What's New

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$19.95

This is a great photoetch set for the Kinetic Sea Harrier FRS.1Kit. This set adds a lot of extra detail to the interior of the kit and makes a great kit even better.

The photo etch parts are for the:

  • Cockpit side panels
  • Instrument panel and various control details
  • Seat belts
  • Canopy guides
  • Main cabin floor details
  • HUD parts.

In the Packet is:

  • 1 photoetch sheet
  • 1 colored photoetch sheet
  • 1 clear plastic printer sheet
  • 1 Instruction sheet

Summary

The added detail to the seat is impressive and really fills out a very plain vanilla seat. This is yet another great Photoetch set. The side panels really make the color pop as well as the multipart instrument panel.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$26.95

In 2010 Ford introduced a restyled Mustang known internally as the S-197 platform. The fifth generation of the iconic pony car featured design cues from the 1960s fastback including a body shape with hard edges, scalloped side panels and hooded headlights for a more aggressive look. As it turned out, this generation would mark the return of the Mustang muscle car. In 2011 the GT version featured the return of a much improved 5.0 Liter Coyote V-8. This dual overhead cam 32 valve power plant made over 400hp in its normally aspirated form. The S-197 platform was also the basis for the return of the infamous Boss 302 (2012-2013). This kit represents the last year of S-197 body style that was replaced by the current S-550 body style in 2015. In the last few years I’ve reviewed a number of Mustang models on this site so it’s no secret that this is my all-time favorite car. The only thing that’s changed since then is that after a 30 year hiatus I have one in my garage.

Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$34.99

Given the long pedigree of Airfix, it is of no surprise that from time to time, they re-release older kits such as the Crusade Mk. III. The vehicle is iconic and was the mainstay of the British armored force in their extended campaign in North Africa. The vehicle’s history is summed up in the instructions:

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.95

Right on the heels of Eduard’s release of the 1/72nd scale Fw 190A-8 was their Fw 190A-5. When you open the box, you wonder just what kit the parts are for. You see three trees of light gray parts, one clear tree with four canopies on it a great decal sheet, a photo etch sheet and a mask. Of course, many of the parts are for the A-8 and for future variants of the A-8. And, with all of these extra parts, you have to read the instruction sheet for the correct parts number to ensure you don’t go wrong and start building something other than an A-5. Of course you have to decide which of the markings you are going to build, because there are some differences between them.

Review Author
Mark Costello
Published on
Company
Academy Models
MSRP
$22.98

From the MRC website listed above,

Da Vinci was fascinated by how timepieces operate. Based on one of his sketches, it uses the laws of motion and a vertical “flying” pendulum escapement to keep accurate time.
The pendulum’s weights, in a bucket suspended from a crane-style arm, act as the clock’s power source. The weights propel the pendulum from vertical post to vertical post. As it “flies” it turns precision gears, which in turn keep time. To speed up or slow the clock, adjust the weight-balance of the pendulum by adding or removing weights.

Kit

The kit comes packaged in a sturdy cardboard box with 2 bags of parts and the instruction manual.

One of the bags contains the parts molded in brown plastic that resembles wood grain. Included in this is 1 sprue containing 6 parts, 1 loose base, 1 loose top piece (C2) and 2 loose clock faces.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$3.10

Master Model of Poland produces small brass parts for detailing models, be they aircraft or ships. They have parts for aircraft in 1/32, 1/35, 1/48, 1/72, and 1/144, mostly pitot tubes, refueling probes and gun barrels. For ships the Sea Master series has 1/35, 1/200, 1/350, 1/400 and 1/700 scale details, mostly gun barrels.

This product is a single pitot tube for a 1/144 F-16. I was particularly happy to get this part for review, as I was building the LS kit, and their F-16 doesn’t have a pitot. I looked in my stash, and Revell’s kit has a pitot, although it’s pretty thick. Dragon’s is better, closer to size. Academy’s 1/144 F-16 also has an OK pitot, only slightly thicker than the Master pitot.

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$34.99

The Kit

This review covers the 1972 Sport Custom Pickup Truck 1:25 Scale Moebius Model Kit #1220. This is a newly released kit (using common parts from its’69-’71 counterparts) with great detailing and it is one that can be taken forward with some added work. This kit has ~130 parts molded in White, Clear and Chrome with Vinyl tires and easy to read instructions. It has a nicely detailed engine and interior. Moebius calls it a skill level 3, meant for modelers 15 years and older. Finished dimensions are: Length 8”, Width: 3½”, Height: 2¼”

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Riich Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$46.99

Not many of the Vickers A4E12 (late) amphibious tanks were produced and oddly enough only two were purchased by the UK from Vickers. In all, a total of 43 examples were produced with the largest number, 29 purchased by China in 1932. The Chinese A4E12s were used operationally through 1942 when they were turned over to the Army Mechanized School in Chengdu. The instruction history indicates this Vickers tank never saw any combat in China, but who is to say for sure. You may also notice a striking similarity between the A4E12 and the Russian T-33 light amphibious tank. Not so strange when you consider the Russians purchased eight examples from Vickers.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.50

Master Models once again provides IPMS USA with examples of machine-shop excellence… We are extremely thankful to Piotr for providing examples of his work to review, and I appreciate the opportunity to use and report on Master Model products via the Leaders of IPMS USA

The Airfix TSR.2 was one of the last models to come out of the Airfix stable back in the late 2000-2005 year group, before Hornby took over and totally restarted their lineup. I bought the kit as it was (1) the only 1/48 non-Vacform version of this aircraft, and (2) thought I could have a great time building it. I also invested in CMK resin to bring it up to a higher level of detail.

What a masochist I am.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$99.95

The MiG-15 turned out to be a nasty surprise for United Nations pilots when it first appeared in the skies over North Korea. While it and the F-86 Sabre shared many design features, they each had their strong points and weak points, that when used properly made them difficult adversaries. The MiG-15 became a symbol of Soviet prowess in the early 1950’s and was used by air forces all over the world, many of them serving into the 1980s or beyond. MiG-15s were not only built in the USSR, but also in Poland, Czechoslovakia and China.