This set is designed to be used on Fujimi’s F-14 Tomcat kits. The set consists of 2 resin ramps, replacing the kit’s molded on ramps. The title states that the parts are the ECS (environmental control system) exhaust grills, however, in reality they are the fixed bleed doors which allow excess air to be vented out of the intakes, especially at higher airspeeds when the movable ramps deploy to restrict the airflow down the intakes and keep the air subsonic when it hits the front of the engines.

The parts are exceptionally thin and crisply cast. However, as the bleed doors are molded as part of the upper fuselage on the kit, you will need to break out a razor saw or a new Xacto blade to remove the kit parts and install these replacements. I recommend the removal surgery be completed before you join the upper and lower fuselage halves, but you should hold off on installing the doors until right before painting to avoid damaging them.

The T-34 is known to just about anyone with knowledge of WWII battles and the Eastern Front in particular. While it had some teething issues, it was an unpleasant surprise to the Germans who came against it and the KV series of tanks. It quickly became apparent that the typical early Panzers were outmatched and outgunned. This led to development of the Tiger and the Panther, which derived much of its design from experiences with the T-34. This new book from Greenhill Books gives an excellent account of the design, development, and battlefield performance of this workhorse of the Red Army. After a foreword called Stalin’s Saviour by Anthony Tucker-Jones, we delve right in.

This is an excellent decal sheet, and it is nice for this to be on the market! Decals are provided for 28 panzer divisions. Between one and five decals are provided for each division. The decals for the divisions with three, four, or five decals are differentiated by the years which they were used.

The color register is excellent, and the images are sharp and clear. The decals are thin and will conform to curved and uneven surfaces nicely, yet they are not so thin that they will tear when wet. They release form the backing paper easily and require minimal wet time.

Thank you to Phil and to Bill for all the work that you do and your support of IPMS.

The Kit

Intended for Italeri or Hasegawa 1/32 F-86 Sabre models, this Aires Aero Bonus kit includes one resin cast block and one single-sided instruction sheet with a full color illustration. They are packaged in a plastic container (for protection) inside of a plastic pouch. Prior to working on the kit, I recommend washing it in a mild detergent solution to remove any mold release residue. The resin cast has sharp detail and is flash free.

This the second volume in a series devoted to the uniforms and equipment of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard. The first volume concentrated on the Infantry and I have not seen it. This volume focuses on the cavalry. The Imperial Guard, as the name suggests, was Napoleon’s personal guard that expanded into the elite regiments of the French Army. The material culture of the military through the ages has always attracted buffs, historians, and modelers. The author, rather than relying on secondary sources has dipped into archives and museum collections to understand the nitty gritty details, in particular colors and construction. As the author points out, despite the evidence that does exist, in many cases, we will never know many of the details that made up the uniforms of Napoleon’s elite guard. I can only assume that the first volume is a similar layout.