What's New

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.00

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48 scale metal landing gear for Tamiya’s Fairey Swordfish Mk. I/II. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide more robust landing gear, given its metal properties.

In the Package

The metal pieces are packed in a clear blister container with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided.

Book Author(s)
N/A
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$114.00

The non-profit UK-based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The first two issues of Contact! are available for a free digital download on their website. Their journal, Cross & Cockade International, is also published four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 72 pages [including covers] as well as digital copies (or both). The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI-themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance.

Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$84.95

This ProfiPACK edition of Eduard’s newest 1/48th scale MiG-21 contains decals and parts options for six aircraft: Finnish, North Vietnamese, Czech, United Arab Republic (Egyptian), Yugoslav, and East German. The 32-page, full-color instruction booklet distinguishes between the various options throughout the build process, depending on which nationality variant you choose to make. There is also an extensive, color PE sheet, and in some cases, there is the option between using PE parts or plastic with decals. Many of the PE parts are extremely small, and I chose not to use them all, even when there was no plastic replacement option (keep in mind that many of the plastic parts are extremely small, too). In addition, there’s a pre-cut masking sheet for the clear parts. Color callouts are for Gunze Aqueous and Mr. Color paints. I painted this example primarily with Tamiya lacquers, as well as some Model Master and Testors enamels.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$114.00

The non-profit UK-based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes its journal, Cross & Cockade International, four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 80 pages plus centerfold] as well as digital copies (or both). A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$69.99

ICM keeps adding more kits than most manufacturers and extending their line.

ICM has produced a kit of the GAZ-A which was produced from 1932 to 1936 in a joint agreement between Ford and the Soviet Union. It is a replica of the Ford Model A. The representation in this kit is one commandeered used by the Germans. The kit is made from 201 parts on nine gray sprues, one clear sprue and 5 rubber tires. The instructions have great sprue maps and show the unused parts. There is a small sheet of decals and two markings available both with German crosses.

Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$15.00

Frenchman Sylvain Hautier founded Syhart Decals (SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier) , ART (design)) in 2006 with the aim of recreating in model form the special aircraft paint schemes that have been developed to celebrate anniversaries, participate in Tiger Meets, and for last flights.

6 Squadron of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was formed in 1917 in England as training unit during World War I. In 2017, 6 Squadron was converted to an Electronic Attack unit equipped with the EA-18G Growler. The squadron achieved Initial Operating Capability with Growler on 2019.

For the Centenary of 6 Squadron in 2017, one of these brand-new Growlers, A46-306, received a special scheme with night blue spine and fins, and with a large yellow boomerang, the insignia of the squadron for 100 years.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$17.99

Yahu Models is a Polish producer making 3D photoetch replacement panels and parts for all sizes and types of models. In this instance, this is a instrument panel parts for the HK Model 1/32 A-20G Late configuration. The contents include a small card with a pictorial representation of the instructions and how to place and bend the parts. Also included are three colored, three dimensional photoetch frets and one clear set of dials for the instruments. The photoetch frets are amazing. If you scan them and zoom in, you can read the writing perfectly which in 1/32nd scale is awesome. I have included some scans from the kit showing location of the majority of the parts.

Review Author
Brett W Scholten
Published on
Company
Vertigo Miniatures
Scale
n/a
MSRP
$35.90

Taking my models to a show or competition is always a little nerve-wracking for me. Transporting the model so it does not break or lose pieces is a challenge. I tried many methods; shredded paper, bubble wrap, soft foam, hard foam with sections cut out; all with various degrees of success (and failure).

That is why I jumped at the chance to review Vertigo Miniatures Transport Jig.

Opening the box, I was surprised to find clear acrylic pieces. Another surprise is the jig only has three legs, where all my other jigs have four legs.

Assembly was easy. The “legs” on the stand needed to be glued together. I used CA glue to do this. There are lines engraved in the leg base that allow easy alignment and gluing. I had one leg fail, and believe I did not put enough CA glue on the parts. I reapplied the glue and have had no issues since then.

Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Tamiya America
Scale
1:72
MSRP
$50.00

From the Manufacturer’s Website:

Our 1/48 scale F-14D Tomcat model kit is one of the most detailed modern plane kits we’ve produced. We’ve now taken what has been learned from its development and production to bring model builders the same level of detail to our popular 1/72 scale lineup while also providing a streamlined building experience!

The Tomcat enjoyed an active career from the early 1970s until 2006; initially given a fleet defense role, in the 1990s the Tomcat’s superb range saw that role expanded to include strike missions, and then later that decade the addition of the LANTIRN targeting pod meant it could undertake long-range bombing runs using laser-guided ordnance. The F-14D was the final variant, which inherited its F-14B predecessor’s General Electric F110-GE-400 engines and was given major upgrades to avionics. It reached units from 1992, serving in the skies over Iraq and Afghanistan. It finally retired from U.S. Navy service in 2006.

Review Author
Gino Dykstra
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$103.49

The Henschel Hs123 was developed from a 1933 requirement for a dive bomber by the then-emerging Luftwaffe. This aircraft was fairly advanced for its day, featuring an all-metal construction powered by a 725 horsepower BMW 132A radial engine. This gave the Hs 123 a 200 mph top speed. Its sesquiplane design made it extremely maneuverable and its twin 7.92 mm machine guns gave it some teeth as well. Although many regard this as one of the best biplane fighters of World War 2, the Luftwaffe considered it mostly as a stop-gap measure until the Ju 87 Stuka could be put into full production.