What's New

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$10.95

UMM-USA has provided the Rollmade IV “Universal Roller” for review. This tool is use for photoetch, brass, copper, and aluminum sheets to create rolls in diameters of 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0mm. It does NOT come with a roller pin but any wood dowl or metal rod will suffice.

It is made from a harden tempered aluminum and the overall size is: L 90mm x W 20mm x H 10mm. Very compact and easy to store.For this review, I used some leftover brass PE, Eduard metal PE, and soft copper wire along with a metal straw (as a roller) to test. Each piece of material formed with ease in the Rollmade IV. I do recommend using a larger diameter roller versus the straw I used since the “springing action” of the material will want to conform to the roller that is used.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$6.95

UMM-USA has provided us with a Double Beveled 2.5 mm Gliding Scriber tool. The scriber is made from hardened steel and will be able to scribe plastic and resin. The double bevel feature will allow the modeler the ability to scribe into tight 90-degree corners that, through the molding process, may have left behind a small radius of material from styrene injection, resin molded parts, or loose printer tolerances of 3-D resin.

On sample parts from my spares box, the scriber cuts effortlessly into plastic. Using a spare wing’s interior side, I used a metal ruler as a guide to make some straight lines and freehanded some other lines.

Using a spare 1/48 scale missile and bomb with molded fins, I was able to create a nice sharp scribed edge where the fins meet the surface of the ordnance. The other fin I left as molded for a visual comparison of how a few swipes of this scriber adds great detail.

Book Author(s)
Darius Karnas and Artur Juszczak
Review Author
Michael Furry
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$11.00

The Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21 is probably one of the best known Soviet aircraft. Operated by nations all over the world, the Mig-21 holds the distinction of being the most produced warplane since WWII. The subject of MMP’s newest monograph is the reconnaissance variant Mig-21R.

The 24-page book is composed of line drawings, photographs, captions, and a color profile of a single aircraft. All of the aircraft featured are Polish Air Force. Close in-detail photos of the fuselage, wing, tail, undercarriage, armament, cockpit and canopy are provided.

Two pages are dedicated to the interior of the vertical fin providing details of the spars, ribs, hydraulic lines, fuel lines, and components not normally seen. Other photographs are of operational Polish Air Force aircraft.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$8.95

UMM-USA is dedicated to fine scale modeling, encompassing model kits, accessories, and specialized tools.Owned by John Vojtech, a fine scale modeling veteran. UMM-USA is an on-line Store, importing and exporting kits, modeling tools and supplies, and seeks and offers solutions on technical issues. In addition, his services currently include design and production of master parts, casting of original masters, photo-etched masks, decals, and building made-to-order models for customers. You can see a sampling of John Vojtech's finished projects in the Our Gallery section of the Web site.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$4.76

UMM-USA is dedicated to fine scale modeling, encompassing model kits, accessories, and specialized tools.Owned by John Vojtech, a fine scale modeling veteran. UMM-USA is an on-line Store, importing and exporting kits, modeling tools and supplies, and seeks and offers solutions on technical issues. In addition, his services currently include design and production of master parts, casting of original masters, photo-etched masks, decals, and building made-to-order models for customers. You can see a sampling of John Vojtech's finished projects in the Our Gallery section of the Web site.

Book Author(s)
Bartlomiej Belcarz
Franciszek Strzelezyk
Review Author
Brett W Scholten
Published on
Company
Stratus
MSRP
$25.00

This was a fun book for me (as a history nerd). The introduction was interesting as it explained why Poland had to choose a European built aircraft vs an American built aircraft (American aircraft needed a higher-octane fuel which was not available in Poland).

The first part of the book is a bit dry. I wish the authors had tied events in Poland (i.e. the German invasion and defeat of the Polish Military) into events listed in the book. We learn that the Polish Pilots operated from various French aerodromes, but no real discussion is made of how the French integrated the Polish Pilots/Units into their order of battle. The combat narratives are short, and I wish they had been expanded too.

Book Author(s)
Andy Evans
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$41.00

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modelling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modelling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modelling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold winning modeler and he has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has featured in numerous aviation and modelling books and magazines for the last 35 years.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$22.90

These are a set of two Aftermarket BMW R75 Motorcycle spoked wheels. The R75 was a very popular motorcycle with eth German Army in WWII. These wheels can be used with most of the currently available model of the R75 on the market currently. I have a Master Box kit and used that as a comparison for the kit wheels and used in the final build using the UMM wheels.

The wheels look great and are far superior to the kit standard parts, although the kit did come with optional photo etch parts which would be a lot of work to use.

The second picture shows the Kit standard wheels with the UMM parts.

The final assembly is with the UMM parts.

I do highly recommend these aftermarket wheels as they are far better than the standard kit parts and I am sure better than the photo etch part build up.

Thanks go to UMM-USA for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.

Book Author(s)
Author: Andy Evans
Illustrator: Ryan Dorling
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$36.00

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modeling press. After so many years working for others, they came together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side, we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modeling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modeling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold-winning modeler who has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has been featured in numerous aviation and modeling books and magazines for the last 35 years.

Book Author(s)
Various; Managing Editor: Andy Evans
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Phoenix Scale Publications
MSRP
$12.99

Phoenix Scale Publications, based in Great Britain, is a partnership of four people whose combined experience equals over 100 years working in both the aviation and modelling press. After so many years working for others, we have come together as equal partners in this new venture, with each partner bringing their own unique talents. On the editorial side we have Andy Evans, who, during his 40-year career has been at the helm of five aviation and modelling magazines, as well as a contributor to many more. He is also a published author with over 60 aviation and modelling books to his name. David Francis is an IPMS UK and Belgium Nationals Gold winning modeler (though he freely admits there were only 3 models in his class that year at Telford!) and he has edited one of the world’s best-selling magazines for six years. His work has featured in numerous aviation and modelling books and magazines for the last 35 years.