Review Author
Mike Lamm
Published on
November 26, 2016
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$5.00

This kit from Plusmodel includes materials to make seven commercial boxes. The kit is one piece of laminated card with images of 7 different boxes printed on one side. The boxes are in different sizes, and represent seven different commercial products, including a vacuum cleaner, a kitchen scale, a transistor radio, a clothing iron, a soda machine, an FM radio, and an angle grinder. These items would fit great into a modern diorama set in a commercial or residential area.

Construction is simple, cut the boxes out along the outlines, making sure to leave the attachment tabs intact, and glue the sides together. The instructions on the back of the package recommend using cyanoacrylate glue, but I was concerned that would be too strong and might damage the images, so I just used a glue stick and it worked perfectly.

Once the pieces are glued together, that’s it. In minutes, you can have some interesting items to add to your diorama.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
November 27, 2016
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$10.76

Hauler has provided another great accessory for any diorama. These are two very nice Euro Pallets.

The detail quality is great, and there is minimal flash or any other imperfections (just a few minor bubbles). Once removed from the mold base, the parts are ready for assembly.

The Assembly is quick and easy. They will look great as an addition to any diorama.

Thanks go to Hauler for providing this kit to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
November 27, 2016
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$62.99

The Ki-67 was a very robust aircraft, able to withstand heavy battle damage and employed good defensive armament. Its high maneuverability allowed it to carry out dive bombing attacks and escape from a low level. Japanese troops nicknamed it the "Flying Dragon," while the Allies gave it the code-name "Peggy." This limited edition kit features resin upper panel and drop tank parts, side panel parts and three marking options to represent the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's 14th Flight Regiment in August 1945.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
November 27, 2016
Company
Res-Im
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.66

A new company to me; Resin Improvements (RES IM)… THANKS VERY MUCH Lukas for sending IPMS USA this wheel and tire set to review, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for trusting me to use them on my model….

This is a well-executed improvement over the Eduard Mig-21 kit wheels and tires. Three fully-assembled wheels and tires! The wheels are extremely well done with fine details. Bolts, brakes and associated wheel bits are there.

The improvement over the basic kit items is welcome. The kit tires are injection molded in two halves in plastic, and the wheels are separate items in the Eduard set. I personally like the separate wheels and hubs as I can get a clean, clear paint job if I am careful while cementing them into place. The Res IM wheels and tires offer a simpler solution but you have to be careful painting them.

Review Author
James Corley
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Yellow-Wings Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$13.95

The Kingfisher was the result of a competition in the late 1930s to replace the SOC Seagull, a biplane battleship & cruiser scout plane. The new airplane was a radical improvement over the SOC in performance and maintainability. The aircraft proved so popular with both the aircrews and shipboard crews that its immediate replacement, the SO3C Seamew, was often left behind due to "maintenance issues", and the OS2U & SOC served far longer than the Bureau of Aeronautics wanted, with most of the aviation-capable ships still using them at the end of the war.

The decals provided give the builder the option to build one of several Kingfishers:

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
November 28, 2016
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.00

Two Bobs has been giving us awesome decals for a very long time now, and this latest set is designed for the wonderful Tamiya 1/32 F-15C kit. These markings represent the F-15C’s from the 65th Aggressor Squadron from Nellis AFB. When this was squadron was disbanded, the F-15’s were sent to various ANG squadrons. The planes from this sheet were sent to the 144th FW in Fresno, CA hence the “repo” Eagles name. These planes still retained their aggressor markings.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
November 28, 2016
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$22.00

AOA Decals has filled another void in the decal world by producing a set for VF-143 Pukin’, and covers one specific airframe, BuNo 155887, call sign “Taproom”. The decals cover three cruises:

  • USS 1969-70
  • USS 1971-72
  • USS 1972-73

One note directly from their web site caught my attention. For the 1972-73 cruise, this aircraft also bore the name of VF-143's XO, CDR Harley Hall, who sadly become the last Navy combat loss on 27 January 1973 flying Taproom 113 and last American to be listed as POW. While his RIO was later released, there is still controversy and contradictions surrounding the ultimate fate of CDR Hall. CDR Hall was previously Blue Angels Officer-In-Charge/Flight Leader (Plane 1), he and his Blue Angel team were featured in the 1975 documentary Threshold – “The Blue Angel Experience.” One of the first things you note about all AOA decals is the depth of the research and passion which they devote to it.

Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
November 28, 2016
Company
Avantgarde Model Kits
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.95

The L-29 Delfin was a jet-powered trainer airplane that was designed by the Aero Company of Czechoslovakia. It was designed to provide the Warsaw Pact nations with a jet-powered replacement for their propeller driven trainers. The aircraft was in production from 1963 until 1974 with over 3,500 produced. In addition to the Warsaw Pact nations, the L-29 has been used by many other countries and in fact, a number are still in use in civilian hands. These can be seen in air shows around the world.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
November 28, 2016
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$12.50

Another in a long line of excellent turned metal (brass) and resin items from Master Model. IPMS USA sincerely appreciates Master’s support of our reviewer corps!

Up front, Master provides turned-metal pitot probes and a resin vane set for the ultimate Su-25. As usual, Piotr provides a highly-detailed, more scale pitot replacement for the kit item. Metal and resin combined make for an unbeatable combination!

In side by side comparison, you can see the difference in the Master pitots and vanes verses the Kit provided plastic versions. The Master pitot is far more scale in appearance, and since it’s extremely thin, it pays to be careful with this set. Bend it and cry…. But at least it won’t break off!

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
November 28, 2016
Company
Tamiya
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$115.00

Background

Introduced in the 1970's as the U.S.Navy's replacement for the F-4 Phantom in its fleet defense fighter role, the F-14 Tomcat quickly established itself as a state-of-the-art weapons system and as one of the world's leading air superiority fighters. The Tomcat saw significant combat duty, starting with the downing of a pair of hostile Libyan Su-22's in the early 1980's, and concluding during the Global War on Terror in 2006 when it was replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Throughout its distinguished service life, the F-14 expanded its role to include air-to-ground bombing, and fielded variants with designations of F-14A, F-14A Plus, F-14B, and F-14D – all derived from engine, avionics, and mission capability enhancements.

This kit portrays a mid-production F-14A of late 1970's/early 1980's vintage.