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all 2013

Box Art

SB2C-3 Helldiver
Review Author
Robert Folden
Published on
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$45.99

Having built the Academy Special Edition 1/72 Helldiver a couple years ago, I jumped at the opportunity to review the new Cyber-Hobby Helldiver. The kit represents a slightly earlier Helldiver, with one of the most noticeable differences being the solid dive flaps. When the kit arrived, I was very impressed. The molding was well done, with crisp detail and no molding flaws. The kit is the high quality we have come to know from Dragon/Cyber-Hobby.

Box Art

Short Sunderland Mk. I
Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$78.00

History

The Sunderland prototype first flew on October 16th, 1937, and the first of the production Sunderlands flew on April 28th, 1938. Production started in 1938 and was ended after 8 years. 777 Sunderland’s of all variants were built, and it served in the RAF from June, 1938 ,to May, 1959! Twenty-one years in frontline service for the RAF, and even later for France and New Zealand. (The last New Zealand Sunderland was retired in 1965!!) The Mk I was 85ft 8in. long and had a wingspan of 112ft 8in. Weighing in at 44,600lbs, it was powered by 4 Bristol Pegasus XXII engines rated at 1010hp each, allowing for a top speed of 210mph at 6500 ft.(cruising speed was 178mph). The Sunderland could fly over 1700 miles and was equipped with a galley, bunks, a sink for washing up (with a 25 gal. tank), and a proper, flushing toilet with a supply of water in an 11 gallon tank!

Box Art

T-28 Super Heavy Tank
Review Author
Robert Folden
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$69.95

When I first heard this was coming out, I just couldn’t wait. It is such a unique and interesting piece of US military history, and personally one of my favorite tanks ever built. When it was announced that IPMS had received one for review, I was certain it would be requested instantly. Now, whether it was overlooked, or whether everyone simply wasn’t as eager as me to build this beast of a kit (or didn’t have the space to display it), it hadn’t been claimed. So I jumped at the chance to review it. Oh, what a build I was in for…

Parts Package

MiG-21 Pitot Tubes – BIS, F-13, & U Models
Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.00

Product / Stock #s:

  • AM-72-044 – MiG-21 BIS (Fishbed L/N) – $7.00
  • AM-72-045 – MiG-21 F-13 (Fishbed C) – $7.00
  • AM-72-047 – MiG-21 U, US, UM (Mongol) – $7.00

As I have mentioned previously, the MiG-21 is one of my favorite aircraft to model. Also, I have been impressed with the products from Master Model and jumped at the chance to review their latest pitot tubes for various MiG models. This review covers three different pitot tube sets that differ primarily in their length. They all feature pitot tubes with small vanes near the tip to measure angle of attack and yaw. The fronts of the pitots, where the vanes mount, are all similar.

Box Art

Ruined Building
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$29.00

The Parts

Upon opening the box, the modeler will find two frets of detail parts, six vacuformed parts which assemble into the ruined building, and one part, the base, representing the street, sidewalk, and a small pile of rubble that fell from the building in the process of becoming…ruined.

The detail parts are injection molded. Included in the detail parts are parts for:

  • A short length of wrought-iron fence (not shown on the box art)
  • A street lamp (visible on the box art)
  • A main door and framing parts for the door frame (visible on the box art)
  • Set of window frames, window shutters, and framing materials for the windows

MiniArt usually includes detail parts that are generic in nature and can be added to other structures, or added to the simulated pile of debris on the base.

Decal Package

Fokker D.VII (Albatros-built) Decals Part 2
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Wingnut Wings, Ltd
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.00

This is the second decal set released by Wingnut Wings with alternate markings for their new 1/32 Fokker D.VII kits. As noted in my review of Fighting Fokkers part 1, Fokker D.VII fighters were built by three manufacturers: Fokker, Albatros, and OAW, and this set (#30007) provides the unique markings for five of the Fokker D.VII fighters that were built by the Albatros…plus two bonus D.VIIs (as described below).

Detail Package

F-14 Tomcat Landing Gear
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.00

If most of this review feels like dèjà vu all over again, well, it is, sort of. When my HobbyBoss F-14D kit arrived for me to review, included was a set of the SAC landing gear. This is the same product number that I reviewed against the HobbyBoss F-14A, and as the landing gear did not change from the A to the A+, B, and later D models, the set is appropriate for all. I have added comments for actual installation, but otherwise, much is unchanged.

Box Art

F-14D Super Tomcat
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$33.99

One of the newest additions to the fleet of available 1/72 scale F-14D Tomcats is the offering by HobbyBoss. The kit is comprised of one hundred and six individual parts, and they assemble to make a fair representation of this iconic aircraft that was retired from service in 2006. This kit provides the markings for three different aircraft, representing Fighter Squadron 2 serving aboard the USS Constellation (in both low and high visibility) and Fighter Squadron 31 aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Assembly was for the most part easy, making this a kit that I would recommend for anyone who wants to add a mighty Tomcat to his fleet of aircraft.

Parts Package

Yak-38 Forger A (Mid-Production) Cockpit
Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.50

The Yak-38 Forger was considered by many to be the Soviet Harrier. Like in the West, Soviet aircraft design bureaus were fascinated by the potential of VSTOL aircraft and undertook their own developmental efforts. The Forger was borne out of a requirement for a VSTOL fighter for the Soviet Navy to take to sea on the Kiev Class ships. The Kiev Class was technically not an aircraft carrier, but instead described as a heavy anti-submarine cruiser and, later, a tactical aircraft-carrying cruiser. The Forger was used both for air defense and in a short-range anti-ship role. Unlike the Harrier, the Forger did not survive the Cold War. The plane was functionally obsolescent and work was well underway on its replacement, the Yak-141 Freestyle, when the collapse of the Soviet Union heralded the retirement of the Kiev Class and the need for a VSTOL fighter.

Cover

Italian Medium Tanks (1939-1945)
Book Author(s)
Felippo Cappellano and Pier Paulo Battistelli
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

Osprey Publishing continues expanding its New Vanguard Collection. This is the issue 195 of this line and it is devoted to the Italian Medium Tank.

The book sections covers the characteristics of the Medium Tanks (M 11/39, M 13/40, and M 14/41), plus a brief section on the Heavy Tank (P 40). It also includes the self-propelled guns that were based on the above-listed chassis. Later in the book there are two sections devoted to Italian armor in combat (both with the Italian Army and under German service). It finalizes with a brief chapter devoted to camouflage and markings and a section on surviving vehicles at different museums.