1. Home
  2. By Year and Month
  3. By Year and Month

all 2014

Package

US WWII Era Parachutes
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
True Details
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.99

MMD-Squadron has added a 1/48 scale US WW II era parachute to their True Details resin aftermarket parts line. The parachute is sculpted to represent a chute in pre or post-mission repose with integral pack, cushion, harness and hardware visible. It is well sculpted with an amazing amount of detail for such a small item.

This parachute would be a perfect diorama accent for any US WWII aircraft model, posed the way parachutes were typically placed on the wings or stabilizers of aircraft prior to a mission so pilots could quickly ‘suit up’ for a takeoff. Two parachutes come packaged on a blister card with a foam pad backing to protect the fragile features of the casting. They are molded in gray resin on a very thin layer of molding scrap. No assembly is required. They just need to be sanded off the small casting scrap, painted and positioned. A fresh #11 blade can then be used to carefully trim away scrap from the edges of the parachute without damaging the details.

Front Cover

Cross & Cockade International Autumn 2013 Vol. 44/3
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$33.50

The Cross & Cockade International is the quarterly publication of a non-profit organization known as The First World War Aviation Historical Society. The UK based organization has been publishing these journals since 1970 with the objective of furthering the study of First World War Aviation History. The Company overview on its Facebook page says “Cross and Cockade International can trace its history back to the 1960s. We have always attracted some of the premier historians in the field. Our current President is Air Vice Marshal Peter Dye (Rtd), Director-General of the RAF Museum. We publish a high-quality quarterly journal of original research into the subject.”

NOTE: The journal is apparently not available as single issues, but by volumes. Back issues sell for $33.50 per volume.

Boxart

AEC Mk.II Armoured Car, Part 2 - Chassis, Engine, & Exterior
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$69.00

Part 2 Review – Chassis, Engine, & Exterior

This is the second of a series of reviews of the MiniArt AEC Mk. II Armoured Car kit. Part 1 previously reviewed the kit contents and assembly of the driver’s compartment. This review includes the chassis, engine, and exterior. A subsequent review will include the turret and gun. Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) has generously provided the review sample to IPMS.

Introduction

This is an excellent, highly detailed kit. The molding is very crisp with great detail, and the fit is excellent. There are a few difficult areas that will make the kit challenging for less experienced modelers, but it results in a nice, fun to build kit for more advanced & expert modelers.

Box Art

Air Do Boeing 737-700
Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$30.00

Hasegawa has been releasing many of its kits as Limited Edition issues during the last few years, and this iteration of its new-tool “advanced 737” kit in the colors of Air Do---the relatively new identity of Hokkaido Airlines---follows suit. The moldings and parts are the same as previous issues, with white fuselage halves and gray for all other parts. (Photo 37Parts.jpg) The kit comes with a stand plus alternate parts for displaying the model with gear retracted or extended. A forward interior bulkhead is provided with a big metal bolt to insert in its center, to act as ballast and prevent tail-sitting. Just to make sure my model had enough weight up front, I inserted the bolt into the front of the bulkhead instead of the rear, so the bolt head was closer to the nose.

Fine recessed surface detail is the hallmark of this kit and there was no flash on any of the parts---even the tiny gear struts and engine exhaust cones.

Box art

Mitsubishi F-1 '6SQ Sea Camouflage'
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$53.00

The usual “Heavy Appreciation” goes out to Hasegawa USA for providing IPMS USA yet another fantastic re-release of one of Hasegawa’s catalog for review.

This kit is a re-release of Hasegawa’s mid-1980’s F-1 models. The molds have endured the test of time, and no flash is present on this kit. Engraved panels, accurate details, tight construction, and a change in pace for F-1 lovers in the form of a new decal sheet. Although I like the standard F-1 Japanese three-color scheme, this was just, well, different!