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Rafale M
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$15.00

Academy/MRC has released a new boxing of the Rafale M in 1/144th scale. From Scalemates.com, the original molds were created by Revell-AG in 1999.

In the Box

The kit is enclosed in a top-opening box and comes with four gray sprues and one clear. Instructions are well illustrated and easy to follow, and contain 12 steps for assembly.

There are four marking options for this kit for the Aeronavale (Naval Air Arm of the French Navy). The markings are as follows:

Mosquito PRX VI

DH.98 Mosquito PR.XVI "Long-Range Reconnaissance"
Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$34.00

From the Manufacturer’s Website

The de Havilland Mosquito was a versatile twin-engine aircraft that was one of the best aircraft of World War II. Not for nothing was it called the ‘Wooden Wonder’. It was used as a night fighter, fighter-bomber, bomber, reconnaissance, anti-ship or special transport aircraft. The first generation of Mosquitos was powered by Merlin engines with single-stage superchargers. In the spring of 1943, two-stage Merlins with higher performance at higher altitudes were installed in the Mosquito. This resulted in the PR Mk.IX reconnaissance version and the B Mk.IX bomber. They were produced in limited numbers, as they were replaced in production by the mass-produced PR Mk.XVI and B Mk.XVI versions, equipped with a pressurized cockpit. The performance of the PR Mk.XVI version was so high that enemy fighters could hardly threaten it. The PR Mk.XVI reconnaissance Mosquitos operated from the British Isles and Italy over the whole of Europe.

SAC Su-27

Su-27 Landing Gear (48th scale)
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48th scale metal landing gear for Great Wall Hobby’s Su-27. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties.

In the Package

The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided.

Review Process

The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for the kit parts as noted:

  • Nose Gear: E4, E13, E18, E19, E20, E23, E29,
  • RHS Gear: E44, E54, E55, E60, E66, E68, E69, E77, E81, E79,
  • LHS Gear: E45, E53, E56, E59, E65, E67, E70, E76, E78, E80,

The metal used is malleable and has some give to allow for any minor bending if needed. Also, seam lines will need to be cleaned up prior to painting just like the plastic kit parts.

Box Art

Warpaint 152 - Junkers Ju 86
Book Author(s)
Daniel Kowalczuk
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$22.00

Guideline Publications Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modeling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas. This English language book, Warpaint 152, Junkers Ju 86, is authored by Daniel Kowalczuk with scale drawings by Sam Pearson. The latest Guideline’s Warpaint series, 152, was published in 2026. A digital edition will soon be available. News on Guideline’s publications can be found on Facebook.

Package

LFG Roland D.II
Review Author
Paul Dunham
Published on
Company
M Design
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$109.00

Recent advances in 3D design and printing have made it much easier for new kit manufacturers to enter the market with subjects usually avoided by traditional manufacturers. A good example of this is MDesign of Bulgaria. MDesign produces 3D-printed kits of unusual WWI subjects in a variety of scales. In this review I will be examining their new 1/32nd scale kit of the LFG Roland D.II. The Roland D.II was an attempt to develop a fighter from the successful Roland C.II two-seater reconnaissance aircraft. The D.II was not a success, it couldn’t match the performance of contemporary Albatros fighters and was more difficult to fly. The Roland D.II had a very short service life with Germany on the Western Front. The Roland D.II had a much longer career in Bulgarian service.

Package

Model Car Stand
Review Author
Joseph Staudt
Published on
Company
War Dog Modeling
Scale
NA
MSRP
$30.00

War Dog Modeling offers a line of stands for holding various types of models (aircraft, ships, etc.) for painting and detailing. I was given the opportunity to try out the model car stand.

The stand itself appears to be 3D printed. All the parts are solid and strong, and it feels well-made. Mine came in an unmarked box, unassembled, with no instructions or photos. It was relatively easy to figure out how it all went together from the photos on their web site, but a photo or a simple exploded drawing in the box would have been appreciated. All the parts went together very easily, and no tools were required.

Decal Cover sheet

JLTV (1) - M1279 US Marines
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$15.99

AOA Decals has a good reputation for quality decals, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review another one of their newest releases, JLTV (1) - M1279

US Marines (35-013). The decals come in two sheets, one of stencils and the other of markings for nine options.

In October 2008, Oshkosh won the contract for the American military Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program to replace the US military’s High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV). The contract specified combining the mobility of a HMMWVS combined with the protection and survivability of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle (MRAP). The JLTV has three base models: the 2-door Combat Support Vehicle (CSV)/Utility Vehicle (UTL), the 4-door General Purpose Vehicle (GP) and the 4-door Close Combat Weapons Carrier (CCWC). The platforms can then be fitted with specific mission packages to fulfill many roles and complete many different tasks. The CSV/UTL JLTV is now known as the M1279.

Box Cover

WWII British Armoured Vehicles Acrylic Paint Set
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
ICM
MSRP
$18.99

Another in ICM’s range of paint sets, this time for use with any WWII British armoured vehicles.

The set contains the following 12ml paint pots from their range of generic colours; I have listed what I believe to be their intended uses:

  • 1041 Buff – Light Stone/Portland Stone
  • 1027 Gun Metal Metallic – tracks
  • 1054 Chocolate – possibly SCC.2 Brown, but this paint is too dark
  • 1059 Green Ochre – Middle Stone/Dark Stone
  • 1069 Extra Dark Green – Deep Bronze Green
  • 1071 Camouflage Green – SCC. 15 Olive Drab or Khaki Green No.3

The back of the box has a couple of drawings showing suggested uses for each color. The Camo pattern on the Churchill is like nothing I have seen before on a British tank, though it’s quite possible it was a special scheme in Italy.

Package

T-800 Terminator, Part 4
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Agora Models
Scale
1/2
MSRP
$162.00

This is a little out of order but I was building side by side and wanted to get the base finished to hold him when is done as the T-800 will weigh around 17-18 pounds. With the base (which is steps 108 to 120), it comes pre-painted in a gray and rust and looks nice. Needless to say, I could not leave well enough alone. The base also includes the sound chip, the battery pack that supplies it and four colored spot lights. The base comes in four large plastic parts with many different parts to add to the top including a skull, bones, springs and various rock and metal bits. Underneath, there were four LED lights that will need assembled, a multipart battery pack and the wiring to power it all.