What's New

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Kitty Hawk
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$129.99

IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Glenn and the Kittyhawk team for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their “nobody else did it” releases

So, on to the next Kitty Hawk “new” kit…

This kit is one of Kitty Hawk’s better releases. The plastic is strong yet easy to work with, and receptive to standard cements. The parts have a clean appearance on the runners, and when assembled were accurate in dimensions and fit. External tanks that are round and require a minimum of seam cleanup made me happy.

Book Author(s)
Richard Marmo
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Scale Publications
MSRP
$3.99

This is my first time reviewing a PDF book. The author, Richard Marmo, is a long time IPMS member. His IPMS/USA number is #2 so that means he has been modeling for years. So he may know a thing or two about modeling and being an author.

Richard has taken this 52-year old kit and enhanced it with some Cobra Company (now Lonestar Models) upgrades and placed it into a neat vignette. He describes how to build the model and the entire vignette, including a cover for it. As a former Cobra pilot, I couldn’t wait to see what he had to say.

Utilizing the 1967 release of the Revell Bell AH-1G, Richard puts a unique camoflage scheme on the model, but first he tells you how to build it. There are plenty of pictures of how to build it included. There are 47 photos interspersed throughout the 49 page ‘book’. Because it is in PDF format you can enhance and blow up the photos to see them on your computer and print them out should you want or need to.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Mission Models
MSRP
$5.75

Several of my modeling friends have been using Mission Model Paints and telling really good things about them. When I had the chance to review some of them I jump on that opportunity.

Before I go into the particular details of these color change colors, I wanted to mention a few things about the Mission Models Paints:

The very first thing you notice is the volume you get in each bottle: 1 fluid oz. That would keep you painting for a while. You might worry about the fact that the paint might go bad before you are out of it, but don’t worry. Based on the chemistry of it, it is shelf stable. I don’t know if after 5 or 10 years it will still be as good as pristine, but it should last you a long, long time.

Another thing to highlight is that each bottle has a “mixing ball” inside. I’m not sure if it is truly a ball, but you can shake that bottle and the little “rattle” will help you mix the paint thoroughly.

Book Author(s)
Dénes Bernád
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$65.00

The Bulgarian Air Force might have been modest in size compared with other Air Forces during World War 2, but certainly saw its share of combat. While located near the Eastern Front, it was not involved in combat against Russia, but against the Western Allies, when in late 1944 with the Soviet Army amassing on its borders, Bulgaria switched sides and fought its former allies, the Germans.

During the early part of World War 2, Bulgaria had a “symbolic war” against the Western Allies. After the 1943 Ploesti raid that changed rapidly. Germany provided Bulgaria with more modern airplanes plus allowed the purchase of more obsolete types from other occupied countries. This book is the second of the series and covers, in extensive detail the following airframes

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Two Bobs has released a decal sheet covering the Heritage Schemes for the 50th Anniversary of the T-38 in USAF service. You get a total of 5 camouflage schemes, covering an overall grey, a South-East Asia scheme, an Aggressor/Air superiority scheme, a two-grey with a blue fin, and an overall white scheme.

The instruction sheet (printed in full color) it is truly huge at 11”x17” and it includes color callouts in FS standard, plus Testors, Humbrol, Mr. Color, Xtracrylics, and Mr.Paint making finding the right paint color a breeze.

The decal sheet is printed by Cartograf and it looks thin, glossy and it is in perfect register. Likely the color density will be excellent too.

From an inspection to the decal sheet, I think it is possible to actually finish all the airframes in the sheet. I think the hardest thing will be to choose which camouflage to finish it on. But why choose? You can make them all. Kudos to Two Bobs for allowing that!

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Mission Models
MSRP
$5.75

Several of my modeling friends have been using Mission Model Paints and telling really good things about them. When I had the chance to review some of them I jump on that opportunity.

The very first thing you notice is the volume you get in each bottle: 1 fluid oz. That would keep you painting for a while. You might worry about the fact that the paint might go bad before you are out of it, but don’t worry. Based on the chemistry of it, it is shelf stable. I don’t know if after 5 or 10 years it will still be as good as pristine, but it should last you a long, long time.

Another thing to highlight is that each bottle has a “mixing ball” inside. I’m not sure if it is truly a ball, but you can shake that bottle and the little “rattle” will help you mix the paint thoroughly.

The Mission Models Paint website has an extensive section on “FAQ” and “Tips”. I would recommend you read it before you use this paints. As they say there “…we are teaching you new tricks”.

Book Author(s)
Haagen Klaus and Bert Kinzey Art: Rock Roszak
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$12.99

Thank you to Haagen Klaus, Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for continuing to bring back a tremendous resource for the modeler and aviation historian, in a digital format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching history, details, and versions of the Super Hornet.

Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Tiger Werke
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$30.00

As an aircraft modeler, I was unfamiliar with this company that is primarily focused on 1/35 resin armor accessories. According to the box inserts and website, they are under new management and are expanding the current line. This base fit right into my area of focus, so I was pleased to have a chance to write a review.

The first thing I noticed was how hefty and sturdy the packing box was. It is made of thick cardboard and has a few images of the product on the top. Inside, the resin base is wrapped in a plastic bag and tucked very securely between foam blocks. This is definitely not going to move around in box during shipping or handling!

Review Author
Ben Morton
Published on
Company
Platz
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$18.22

Courtesy of Platz (Japan): The world's first supersonic fighter was the American F-8 Crusader. Development proceeded according to the requirements of the US Navy, and the first flight was successful completed in 1955. Operation started in 1957.

The F-8 Crusader adopted a high wing swept wing design. The wing had a special mechanism that raised the front by 7 degrees. This slight operation succeeded in keeping the distance between takeoffs and landings short. The F-8 demonstrated excellent performance as an on-board fighter operated on an aircraft carrier. The aircraft was equipped with a 18,000 pound thrust engine with an afterburner and was adopted and operated by the US Navy, the Marine Corps, the Philippines, and France.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$22.00

Two Bobs has released a decal sheet covering the 2018 deployment of the 391st to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve. During the deployment, 18 airplanes got individual mission markings and nose art.

The instruction sheet (printed in full color) it is truly huge at 11”x17” and it includes color callouts in FS standard, plus Testors, Humbrol, Mr. Color, Xtracrylics, and Mr.Paint making finding the right paint color a breeze.

As a “bonus” typical loadout is included, this will help you create an accurate model during their deployment in the Middle East.

A point to make is that they provide two different set of stencils, one for the Revellogram and another for the Great Wall Hobbies. Kudos to Two Bobs for doing that!

The decal sheet is printed by Cartograf and it looks thin, glossy and it is in perfect register. Likely the color density will be excellent too.

Highly recommended.