What's New

Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$15.00

These represent a fairly new product from Aires, long time producer of quality resin aftermarket aircraft accessories and they are absolutely GORGEOUS !!!

As image shows, all tires and hubs are cast flawlessly as separate pieces which makes making painting a breeze. The tires have raised “Goodyear” and tire info in raised letters that take a light dry brushing extremely well. Images show the difference between kit and resin parts. There is also included a length of copper wire to be used as a brake line. I truly believe that these will sell very well when the work spreads as to the quality found here. See the “Wheeliant” line on Aires website at https://www.aires.cz/en/. Many thanks to Aires for the review sample.

Please note that cost is an estimate.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Loon Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.00

Eduard’s FW-190s are some of my favorite models. One of the things that is ‘nitpicky’ about them is that you have to cut open the wing root gun covers so that the kit parts will fit in a closed position. Sometimes this results in a less than perfect fit, depending on how well you cut them. Well you don’t have to do it anymore. Loon Models provides you with the two covers with the trailing edges suitably thinned so you no longer have to cut into the wings. This will make that whole process so much simpler and ensure a perfect fit.

Molded in light yellow resin that is blemish free these are easy additions to the kit.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Loon Models for the review copy. You can obtain your copy by contacting Roll Models. Tell them IPMS/USA sent you.

Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Fine Molds
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$23.00

This is the latest detail set from Finemolds. It is part of their Nano Dread 350 series (okay I have no idea why it is called “Nano Dread”). This detail set provides replacement bridge equipment for Imperial Japanese Navy warships, even though the box does not say that. What is noteworthy of Finemolds is that their after market detail sets are injection molded styrene; there is no multi-media included. What is surprising, since this is my first look at a Finemold molding, is how petite and detailed the injection details are!

In the box are four sprues of details; two each of Sprue A and Sprue B.

Sprue A contains:

  • 1 magnetic compass binnacle (mis-identified as a Gyro Compass)
  • 3 azimuth gyro repeaters
  • 4 mounted binoculars

Sprue B contains:

Book Author(s)
Bill Yenne
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Specialty Press
MSRP
$29.95

The concept of the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) is not a new concept. But UAVs have been hot-points in the news from many parts of the world over the last decade. “Birds of Prey” is an absolutely fascinating, current, and in-depth description of the wide variety of these vehicles. The author skillfully intertwines factual information with almost "Tom Clancy" descriptions of combat action. The huge variances in the size, style and missions are covered extremely well. To put the size variance into a modeling perspective, the smallest winged UAV, the Scan Eagle has a 1 inch span in 1:48 scale! Compare this to the Global Hawk Block 20+vehicle with a wing span of 32.5 inches in the same scale.

Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
UM Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.30

History

For the last several years, UM has produced a number of armored train components in 1/72 scale. It appears they are branching out and creating products of German armored train cars. The back of the box includes a short history of the vehicle, “Manufacturing of the heavy ‘S.Sp’ reconnaissance armored cars started in 1944. These cars were able to operate independently or as a train made up of similar cars. Several types of heavy armored cars existed. Artillery cars were armed with Pz. III (N) tank turret with short KwK L/24 75 mm gun. These cars had 20 mm of armor protection. Their weight (depending on armament) reached 18 tons. Maximum speed – 40 km/hr. Combat effectiveness of heavy armored car was almost equal to BP-42. ‘S.Sp’ participated in combat operations on Balkans from November 1944.”

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$43.49

This upgrade provides excellent cast cockpit tubs, instrument coamings, and ACES II ejection seats. Included are side controllers; the control sticks are molded into the side panels. Score high there; no disappearing act on the joystick or those throttle levers while trying to attach them to the panels. Detail is unmatched on the resin. The photoetch fret contains all the myriad little bits designed to disappear or be invisible except to specialized cameras or those with 20/05 vision.

Review Author
William Seaman
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.99

Tamiya’s kit practically begs to be used in a diorama and this could make a great start. It has:

  • complete sets for left and right wings
  • ammunition trays
  • gun bays
  • access panels with PE locking rods
  • feed chutes
  • 4X .50 Browning machine guns with PE top covers and charging handles

Again, some of the pour stubs on the gray parts are thick and you’ll need to be very careful with the cream color .50 gun barrels and feed chutes. They’re extremely fragile. I’d recommend you have some experience with resin, modifying kit parts, and PE before you tackle this one.

Book Author(s)
Richard Staszak
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Richard Staszak
MSRP
$15.00

In 1984 Richard Staszak authored an excellent publication entitled, “Building and Improving Vacuum-Formed Model Aircraft”. The book was published by Kalmbach Books and was given the item number of 12054 and received the ISBN number of 0-89024-047-7.
Recently Mr. Staszak has released a DVD that is, or all intents and purposes, a complete copy of the original book. In addition, the DVD includes colored pictures and mini-reviews of over 100 vacuformed models from the author’s collection. Current sources for some of the older vacuform kits are also identified as well as new kits from current manufacturers.

Book Author(s)
Alexander Maladenov; illustrated by Ian Palmer
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$17.95

Osprey’s newest edition to their popular New Vanguard Series is an overview of the Mil Mi-24 gunship, popularly known by its NATO code name, Hind. Using the now-standard format for the New Vanguard series, the author explores the Hind’s development, its various variants, and a short combat history not only in the ex-Soviet Union and Russia, but the other countries who field this gunship.