Reviews

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$72.99

I don’t think it’s necessary for me to go into the details regarding the horrific Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster that shook the world in the 1980’s and created the largest uninhabitable radioactive region on the globe, ultimately costing hundreds if not thousands of lives. The Fukishima disaster may ultimately turn out to do more damage, but Chernobyl certainly stands out as one of the top examples of manmade blunders up to now.

On that cheery note, it is with more than a little awe that I examine one of ICM’s latest and perhaps most ambitious products – the Chernobyl #1 diorama-in-a-box. Literally intended to be an entire scene in one package, this kit contains a command center truck, five new figures, a small hut and various bits and pieces to compose a radiation check point outside the recently destroyed power plant. To top it off, a beautifully rendered background is included to help you recreate the box cover in its entirety.

Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$29.99

From the Airfix product page: As the only all-British built Mach 2 plus capable fighter aircraft, the English Electric Lightning occupies a unique place in aviation history and remains one of the finest achievements of the British aviation industry. Possessing incredible performance, this Cold War warrior entered service in 1960 and became Britain’s primary interceptor for the following two decades.

The 1/72 Airfix Lightning F.6 is a reissued kit with new decals and parts. The compact red box that has become synonymous with the “new” Airfix is packed full. A single bag containing all grey plastic sprues, a clear sprue within its own bag, Instruction manual and decal sheet.

The grey plastic parts were all in good shape, but there was some flash on a few parts and a couple of items had separated from their sprue.

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Karnas
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.98

MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modelling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly”, a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor. From 1997 the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999, and since then they have built up a list of books on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history. MMP Books are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications.

Book Author(s)
Franciszek Strzelczyk and Tomasz Bobkowski
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.98

MMP was founded in 1996 by Roger Wallsgrove, to publish "Mushroom Model Magazine". This quarterly modelling magazine was developed from "Mushroom Monthly”, a club newsletter which ran from 1985 to 1995, achieving a world-wide reputation for quality articles, fearless and honest reviews, and a great sense of humor. From 1997 the magazine was produced in collaboration with Robert Peczkowski and Artur Juszczak (Stratus), which meant a big leap in print quality and design. MMP expanded into book publication in 1999, and since then they have built up a list of books on aircraft and aviation, naval, military vehicles, and military history. MMP Books are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Mission Models
MSRP
$5.75

Mission Models Paints Pearl Colors

Mission Model Paints has released some beautiful new Pearl colors to their excellent line of acrylic paints. The Pearl colors have a translucent pearl-like depth and luster. MMP has also issued iridescent color paints that seem to change color when seen from different angles.

The Pearl paints are like Mission Models other water-based acrylics that are odorless, fast drying, don’t clog airbrush tips, and produce a smooth, durable finish. Information on Mission Model Paints is available on their website. Click here for a full IPMS review of Mission Model Paints.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.99

Recently I had the pleasure of tackling ICM’s new Gloster Gladiator aircraft kit in 1/32nd scale. As is, the kit comes with a couple of British Air Service options for early World War 2 campaigns, but if you want something a bit more exotic, ICM has answered the call with a new decal sheet offering markings for four different nations which also used the Mk. 1 – China, Greece, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Review Author
Peter Bucher
Published on
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$16.00

The kit comes packaged in a small zip lock bag with a paper header that has the OKB logo the part number and the scale as well as a description of what is in the bag. In this case a complete set of road wheels for the T-64 type-1. The wheels are very well molded and are free from bubbles and the molding is very crisp. The detail on the wheels is outstanding and looks great.

The resin wheels are a bit more detailed than the road wheels in a trumpeter kit that I compared them to and I will be putting them on the kit. Unfortunately, I do not own a Skif T-64 kit and would like to compare the wheels to that kit as well. But based on the level of detail and molding in the OKB I cannot help but feel they are more than likely better.

Review Author
Peter Bucher
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$12.95

This issue of the weathering magazine is devoted to the color green. I found this extremely interesting because so many military vehicles are green as well as many other interesting subjects to model. The problem I have always noticed with models that are green or any other single color for that matter is they can be very monochromatic or otherwise kind of boring. But with the technics in this magazine you can transform your monochromatic subject into an interest and spectacular build to look at that will be anything but boring.

There are several different types of articles in the book from various authors showing there weathering technics on green vehicles and are as follows:

Review Author
Peter Bucher
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$45.99

This kit is a super pack containing all the needed items to weather a vehicle of any type in a Desert or Arid battlefield. The box is small and packs a lot of items in such a small space. When I opened the box, I was very please at all the items I found inside here is a comprehensive list of what’s included inside the box.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$9.95

This Master Model set provides a huge leap over any of the injected molded parts available on any 1/32 kit. The older kits, being vacuform kits, didn’t even include a pitot tube. The modern injection kit that does offer a pitot tube is clearly not on par due to the limits of injection modeling.

Notable is the thin re-sealable pouches that Master Model uses that makes the parts easy to review and then stuff back into the re-sealable package securely. You will want to be careful handling this brass part due to its small size, it makes it an easy sacrifice to the carpet monster. Another caveat is that the point is really thin and can be accidently bent. I’ve had this happen on one pitot in 1/144 scale, but not to worry, it can be fixed. Placing the pitot tube in between a smooth flat set of tweezers will straighten out the tip. Just be extremely gentle so you don't break off the tip when you gently roll it so that it is straight once again.