Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
July 22, 2023
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
Scale
NA
MSRP
$16.18

I must admit that when I first saw these paints, I did think that they were not really needed in this hobby as we have been dry brushing using normal paint for many years.

But I have been using them now for some time and I confirm they are in fact another useful product.

This set is very good, and I used them on a German North Africa Stug. and with great results.

I have also used this in an airbrush for shading and as a paint on other materials so they can be used in other ways very successfully.

Summary

These are very useful, and I have found it a great addition to my toolbox!

Thanks go to Ammo by Mig Jimenez for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Book Author(s)
Ben Skipper
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
July 22, 2023
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$34.95

This is number 29 in the FlightCraft series and covers the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. This is the first of this series of books I have had the pleasure to see and review. The book is broken down into 8 sections with the first 45 pages of the book dealing with the real aircraft. These pages cover the design and development, the aircraft in detail. The aircraft in service, variants including the USSR and Chinese Tu-4s and camo and marking. The next 8 pages are 24 color profiles from WWII, Korea, post war, as well as the warbird FiFi and B-50s.

Review Author
James Kelley
Published on
July 22, 2023
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$18.95

One advantage of white metal over styrene plastic is strength. Metal parts will not warp under the weight of a built model regardless of the size of the aircraft, no matter how many years it stands on display. Another advantage of white metal is the way it holds up under "working" conditions (drilling, scoring, sanding, etc.), as it is much denser than styrene plastic and has a much higher melting point. Being quite malleable, it can be bent without the fear of breaking & a useful characteristic when it comes to final alignment "tweeking". Note: SAC white metal contains no lead.

This set is ideal for adding extra strength to your 1:35 scale Border Models Messerschmitt Bf-109G aircraft models’ landing gear. This set contains 7 nicely-cast white metal parts to enhance your project. As white metal is soft, one of the main gear axles in my sample was bent. Easy enough to correct.

Book Author(s)
Les Brown
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
July 22, 2023
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
Scale
NA
MSRP
$28.95

Thanks to Casemate Publishers & IPMS/USA for the review copy!

Casemate Publishers presents ShipCraft 31, British Light Cruisers Leander, Amphion and Arethusa Classes by Les Brown from Seaforth Publishing. This heavily illustrated paperback is the ultimate single resource for building accurate models of WW2 British Light Cruisers with twin turret 6in main armaments – the Leander, Amphion and Arethusa classes. Class history, appearances of each ship over time, available model kits, model accessories, many photographs, camouflage examples, line drawings and color plates of finished models make a superb reference for these busy warships with many possibilities for modelers.

Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
July 22, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1/16
MSRP
$28.20

ICM continues to pump out interesting new kits and paint sets despite being in a brutal war that has lasted 487 days as I sit here typing this review up. The subject here is one in a growing line of 1/16 scale figure kits- Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Highly praised by military experts around the world, the Ukrainian army is now considered to be among the best trained and skilled in the world thanks to its experience fighting modern combat.

What’s Inside the Box

The kit comes as the standard ICM kit does—with a colorful box top that slides off of an enclosed cardboard box with flap. Parts were packaged well and details were crisp with no flash to speak of.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
July 22, 2023
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

With the release of the ICM OV-10A, the Bronco is brought into the modern age. And because of that it needs decals to keep up. Enter AOA. AOA Decals has produced some of the best researched Vietnam era aircraft markings and this sheet is no exception.

Inside of an 8.5 x 11 zip lock baggie are two pages of double sided, high quality paper printed in full color. There are instructions for 22 aircraft. TWENTY TWO!. Included are markings for the Navy’s VAL-4, the Black Ponies, and VS-41, the Shamrocks, along with VMO-2 and VMO-6 of the Marines. There are 15 markings for VAL-4, three for the Shamrocks, and two each for the VMOs. A little of something for everyone. Also included is a loadout chart for the weapons systems.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
July 23, 2023
Company
Shiffer Publishing
MSRP
$24.99

Introduction

With a mid-engined configuration, sturdy tricycle landing gear, and nose-mounted 37 mm cannon, the Bell P-39 was a thoughtful and innovative design. However, the plane lacked the all-out performance of some other key fighters available to Allied fliers (e.g., Spitfire, Hellcat, Mustang), particularly at altitude. Largely rejected by British and American combat squadrons, the Airacobra was much better received in the Soviet Union, where the Red Air Force successfully deployed large quantities of the type against the Luftwaffe. This new entry in the Legends of Warfare series features detailed photographic coverage of all variants of the Airacobra, including prototypes, trainer versions, production models C through Q, and the P-400

Contents

This publication is broken down into chapters as follows:

Book Author(s)
Antonio Luis Sapienza Fracchia
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
July 26, 2023
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Revolución Libertadora, Volume 2 - The 1955 Coup that Overthrew President Perón picks up where the previous book, Revolución Libertadora, Volume 1: The 1955 Coup D’état in Argentina, abruptly left off (see the previous review here for details). Author Antonio Luis Sapienza writes in the Introduction -

Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
July 26, 2023
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$26.00

ICM continues to announce new models despite the ongoing Russian initiated war in Ukraine. While most subjects released by ICM are welcome, the current conflict subjects are even more relevant and welcome. When anything military engineer-related hits the market, I am intrigued; this kit is a double hit for me.

Unexploded munitions, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), booby traps and mines are hallmarks of modern warfare. Breaching obstacles and cleaning up battlefields often fall to sappers and combat engineers. This fantastic ICM kit begs to be opened upon arrival. Upon opening the colorful lid and cover of the typical sturdy ICM box, there is a reinforced white inner box that does a good job of protecting the single sprue containing the three Sapper figures and dog, along with an advertisement folder for ICM acrylic paints.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
July 26, 2023
Company
Vargas Scale Models
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$69.95

Vargas Models specializes in unusual 3-D printed, limited-run armor models, and is now offering the M2A1 Medium tank, the forerunner to the venerable line of early-WWII medium tanks.

The unmistakable lines of the M3 Grant/Lee hull are evident in the M2A1, and the lower chassis and running gear point straight at the M4 Sherman, the most-produced Allied tank of the war. The M2 was armed with four 30-caliber machine guns mounted in revolving sponsons bracketing the turret, two additional, fixed 30cal machine guns in the front hull, and a turret-mounted, 37mm main gun. The M2 carried an impressive 12,250 rounds of ammunition for a simple reason; at the time of its design, medium tanks in the US Army were employed not as tanks proper, but as infantry support weapons. To this end, the 4 revolving machine guns and the 2 fixed hull machine guns would have greatly helped it in that role.