all 2019

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.95

Contents Description

This mask set is provided on a small Kabuki-like tape material that is die cut, and includes an instruction sheet for locating the individual pieces on the clear parts of the Tamiya Heinkel He219A-7 kit. This set also includes masks for the canopy and windscreen interior.

This will be my second Tamiya Heinkel He-219. I used the earlier version of an Eduard mask on the canopies and was satisfied with the results. The original masking set included masks for the exterior surfaces only. I looked forward to see how the new product would perform.

A small instruction sheet is provided with diagrams locating each mask for the multipaned canopy. Where the use of a liquid masking is required is also identified. The instructions walk the modeler through the process step-by-step which can be quite useful when there are many panels to mask.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$39.95

Contents Description

This three-piece PE set includes a small PE fret with all of the pilot's instrument panel and side panels along with the rear cockpit (radar operator's position) many panel faces, plus two frets for parts for the wheel wells and miscellaneous exterior details. A pair of rudder pedals is also included. A four-page set of instructions is included that locate each panel face and indicate where the raised detail included with the kit must be removed. The instrument panels PE parts do not include adhesive on the backside, and therefore the modeler must carefully glue each part in place.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.95

Product Description

This set consists of a small steel fret with seat belts for the pilot and radar operator. It is small fret, but it does the job.

I removed each part using PE shears and buffed the small spur off with a medium sanding pad. None of the painted surfaces were marred in this process, but nonetheless care is still required to avoid possible damage. I used Gator glue to attach the belts to the seats and allowed the glue to dry thoroughly before carefully bending the parts to fit the contours of the plastic parts. Again, a small dab of Gator glue was use to fix the ends of the belts in place. I feel the Eduard steel belts are a bit easier to bend than the older brass belts and conform to the seat profile quite nicely.

Conclusion

The steel seat belts are a very nice addition to most any kit, especially when the canopies are posed open.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Contents Description

This PE set includes a small PE fret with all of the pilot's instrument panel and side panels along with the rear cockpit (radar operator's position) many panel faces. A pair of rudder pedals is also included. A three-page set of instructions is included that locate each panel face and indicate where the raised detail included on the kit parts must be removed. The PE parts do not include adhesive on the backside, and therefore the modeler must carefully glue each part in place.

I took the plastic kit parts as indicated on the instructions and removed the raised details with a micro-chisel and sanded the rough surfaces with a medium grit sanding pad. Once the surfaces were smoothed, I washed the parts in warm water and a mild detergent, scrubbing the surfaces and nooks and crannies with an old toothbrush. After rinsing the parts I allowed them to thoroughly dry.

Book Author(s)
Oleg Pomoshnikov, Jan Radziemski
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$36.95

Kagero’s The Russian Battleship Marat is one of the latest in their Super Drawings in 3D series. This edition is in their standard 8.25” x 11.75” format softbound publication that is 68 pages (excluding covers). This volume starts off with seven and a half pages of historical text followed by 61 pages of color 3D illustrations. There is also a Centerfold full of line drawings (~26.6” x 19.0”) that starts with profiles at 1/350th scale and goes up to 1/50th scale for the details. I counted 117 color 3D illustrations along with one table. There are no current nor period photographs.

Book Author(s)
Maciej Noszczak
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$15.00

This publication, with illustrations by Maciej Noszczak, is an MMPBooks publication and is distributed in North America by Casemate Publications. MMP books are characterized as being of very high quality and this product is no different. This publication consists of scaled line drawings of the Ju-88A. There is no text other than captions for the drawings.

Book Author(s)
Holmes, Tony (ed.)
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$35.00

This is a new, hardbound publication that is comprised of the contents of four previously-released volumes in the “Duel” series from Osprey. This compendium is edited by Tony Holmes, and includes:

  • Part 1 (by Tony Holmes), Channel Clashes: Spitfire II/V vs Bf 109E (Duel 67)
  • Part II (by Edward M. Young), Hell in the Pacific: F4F Wildcat vs A6M Zero-sen (Duel 54)
  • Part III (by Dmitriy Khazanov & Aleksander Medved), Air War in the East: La-5/7 vs Fw 190 (Duel 39)
  • Part IV (by Edward M. Young), Ill-Fated Defense of the Home Islands: F4U Corsair vs Ki-84 ‘Frank’ (Duel 73)

This book has been produced to very high standards, and it was a joy to hold and read through. The hard binding is extremely sturdy, and all pages have a nice semi-gloss finish that just looks and feels first-rate. Color paintings and profiles are done to a high standard as well, and photos are clearly printed.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

IPMS/USA again thanks Ross and his Team at SAC for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with one more of many monthly releases, with extremely useful and well-thought out landing gear additions for the modeling crowd out here in the modeling world. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

Consisting of 7 separate well-cast white metal parts, this gear is the usual replacement for the kit gear. Hobbyboss provides excellent kits with great detail, but usually has some things simplified. In this case the landing gear has everything it needs attached to the main gear, and as to the nose you add kit shimmy dampers, doors, and taxi lights. The FOD/Mud Guard is supplied with the set as well.

This SAC set adds the usual structural strength to the weakest part of most models: The landing gear. Cast tough yet malleable white metal, it addresses any concern for splayed and failed landing gear for Hobbyboss’ SU-30MKK.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$19.95

This is a Brassin resin set to make 8 Russian AK 47 rifles in 1/35 scale. This is the most widely used assault rifles in the world.

The set contains the following sets:

  • 8 x resin karabiner 98k’s
  • 4 x resin magazines
  • 1 colored photoetch sheet
  • 1 instruction sheet

The resin parts are very clean and no flash. The resin base part is easy to remove. The photo etch parts form the straps for the rifles and comes in three parts each. There is also a mix of dark and light colored straps for variation.

The parts assemble very easily and give a very realistic rifle when complete. They are idea for adding to figures, as stowed equipment or for dioramas.

Summary

This is a great set for adding very detailed rifles to any model that needs it. I would recommend this set to everyone who has this kit.