What's New

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.95

IPMS/USA again thanks the Eduard team for sending us more of their prolific output targeted toward improving already great kits. Thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team…

This set is an upgrade to the 2018 release of the new-mold Airfix 1/72 Wellington 1a/c. Consisting of three parts, it is the two main wheel/tires as one part each, and the single-part tail wheel strut and wheel/tire assembly, and a masking set for same. On the kit the main wheels are split into two halves per old-school molding, which the resin items dispense with, having a casting block on the ground section of the tire. .

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Fisher Model and Pattern
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$115.00

IPMS/USA extends extreme gratitude to Paul and Susy Fisher for sending us this excellent set to upgrade the Trumpeter AD-2/6 or A-1H to an A-1E Hallelujah! WE HAVE A LARGE SPAD! And thanks to Phil and John for graciously allowing me to review this set.

On the “be patient” side of the ledger, Paul and Susy have had some misfortune by being located in Paradise, California. Although they lost most all their manufacturing capability and personal possessions, they are still here with us, and my last note from him showed he’s temporarily out of the business until they can recover with a new place. I expect they will be back.

On to modeling: This shall be a basic review of the set as received and built so you can see what is in the box.

Book Author(s)
Bert Kinzey
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$12.99

Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for continuing to bring back a tremendous resource for the modeler, in a digital format with print-on-demand paperback format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching history, details, versions and markings of the F4F & FM Wildcat and variants.

Overview

The publication is another extraordinary compilation of history, data, and images of a USN aircraft that was critically important throughout World War II. The content is organized into history, U. S. variants, French and British versions, aircraft details, paint schemes, and a very comprehensive and current modeler’s section.

Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
PJ Production
MSRP
$4.35

PJ Production is well known for its figures and this time has provided another fine example of military pilots for a specific era. Most often, pilot figures covered are US Army or international pilots. This set is specific to the US Navy which is a nice touch to their ever-expanding product line.

The product contains two figures of two different styles with a small amount of flash is on the figures which is simply brushed away while detail is nice and crisp. Both complete figures (less arms), wearing helmets with the goggles up and seat belt harness on. The two have slightly different head positions and the arms only allow for right hand on stick and left hand on a throttle(s).

Test fit is in the 1/72 Azur Vindicator and the figure parts appear slightly under sized for this kit but a little material will be added to raise the pilot up to a correct height. The arms do align very well with the stick and throttles in this test fit.

Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
PJ Production
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.25

PJ Production is well known for its figures and this time has provided another fine example of military pilots for a specific era. Most often, jet pilot figures from the 60’s through the eighties are very common but 1950s era jet pilot figures are not very easy to find especially in 72 scale. This collection leads in filling this short span of helmet and clothing styles on pilot figures.

The product contains two figures of two different styles with a small amount of flash is on the figures which is simply brushed away while detail is nice and crisp. There was a small hole of the face that will need to be filled which appears to be a casting flaw. Both complete figures (less arms) are wearing helmets with the visor up and oxygen mask on. The two have slightly different head positions and the arms only allow for right hand on stick and left hand on a throttle(s).

Book Author(s)
Mick Davis, Managing Editor
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$36.00

Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. They also provide a free newsletter. Those interested in the newsletter can subscribe by visiting the C&CI website.

Book Author(s)
Witold Koszela
Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

Thanks to Casemate Publishing and IPMSUSA for the review copy!

The Moskvawas specifically designed to be a US Polaris submarine hunter/killer in the Arctic Ocean, along with her* sister ship Leningradin 1962, and operational in 1967. Their primary weapon was helicopter-launched torpedoes and depth charges assisted with sonobuoys, although the ships themselves carried missiles and torpedoes. Their reason for being evaporated when the US switched to longer range Poseidon ICBMs, meaning the boomers did not need to be in the Arctic Sea anymore. Since survival of the Moskvain open waters was problematic, as was finding boomers in time before launches, these two ships were transferred to the Black Sea fleet. Moskvaspent her remaining time shuttling to and from the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Seas until being withdrawn from service in 1996 and sent to India for scrapping in 1998.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$32.95

If you are looking for some improved detail, and a quick way of handling cockpit controls painting for your F-14D, then Eduard has once again come to your rescue! This set consists of two PE frets, one being the Zoom set for the cockpit placards and one for additional cockpit and canopy details. Modelers with experience adding photo-etched details will have no issues utilizing this set.

When Tamiya released their 1/48 scale F-14A (kit 61114), which I immediately had to add to my stash, the parts layout led me to believe that a “D” model would likely follow. Just in time for the 2018 IPMS Nationals, Tamiya did indeed release kit 61118, of the ultimate F-14, which was also quickly added to my stash. While Tamiya did a fine job in rendering the cockpit and canopy details in plastic, this PE set makes quick work for representing the various panels with pre-painted items, and improves and also adds details to the canopy.

Book Author(s)
Ray Rimell
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$33.00

This is the seventh, and latest, in Albatros’ series of “Windsock Centenary WW1 Modeling Specials,” each of which is dedicated to building a specific Wingnut Wings kit (or kits).

The booklet itself is done to very high publication standards, featuring 64 full-color, glossy pages within covers of slightly thicker stock.

In keeping with the format of the series, this book covers a very detailed, step by step build of WNW’s Sopwith Dolphin, as well as a more condensed build of the WNW Pfalz D.IIIA. There are also many period photos, color profiles, rigging diagrams, a section covering aftermarket sets and a bibliography.

The contents are as follows:

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$97.95

IPMS/USA again thanks the Eduard team for sending us more of their prolific output targeted toward improving already great kits. Thanks to Phil and John for obtaining the sets for the team.

Eduard is a company that has truly come of age. They seem to go from one success to another, and there is not a part of their range I have not used or tried. In this case, I have the “BIG ED” set for the new ICM HE-111H3, and it fills a major niche.

Thanks to Eduard and the IPMS USA team for joining forces to make sure I have this set on my workbench!

In the “Big Ed” format, Eduard provides one each of the following photoetch frets: