacement pitot tubes.

The Kit

You get two finely done brass parts in a plastic envelope, which is inside another plastic envelope. Good plan – lost parts of this size would be a disaster, not to mention impossible to find. I liked the instruction sheet, it was simple, to the point, and uncluttered.

Assembly

I used a Tunnan I built several years ago. It was great to have these brass pitots, as the plastic ones had been broken off soon after I did the model.

I cut off the little projections where the pitots had been earlier and drilled tiny holes in the wing leading edge.

I painted the brass parts with Testors Aluminum Metalizer.

There is a difference between the left and right pitots, and the instructions are VERY specific about which is which.

A bit of gel-type CA, and a bit of touch up, and the project was finished.

Book Author(s)
John Adams-Graf
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$18.95

This is another book in Squadron Signal’s In Action series that profiles a family of military vehicles with photos of them in actual use. The series uses in-field photos to trace the history and development of the vehicles.

The history of Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles is chronicled from the earliest armored security vehicles (ASVs) that were built to replace armored HMMWVs and provide greater resistance to roadside bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during the Iraq wars.

Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$17.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Hasegawa 1/32 Spitfire Mk II, Vb, VI kits. The gear strut attachment points will also match up with the Revell I/II kit, and perhaps some others with the same wing tooling. I have reviewed several of these sets, and have purchased a few more on my own, because in all cases, they have been superior to the kit items.

The white metal replacements are a clean drop-in for the kits plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts and braces, and one tail gear assembly. Also included are white metal tires. The tires are a significant improvement in detail over the kit tires, which are devoid of any tread pattern. The SAC tires also have tread and improved rim/lug detailing.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$19.95

Within the past year, Dragon Models has issued a brilliantly executed model of the Imperial Japanese Army’s Type 95 Light Tank “Ha-Go,” arguably the most important Japanese tank of Pacific War (review at http://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/type-95-light-tank-ha-go-early-producti…). Unfortunately, figures to go with such a vehicle have been in short supply over the years, with the various manufactures much preferring to produce German or even Italian figures from among the Axis forces of WW2, with Japanese subjects a distant third. Of late, though, this has changed with MiniArt, Fine Molds, and Master Box all releasing sets of WW2 Japanese figures in the past year. Now, Dragon joins them with a set of their own.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
November 26, 2013
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$25.00

The Vickers .303 machine gun is synonymous with Britain and World War I. Used in the air, on the ground, and on the water, the Vickers .303 was capable of a firing rate of about 600 rounds per minute.

This kit produces an excellent representation of this well-known weapon, and considering the ease of construction, Hasegawa deserves a “Well Done”.

The Instruction Sheet

The instruction sheet is actually a broadside, one piece of paper printed front and back. With a combination of phrases or single words coupled with some detailed line drawings, the instructions are very easy to understand. The construction process is not at all complex and presents no problem for the beginner or the more experienced model builder. The paint call-outs involve only two colors, and those are “steel” for the entire model with the exception of a wooden handle which is designated as red brown.