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Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$12.00

IPMS/USA yet again sends regards to Piotr at Master Model for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of his turned metal and resin accessory releases, which are the gold-standard for those who do a lot of model building. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

This set takes the ante up on the previously reviewed AM-32-107 set… included in the -108 version is the brass machine work on the two MG 151 cannon, the very delicate pitot tube and IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) FuG 25 antenna, and also the MG-103 cannon in brass, as well as a brass blast tube for the centerline “through the engine shaft” cannon; more jewels appear in the form of what appears to be CAD machine-printed resin muzzle brakes for the MG-103.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$7.73

IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Brengun for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their growing number of releases, with useful additions for those who build. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

This set has four parts… two nose gear and two main gear wheels and tires. Cast in medium gray resin, they provide a professional final touch for those of us who frequent the Lilliputian scale of 1/144. There are no instructions, nor are any needed if you are using them.

Clean the resin with your own mold release agent remover, paint with flat black primer, then use a touch of flat white on a 00000 brush or a toothpick… followed by a gloss on the wheel, so a bit of weathering dark gray or black pin wash can be used to bring out the detail.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$7.73

IPMS/USA says “thanks kindly” to Brengun for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their growing number of releases, with useful additions for those who build. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

This set has 10 parts… One nose gear wheel and tire and nose gear fork, two main gear wheels and tires, and two outrigger wheels and tires all cast in resin. Also included is a small etch brass set with torque links for the outrigger gear. The resin is cast in medium gray color, and this is the ultimate provision including a professional final touch for those of us who frequent the Lilliputian scale of 1/144. There are instructions included to assist you in your task.

Review Author
Jarrod Booth
Published on
Company
Italeri
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$106.99

The Mercedes Benz Actros range of trucks was introduced in 1995 and quickly became a success hauling cargo throughout Europe and other parts of the world.

Italeri is well known for their extensive range of truck models. They exhibit very nice detail and are relatively easy to build. The top opening box shows a great painting of the “show” truck. Inside it is packed full of parts sprues, “rubber” tires, mesh for behind the star, instruction manual and decal sheet. There were three parts sprues contained within two plastic bags each, while the clear parts and additional chrome plated parts were in their own separate bags.

Construction started with the chassis. There were two parts to each chassis “I” frame and looked like a double bogey axel could be added/changed from the single axel in the kit. Air tanks, a battery container, engine mounts and structural cross members were assembled to form the chassis frame.

Book Author(s)
Andy Evans
Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
SAM Publications
MSRP
$40.00

This is an updated version of SAM Publications earlier book on the F-14 Tomcat. The book starts with a brief history of the origins of the F-14 and has separate chapters for each of the three variants of the Tomcat, the F-14A, F-14A+/B, and the ultimate Tomcat – the F-14D. Each chapter includes descriptions of each variant, covering things such as the avionics, air-to-air weapons, and other systems for that variant. The chapters are lavishly illustrated with mostly color photographs illustrating many of the squadrons that operated the Tomcat and each chapter includes a listing of the Bureau Numbers for that variant.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Aviaeology
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.99

Aviaeology is a company based in Ontario, Canada and calls itself “A product of research, illustration, & design for students, enthusiasts, & practitioners of Aviation History Publications, Decal Sets, and Model Parts

Right now I’m trying to make my fingers work in my back room where my laptop and I are banished for doing all our nefarious Modeling reviews and such works. However, Ontario is a LOT colder than Oklahoma, so I have it good…

Therefore, IPMS/USA sends warm regards once again to the stalwart proprietors of Aviaeology, Alison and Terry Higgins, for supporting the IPMS USA reviewer corps with yet one more of their marvelously produced, meticulously researched and top-shelf historical and artworks. And thanks to IPMS leadership for sending it to me to be reviewed.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.15

The release of the Wolfpack and Trumpeter T-38 Talon/ and F-5B/ RF-5A/E/S Freedom Fighter kits brought this light weight multi-role fighter into the modern age. I hate having to remove the mold lines. I can never keep the roundness of cross section. Then there is the strength of the brass itself. No plastic can withstand the same amount of pressure as the brass can.

Packaged in a resealable plastic bag, with card stock backing, are three beautifully turned metal pieces. One pitot tube and two gun barrels. Depending on what aircraft variant you want to do depends on what you will use. The T-38 only needs the pitot tube. Any variant of the F-5 would need the pitot tube and the gun barrels. Again, it depends if one or two guns are used.

The instructions are printed on a small one-sided sheet of paper that explains the correct size drill bits to use and how deep to make the holes. This is very informative and useful.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$17.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions offers a set of white metal aftermarket parts for the Copper State Models Nieuport XVII. You can find information about the Copper State kit at https://copperstatemodels.com. As with other SAC offerings this set of landing gear struts and V-wing struts are white metal and are true to the detail found on the CSM parts that are to be replaced.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$17.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) offers an extensive range of replacement landing gear parts for a wide variety of kits. I have some experience using SAC items to replace kit parts and I’ve found that the SAC items add strength to the model without sacrificing any of the detail found on the original parts.

As mentioned in other reviews, I tend to be a rather heavy-handed modeler and I have a long history of “critical parts” failure with WWI models which is self-made and not a reflection on the quality of the original kit. I’ve snapped wing struts in half, broken off tail skids, and caused catastrophic damage to undercarriage support structures.