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September 2026

Package

Kawasaki Ki-100-I Otsu Type 5 Fighter (Part 3, Completed Build)
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$124.00

Zoukei-Mura has graciously provided the IPMS Reviewer Corps with a first look at their brand new 1/32nd scale Kawasaki Ki-100-I Otsu Type 5 Fighter. Parts 1 and 2 of this review looked at the box contents and initial assembly, respectively.

Part 1 can be viewed here: https://reviews.ipmsusa.org/review/kawasaki-ki-100-i-otsu-type-5-fighter-part-1-kit-inspection

Part 2 can be viewed here: https://reviews.ipmsusa.org/review/kawasaki-ki-100-i-otsu-type-5-fighter-part-2-assembly

Final Assembly Process

This is a box stock build with no aftermarket add-ons or modifications.

Product

Photoetch Bending Handle Set
Review Author
Rick Reinert
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$12.96

There are many ways to fold photo etch, using a folder with a safety razor has been the go-to method for me. Not anymore! This tool set is much more ergonomically friendly. I found it much easier to use because it is easy to control, fits in you hand, is easy to manipulate, and keeps the photo etch in place when using it without a jig. \

Available individually ($4.16), or as a set of three for $12.96 at https://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/index.php

Highly Recommended

Many thanks to UMM for providing this product and IPMS/USA for the chance to review it.

Package

Superset Converting the F-14D to A F-14B VF-143 Pukin’Dogs
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
DXM Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$52.00

DXM Double Excellent Model) Is a hobby company out of Taiwan and has been making decals for a while. They have now branched out into conversions also to augment their decals. This set is a conversion of the Tamiya F-14D kit inot an F-14B kit and includes two options, early or late and these sets can also be bought with decals which contain a couple options each. You can get the conversion by itself or with a specific set of decals and they are listed below:

  • DXM-S0002- F-14B Conversion
  • DXM-S0002P1- F-14B Conversion with VF-32 Fighting Swordsmen Decals
  • DXM-S0002P2- F-14B Conversion with VF-143 Pukin’ Dogs
  • DXM-S0002P3- F-14B Conversion with VF-11 Red Rippers
  • DXM-S0002P4- F-14B Conversion with VF-101 Grim Reapers

For this review, we will use the VF-143 set. The conversion involves the following:

Package

F-14 B/D Wheel Wells
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Kazan Model Dynamics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$34.99

The Tamiya 1/48th scale F-14D is a great kit and deserves all its accolades. That being said, with the limitations of molding technology, there is always room for improvement one of those areas is the wheel wells. Theya re good but they myriad of lines and detail is just not possible with plastic injection technology. In comes 3D printing technology and the game changes for aftermarket. Kazan Model Dynamics has released sets in the past adding massive detail and their current catalog includes upgrades to F-16, F-14, P-38, F-4B and other sets. This review covers the landing gear bays and gear doors for the Tamiya F-14B/D. The set includes 17 resin printed 3D parts and a one-page instruction sheet. Printing is good with a few print lines that needed sanded out easily.

Kazan Website Image

Landing Gear Set for the P-51, Set 2
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Kazan Model Dynamics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$26.99

The Eduard P-51Ds are excellence in plastic. They are beautiful plastic kits, but the landing gear is a little fragile. Enter Kazan Model Dynamics, with their HybridCAST sets. What does HybridCAST mean? There is an aluminum rod surrounded by resin pieces. This gives you added strength along with the superior details offered by resin.

Packaged in a top-opening stiff card stock box with plenty of foam to protect the parts, the instructions are printed on a single side sheet. This set has 20 resin pieces, but what sets these apart is the inclusion of aluminum tubing INSIDE the strength-critical parts such as the landing gear struts and the actuator rods.

Box Art

Doctor on Call
Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$59.00

The date is some time in the late 1920s or early 1930s, the location in the American Midwest during the height of the Great Depression. Farmer John has been alarmed as Jennie, his wife of 12 years, has begun having “spells.” He calls Doc Johnson on the neighborhood phone, so the doc dutifully comes out to John’s farm during his rounds to see what the problem might be. Unfortunately, he soon discovers that Jennie’s condition is beyond his limited scope to handle, so he suggests that he drive her to the county hospital to let other medical folks take a look. John wonders during all this how he’s going to find the money to pay for all this as he holds onto his son Billy with weathered hands. Billy, fighting back tears, is afraid his mother is never going to return, so Jennie lays a reassuring hand beside his face briefly before she steps into the doctor’s flivver and disappears in a cloud of dust. Will she get better and return? Only time will tell.

Box_Art

Rosan Gladiator Class Up Armor
Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Bandai
MSRP
$12.00

For background information on the main figure, please see the review I wrote titled “Bandai Rosan Swordman”.

This set, like the Swordman kit, is part of the ’30 Minute Fantasy’ series. There are various Class Up Armor sets available for the different figures throughout the series.

The Kit

Included in the box are three trees: one is bright blue and the other two are silver. The silver trees are mostly duplicate parts from the man Swordman kit 5072036.

The assembly process guides you through a series of steps where you essentially take apart the Rosan silhouette figure. This means removing the head, the arms, and the legs.

As with all Bandai kits, careful study of the instructions in advance is very important because, depending on certain poses or accouterment features selected, you will need to vary the assembly.

Box Art

30MF Rosan Swordman Class I
Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Bandai
MSRP
$15.00

Background

Being that other builders have provided explanations about Gunpla and Gundam in their reviews, I will forego that. This particular figure, the Rosan Swordman, is part of the ’30 Minutes Fantasy’ series. The Bandai website offers seven pages of various kits and upgrades for this series.

The Figure

Per the enclosed guide, the Class I soldiers specialize in swordsmanship and fight in the Colosseum. They wield various types of blades including one-handed, and two-handed swords, and they have an excellent balance of offensive and defensive skills. They have precise techniques and calmly make decisions, demonstrating their proficient skills when fighting alone or with allies.

The Kit

Included in the box are a total of 11 trees molded in silver, dark blue, and black. With Bandai kits, it is very important to study the build process prior to embarking because, depending on certain options you would choose, the build process differs.