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June 2015

Cover Art

Duel 65: Bf 109E/F vs Yak-1/7
Book Author(s)
Dmitriy Khazanov, Aleksander Medved
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
June 26, 2015
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.95

Dmitry Khazanov is a widely respected Russian researcher of Soviet aviation in World War 2. He is the author of more than 20 books and numerous articles about Soviet military aviation. Dmitry Khazanov, joined by co-author Aleksander Medved, and illustrators Jim Laurier, Gareth Hector, Andrey Yurgenson present a depiction of the each side’s aircraft and the environment they engaged each other in.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter inflicted a tremendous beating on the VVS’ early Yakolev fighters early on, taking full advantage of Germany’s combat hardened pilots. Many of Germany’s scoring aces benefited from the Messerschmitt’s technical superiority over the overweight and underpowered Yak-1. Eventually the tide turned as the VVS gained experience, improved their tactics and upgraded their aircraft. Dmitry Khazanov paints a detailed portrait for mastery over the frozen skies of the Eastern Front between the Bf 109 and the Yakolev fighters.

Product Picture

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, Air Vanguard 20
Book Author(s)
Paul F. Crickmore, illustrated by Adam Tooby
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
June 26, 2015
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$18.95

Thank you very much to the wonderful folks at Osprey Publishing for providing this new publication for review. Thanks are also due to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me the opportunity to explore a fascinating historical documentation and description of the enigmatic SR-71. The book was particularly interesting to me, since the time I stood nose-to-nose with a Blackbird at Beal AFB during IPMS Nationals in Sacramento in the 80’s. This volume follows previous Osprey releases describing the SR-71 and the A-12.

Box Art

BAE Sea Harrier FRS.1
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
June 26, 2015
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.99

I don’t usually build aircraft which do not have propellers but I like Airfix models and I like the Harrier. It’s an incredible bit of engineering that allows a jet to hover like a helicopter! So, when Hornby-Airfix provided this kit as a review sample to IPMS/USA, I jumped (no pun on the phrase Jump-Jet intended) at the opportunity build an Airfix Harrier.

Box Art

Panzerbefehlswagen 35(t)
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
June 26, 2015
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$50.00

This is the Bronco Models kit of the Panzerbefehlswagen 35(t) and represents command tank version of which there was approximately 20 in service.

There is also a small poster of the vehicle, the same picture as on the front cover.

Construction

The kit is complex and is not a surprise as Bronco has a reputation for over-engineering their kits, and if you normally build kits from Dragon or Tamiya, this kit will be a whole lot different. It does contain a lot of very small parts, both styrene and PE, and it will challenge any modeller's patience and skills. That said, I loved the details and amount of thought that went into the build, that are not for use. There are quite a few options during the build. I would suggest going through the instructions before starting the build and marking which options you want to use.

The kit includes:

Cover

Ventura’s in Canada 4Post WWII RCAF- B&G Trainers and Target Tugs
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
June 27, 2015
Company
Aviaeology
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

Aviaeology out of Canada produces decals specific to many Canadian themed subjects. The research going into these decals is second to none. This set includes markings for four different aircraft in a variety of schemes and is meant for Revell’s beautiful 1/48 scale Ventura kit (but they are available in other scales too. Here’s a list of the planes represented:

Package

AGM-78 Standard ARM
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
June 28, 2015
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.00

When the United States first started its bombing campaign in North Vietnam, it discovered that its ability to combat the sophisticated air defense system was very limited and early on it became apparent that the AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile had a number of serious limitations, particularly in its range, small warhead and limited seeker. In effort to overcome some of these limitations, the Navy worked with General Dynamics to develop an air-launched version of the Navy’s RIM-66 Standard surface-to-air missile. By using an existing missile platform, development proceeded fairly quickly and the result was the AGM-78 Standard ARM (anti-radiation missile). Early versions of the AGM-78 were actually outfitted with the same seeker head as the Shrike, but as the Standard ARM had a much larger warhead, a larger engine and a gimbaled seeker head, it was more flexible and effective than the Shrike.

Front Cover

Detail & Scale Colors and Markings Series Digital Volume 1
Book Author(s)
Bert Kinzey, art by Rock Roszak
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
June 28, 2015
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$9.99

Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for bringing back a tremendous resource for the modeler, this time in digital format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching colors and markings of my favorite jet of all time, the F-14 Tomcat. A very significant plus of this updated version is that the entire history of the Atlantic F-14 squadrons through Tomcat Sunset is now available in a single publication.

Package

Mk.20 Rockeye II
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
June 28, 2015
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.00

The Mk. 20 Rockeye II (also known as the CBU-100 cluster bomb) is an American designed cluster bomb. The Rockeye II is intended for use against armored targets and each canister includes 247 anti-armor bomblets. The Rockeye was first used in Vietnam and has been steadily modified and improved over the years since. The Rockeye was used extensively by American forces in Desert Storm to attack Iraqi vehicles.’

Book Cover

Lewes and Evesham 1264-65
Book Author(s)
Richard Brooks
Review Author
Ned Ricks
Published on
June 29, 2015
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$21.95

At the crescendo of the Second Barons' War were the battles of Lewes and Evesham. It was an era of high drama and intrigue, as tensions between crown and aristocracy had boiled over and a civil war erupted that would shape the future of English government. In this detailed study, Richard Brooks unravels the remarkable events at the battles of Lewes and Evesham, revealing the unusually tactical nature of the fighting, in sharp contrast to most medieval conflicts which were habitually settled by burning and ravaging. At Lewes, Simon de Montfort, the powerful renegade leader of the Baronial faction, won a vital victory, smashing the Royalist forces and capturing Henry III and Prince Edward. Edward escaped, however, to lead the Royalist armies to a crushing victory just a year later at Evesham.