Review Author
Joe Porche
Published on
January 17, 2014
Company
Polar Lights
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$28.99

Round 2 / Polar Lights have recently been reissuing many of the drag racing kits of cars that were campaigned in the early and mid seventies calling them the Legends of the Quarter Mile. By today’s standards, these kits are rather dated with many pluses and many more minuses.

Kit includes:

Book Author(s)
Piero Crociani & Pier Paolo Battistelli
Review Author
Bart Cusumano
Published on
January 17, 2014
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.95

The history of the Italian Army in World War 2 is an often misunderstood one, colored by many unflattering rumors, generalizations and misconceptions. This latest issue in Osprey’s Warrior Series, “Italian Soldier in North Africa 1941-43”, tries to set the record straight and in doing so, paints a harrowing and desperate account of the hell experienced by the Italian soldier during the North African campaign. Not only did they battle opposing forces, but also their own incompetent command staff. Severe shortages of food, water, equipment and adequate medical care would plague the Italians for the entire campaign.

Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
January 17, 2014
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$71.00

This kit is a representation of the British Army’s Armoured Car that was developed in 1941 after revisions to make the production easier. It served till replaced by the Humber Mk III or the Daimler Mk I.

This is a multimedia kit but the use of the Photo-Etch is required, there are no optional plastic parts. Please be aware that some of the plastic parts are very, very small and will take a steady hand to get them off of the sprue without damage. And when they are off the sprue these minuscule parts do their very best to hide or get lost in the carpet or even on the work table.

This model has a complete interior for the engine, driving and fighting compartment. The kit has over 500 individual pieces and this gives the model great detail at the expense of time consuming miniscule parts.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
January 17, 2014
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.00

This is the final part in the long review of Eduard’s PE for the HK B-17G. We are sincerely and eternally grateful for their support; it’s been a long, rewarding couple of months doing these reviews!

This final set is also a simple one; exterior details that make a noticeable difference in the appearance of the surface sections. Included are oil cooler intake screens, panels, and overwing fuel doors and hinges for the aircraft. Certainly you can modify and open all the refueling doors (remember to keep the cigarettes 50 feet away) to add a lot of life to the model, particularly in a diorama setting.

Small point; the square latch always is toward the tail of the aircraft, in case the door latch failed or was not fully closed. This prevented the door ripping off in the slipstream or allowing a full siphon of fuel from the door in flight.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
January 18, 2014
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$27.00

This is the final stretch reviewing Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit. Even more thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets!

The landing gear set addresses an area frequently neglected by many modelers; the landing gear and wheel wells. Intended for the kit plastic gear, there are numerous straps, tow eyelets, and panels to apply to bring the struts to life. I Purchased and am using a set of SAC gear for strength. The review copy of this gear is to be reviewed by another IPMS member, so I’ll refrain from comment on these other than to say it is a drop fit for strength. In the interim, the kit gear will benefit greatly from Eduard’s efforts.

The tail wheel well gets full treatment, adding brace, side and top panel and rivet detail where none existed on the kit. The same treatment is applied in the main wheel well area; duct braces, additional detail sheets, some boxes, and air flow straighteners. The detail added makes quite a difference.

Review Author
Mike Kellner
Published on
January 18, 2014
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$17.95

When I was first assigned this review I started four P-51D kits thinking I’d get a jump on things, but when the decals arrived I discovered they were meant for two P-51Bs and two Ds. So much for planning ahead.

The decals were on register and looked great in the package. The four aircraft represented are:

  • Aircraft #1: Malcolm Hood P-51B “Salem Representative” flown by Lt. Ralph K. Hofer of the 334FS/4th FG.
  • Aircraft #2: P-51D “Sky Czar” flown by Capt. Fred Munder, Jr. of the 381FS/363rd FG
  • Aircraft #3: Malcolm Hood P-51B “Big Mac Jr.” flown by Capt. John Brown, Jr. of the 382FS/363rd FG.
  • Aircraft #4: P-51D “Nancy Lee” flown by Lt. Richard Baggett of the 402FS/370 FG.

Although there are markings specific for four aircraft, there are common decals for only one. To use the other three nose art markings I used the individual kit decals for the stars and bars, prop markings, walkway stripes, etc..

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
January 18, 2014
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$27.00

Designed to accompany the British 25-pdr field gun, the Type 27 ammunition limber carried 32 rounds of ammunition in 16 trays and was towed between the prime mover and the 25-pdr.

Bronco’s rendition of the Type 27 and associated ammo types is an excellent example of the limber in 1/35 scale. Finely molded in tan styrene with an ample fret of PE, the kit parts pack the modest box and seem overwhelming in number at first glance. Detail is crisp and seems accurate compared to limited online resources and other kit offerings of the Type 27.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
January 19, 2014
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.30

The third 1/72nd B-24 sheet from Lifelike contains more colorful nose art. If you are a fan of pinups and nose art these sheets are really impressive.

The decals are contained in a 6”x9” ziplock bag along with two A4 full color instructions. The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf and Microscale. Between those two decal printers you know you have some of the best printed decals in the world. But what about the research? Lifelike is well known for their research. Even Lifelike can make errors as they acknowledge. Lifelike basis their findings on the latest information available and when the information is lacking they base their finding on educated guesses. Some would find this a weakness in the decals but I think it is an asset. They let you know what is known and what is conjecture.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
January 19, 2014
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.38

The P-47 just begs for nose art with that big cowling out front. That is exactly what ground crews did and Lifelike has captured in this latest release.

Designed for the Tamiya, Hasegawa, Academy or Revell/Germany kits, the decals and instructions are packaged in a 6”x 9” inch ziplock baggie. The instructions themselves are printed on two A4 pages with full color profiles and plan views. They also include a reference section so if you want to see the real aircraft all you have to do is find the book or website. There is another half sheet that has the stencil locations on one side. I love the instructions. A little history of each aircraft and the markings are included for each aircraft.

Lifelike has no problem letting the modeler know what is known and what is conjecture. That is a very unique approach to decals. I personally like that. They are not afraid to make an educated assumption for the sake of including a peculiarly unique aircraft.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
January 19, 2014
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

The Hobby Boss Ta-152C has been released in a number of guises. The Ta-152C, E and H for that matter, could be equipped with different propellers. They could sport either rounded or pointed type of props. On top of that the spinner could be opened for an engine to fire through or a capped nose cone.

Typical of Quickboost the set is cast in blemish free light grey resin. There are six pieces to the set. There is a spinner, three prop blades, prop shaft and a setting tool.

Hobby Boss allows you to choose either one of the props. In this particular set, there are pointed tip blades. The blades are very thin and accurate in shape. The spinner is beautifully accurate with the hole in the tip. The spinner has a small casting block that should be easy enough to remove. The other piece of the set is the setting tool which will allow the modeler to place each prop blade angle and make sure they all line up and allow you to drill out a hole for the prop shaft.