Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
January 7, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

This simple little pre-painted fret is a perfect accessory for the Kitty Hawk UH-1D. One of the things about the Kitty Hawk kit is that it has an instrument panel with extra gauges that were added after Vietnam. It also is painted flat black while Vietnam era aircraft had light grey interiors.

This fret features some of the exquisite detail that is common for the Eduard pre-painted frets. There is simply no way that you can paint this good. The instrument panel is a perfect example of the type and markings used in Vietnam. There is also detail on the overhead and lower console. These will look impressive when installed in the cockpit.

Installation is easy. Simply sand down the kit detail and add the new pre-painted parts. I’d recommend painting the parts flat and then adding some Krystal Kleer to the instrument faces to restore the glass look.

Review Author
Craig Gregory
Published on
January 7, 2018
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/20
MSRP
$79.99

This Whitenight is from a Japanese manga where the “MK44 is a Heavy Armored Fighting Suit which humans using for the defense from an attack of the mad computers.” Hasegawa manufactures the MK44H-0 and several other suits from the Maschinen Krieger ZbV 3000 manga. I have only been modeling for a few years and I normally model modern jets, sci-fi spacecraft or real space. However; since I’m not a Star Wars vs. Star Trek, Picard over Kirk kind of guy, I decided to try something new.

Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
February 3, 2020
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$24.95

Revell has re-released the ever popular 1964 Ford Fairlane, originally issued in 1990. It is a 2 'n 1 kit so you can build the street version or the classic Super Stock Thunderbolt drag version with a 427 c. i. engine, featuring Dick Brannan's (head of Ford's Drag Racing division) Romy Hammes car. Only 100 for the race version were built. The kit features three wheel style choices, two hood style choices, 4-speed or automatic transmission, and stock and drag tires (8 total). I built the race car version, of course.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
January 6, 2018
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions continues issuing white metal landing gear for not only new kits but older ones also. In this case, set 48430 is made for the Tamiya 1/48th scale F-84G series. This set is four parts – the two main legs while the front gear is two parts itself. Parts are made from white metal and are duplicates of the Tamiya kit parts but made of stronger white metal.

Looking at the nose landing gear, there are two parts in the kit and the SAC set. The SAC gear will require some straightening and is as nicely detailed as the Tamiya part. The layout of either will result in some work sanding around the linkages. The main gear legs are direct drop in replacements.

Testing the fit of both gear into their appropriate positions, the gear fits very well with no needed modifications. Clean up should be simple with a slight molding line appearing in a few small areas.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
January 6, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$29.95

Eduard has released some great sets for the Kitty Hawk UH-1D. This is another one of them. This big fret contains a brand new interior flooring and the anti-skid surface for the exterior roof.

The cargo floor is simply gorgeous. It has the diamond pattern, tiedown rings and the seat rails. It also has the seatbelt hold downs for the front seats. They are available in the seatbelt set just in case you didn’t get that set. It is hard to convey how beautiful this flooring is. It is a big piece and it fits over the entire floor from the front to the back.

The roof is a nice addition. It will have to be faired in with some putty but that should be pretty easy to deal with.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
January 6, 2018
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

The thing about helicopters besides all those fiddly parts is that there is typically lots of clear parts. The Huey is a perfect example. I really dislike masking windows and canopy. This latest set from Eduard makes this a simple matter.

Printed on Kabuki tape, which takes curves really well, this set has masks for the interior windows on the door and the rest of the exterior windows and canopies. You will have to supply some liquid masking fluid.

These masks will save you lots of time and frustration. They will fit flawlessly like every other one I’ve ever used. Its nice that the interior windows on the cargo doors are addressed as well.

I try not to build a kit without canopy masks and these Eduard canopy masks are just the ticket to make it simple and easy. Thank you Eduard for these great masks.

Highly recommended

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
January 6, 2018
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$72.99

I am very appreciative of Hasegawa USA and Hobbico for provided a review example of a limited edition, reissued kit of one of the last flying boats used by the U. S. Navy and Coast Guard. I also wish to extend a very deep appreciation to the IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps for choosing me to review the P5M-2G variant of the Martin Marlin.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
January 5, 2018
Company
Kitty Hawk
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$79.99

History

Developed from the delta wing Su-7 the Su-17/22 NATO code name "Fitter", the design incorporated a swing wing to reduce landing speeds. Interestingly the swing-wing was limited to the outboard portion of the wing allowing the landing gear and fixed weapon pylons to remain unchanged. Kitty Hawk has given us the Su-22 M3/4 in this boxing. The Su-22 is the export version of the SU-17 and you get no less than seven marking options for German (pre and post-cold war), IRAQ, Czech, Polish, Syria and Vietnamese aircraft. Perhaps the most memorable moment involving this aircraft is the encounter two Libyan Fitters had with US F-14s on August 19, 1981, in during which the Tomcats prevailed. Although it's not the most elegant of designs its always been my favorite cold war era Russian jet.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
January 2, 2018
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

IPMS/USA 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.

This review is for the SAC landing gear released for the relatively new 1/48 MENG F-35A. (If they do an F-35B and C, we are truly going to be blessed, Meng’s new kit has great details, fit, and has a host of appropriate ordinance with proper dimensions and appearance…).

Personal note: While the official name of the F-35 is “Lightning II”, I personally refer to it as “The Horny Toad” because that’s what it looks like to me from the side while taxiing by. I have been fortunate to see most the test articles at Edwards and PAX River in operation, and it’s a noisy little beast, particularly when the fanny is lit.

Book Author(s)
Jeremy Black
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
January 2, 2018
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$45.00

For anyone who enjoys scale modeling or is a military history buff, Osprey Publishing is a familiar company. They are a prolific publisher of a wide-range of works related to the entire chronological spectrum of military history – from ancient Greece and Rome to contemporary events and weapon systems. Recently they have expanded their line into what can only be described as coffee table books.