What's New

Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
KP Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$27.25

Background

The development of the L-410 started in Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. The first prototype, called L-410 Turbolet, flew on April 16, 1969. New versions followed, including the L-410UVP, which had an improved performance in take-off and landing, and the L-410UVP-E, the most common variant of the plane, which had an increased maximum take-off weight. The first flight of the L-410UVP-E took place in 1984. The production of this variant started two years later. The seating capacity for the different versions ranged from 15 to 19 passengers.

Book Author(s)
N/A
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$28.00

This is number 39 in the Polish Wings series and it covers the French-built Caudron-Renault CR.714. The book is 104 pages and contains 118 B&W photos, nine color photos, 51 color camouflage aircraft profile illustrations(some including top and bottom views), and six marking illustrations in color totaling 195 pictures and illustrations.

The book begins with a brief overview of the aircraft in Polish service. About 36 Cr.714s were assigned to GC1/145 Polish Squadron in France. This was the only Allied squadron to use the CR.714 in combat.

The bulk of the book covers the operational history of the CR.714 by the Poles throughout the Battle of France. This section is filled with many B&W photos, many not seen before. There are also many wonderful color profiles of the various 714s in service.

Review Author
Ron Bell
Published on
Company
Kovozávody Prostějoy
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.00

It can be argued that the Avro 504 was one of the most influential aircraft of the 20th century. It was in production from 1913 through 1932 and over 10,000 were built and the type was used by 39 nations around the globe. It served as a private aircraft, a trainer, a bomber, a fighter, an army cooperation aircraft, a research support craft on an artic expedition and saw service on wheels, floats and skis. In addition, it used 15 different engines during its development through 30 marks. It was a truly versatile aircraft. For a long time the only plastic model of the type was the old Airfix one that dates from 1967 and like its namesake, it has had a long life still being in production today.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$42.99

Arma has released their F4F-4 with the addition of Operation Torch marking and two bases in this very nice offering. The F4F-4 was originally released ea few months ago and this is a great option, I personally have a connection with Operation Torch as my father was part of this.

  • Two grey Sprues
  • One Clear Sprue
  • One Decal sheet
  • One Mask set
  • One USS escort carrier deck base
  • One Airbase base
  • One Instruction guide
  • An Errata sheet (showing the Martlet differences for the build)
  • Bar codes for downloading 3D print files for additional parts you can print yourself

The detail quality is excellent in every way with this kit, crisp and detailed molding has become the norm for Arma Hobby kits.

The assembly is quick and easy as we have come to expect from these kits.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$12.99

ICM hobby company has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a six (6) bottle acrylic paint set based on the colors of the Medieval Warriors.

In The Box

The paint set contains six, 12ml bottles with nontoxic, water-based acrylic paint. The following colors are included:

  • Natural Steel (1025)
  • Oily Steel (1026)
  • Tan Earth (1058)
  • Leather Brown (1053)
  • Gold (1017)
  • Rusty Brass (1019)

Straight out of the bottle, the paint viscosity is thick and purposely prepared for brush painting. The instructions do recommend thinning 40-60% with water or thinner for airbrushing. All surfaces are recommended to be primed prior to painting. Volume wise, the paint takes up about 70% of the bottle and has “room” to add thinner if so desired.

Note that the bottles are not the usual dropper style (think Vallejo) but a twist off cap and a large opening to allow paint brushes easier access.

Review Author
Chris Martin
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$69.99

Summary

This is a re-boxing of the earlier G7107 1½-ton truck. That kit was reviewed in December 2021 by Mr. Phillip Cavender. I used Mr. Cavender’s review as a “heads-up” for any issues. From reading his review ICM has changed the assembly sequence with this re-boxing. Mr. Cavender noted that the engine is assembled in steps 20-28 after the axles are attached to the frame (steps 16-19). In the current instruction sheet the engine is assembled first (in steps 16-25) and the axles attached after that (steps 26-45).

The only difference with this set is that a new bag with three sprues to create four infantry figures with equipment.

Background

The following is excerpted from the instruction sheet.

Book Author(s)
ICM
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$0.00

My first two impressions of ICM's 2025 catalog:

  1. The high-quality photographs and printing of the book.
  2. The huge number and diversity of model kits produced by ICM. ICM continues to produce their high quality, detailed kits, despite the turmoil that exists in their home country of Ukraine. ICM is one of my favorite scale model manufacturers and I have enjoyed building many of their kits.

The 2025 Catalog is 92 pages (51 pages PDF) of high-quality photos of ICM’s range of kits. The variety of kits produced by ICM is amazing. The photos and printing of the catalog is very high quality. The catalog cover is printed on matte paper, but the image has a gloss finish, like an applied decal. Nice!

The catalog is organized in the following sections:

Book Author(s)
Alan Ranger
Review Author
James Kelley
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$16.44

A collection of photographs highlighting the Mercedes models used by Germany during World War II.

In the third volume of this publication, the cars of the Mercedes motor company's major production types are covered, such as the Mercedes 170, Mercedes 230–260 series, Mercedes 320 and Mercedes 540.

In this volume the author provides a detailed impression of these vehicles through original photographs, taken both during and before the war by the normal German soldiers who both used and served with these now classic automobiles.

The book opens with a forward, then an introduction, before going into the first vehicle with in-depth photo captions comprising most of the books’ text. Interestingly, there is no table of contents. If you’re looking for a specific staff car, you’ll need to thumb through the pages to find it. This is not a major issue for me, but some may find its omission cumbersome.

The vehicles covered in this book include:

Review Author
Chris Vandegrift
Published on
Company
AFV Club
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$39.99

Overview

This is a new tool kit that they did it right. 6 options for anti-submarine and anti-aircraft fits. Accessories include a small photoetch fret that adds to the model, harpoon missiles, and three different SH-60B Seahawk models as well. I think AFV Club has put together a nicely detailed ship. Plenty of options, plus the instructions have good call-outs for those options that are well organized. I had a few quandaries as I went but nothing that I couldn’t resolve between multiple photos from the instructions and art. The fact that the microscopic pin and hole alignment for the masts actually functioned said a lot for the way they molded this kit. I found the hangar bay doors and the hangar bay itself didn’t fit without trimming and my original boxing had 2 B sprues which kept me from finishing this kit for months. IPMS was able to contact the manufacturer and get a new sprue C sent my way.

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$18.99

A trend, among scale model manufacturers, is producing their own line of paints. Others (AK, Vallejo, etc.) have been packaging their paints in sets geared toward finishing a specific model. ICM Holding has positioned themselves by not only manufacturing the kits but also providing their own line of paints to finish said model. Which brings us to a recent acrylic paint set from ICM Holding, item number 3058-American Cars of the Early 20th Century.

This acrylic paint set includes six bottles. The 12ml bottles of colors included in this set are: Grass Green, Extra Dark Green, Deep Blue, Olive Green. There is an additional 12ml bottle of Varnish Gloss and a 17ml bottle of Primer Black.