What's New

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.50

Lifelike Decals from Japan has released its 5th installment in a series of Ki-27 “Nate”. You get a total of 8 aircraft, with 6 of them being of the Japanese “Gray Green” color, which the instructions suggest replacing with German RLM 02.

One of the other two aircraft is painted in Japanese Dark Green over Gray-Green, while the last one is an attractive disruptive camouflage of dark green, green and brown over Grey-Green.

Decals are provided for squadron codes and fuselage art for all aircraft. However, there aren’t enough national markings for all aircraft. This is not a big problem as the national markings and stencils from the decal sheet in the original boxing from the Hasegawa kit can be used.

Decals have been printed by Microscale and they have a well-earned reputation for thin and in-register decal sheets. These are no exception. Decals are glossy, they look thin, and likely will adhere well to a gloss surface.

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$3.00

Ammo by Mig has released an extensive line of acrylic filters, I think there are 30 different colors in the line. This review includes the following colors

  • A.Mig-0808 Marine Blue
  • A.Mig-0811 Yellow Green
  • A.Mig-0823 Medium Brown
  • A.Mig-0824 Tan

Filters are translucent paints (highly diluted paints) that are intended to be applied over a surface -as opposed to washes that are applied on crevices or panel lines- with the intention of subtlety changing the color base and bringing color variation and depth to an otherwise ‘toy-like’ finish.

Review Author
Mike Lamm
Published on
Company
Tiger Werke
MSRP
$10.50

I can’t be the only one who has accidentally knocked over an open bottle of plastic cement while working on a model. The damage it does to your cutting matte can be pretty awful, but if it spills onto a sprue of parts or the model itself, it could downright ruin your day. Well, have no fear Tiger Werke has that issue solved, or at least has made it nearly impossible to happen again. Those fine folks have designed a resin bottle holder, for either a Tamiya or Mr. Cement bottle, to keep them upright and your cutting matts and model parts safe. The small resin block has two squares the perfect size for a variety of products, whether it’s glue or pigment or wash.

Book Author(s)
Krysztof Mucha
Review Author
Mike Lamm
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$24.95

A variant of the iconic Panzer IV, the Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär (SdKfz 166, Sturmgeschütz IV für 15cm StuH 43) was a German self-propelled assault gun. Work on the design began in 1942 with a goal of creating a vehicle well suited for the demands of urban warfare. The gun was based on the PzKpfw IV Ausf. E and F and, later, Ausf. G. Initially, the vehicle carried 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer, which was later replaced by a 15 cm StuH 23/1 L/12 weapon. The Brummbär went into production in 1943 and its first use was in Operation Citadel around the Kursk salient. Eventually, units equipped with this assault gun defended the Anzio and Normandy landings and participated in the Warsaw Uprising.

In total, 300 vehicles were built during the war, with 4 remaining survivors. The drawings in this publication are based on the vehicle at the Kubinka Tank Museum near Moscow.

Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Platz
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$18.00

It had to end eventually. After nearly a 40-year run in the Japanese Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) venerable Phantoms were finally retired in 2020. Several model companies re-released their RF-4 / F-4 kits to commemorate the myriad of markings worn by these Phinal Phantoms at the end of their JASDF careers. Platz was no exception and one such release included the RF-4E Recce Phantom with the forest camouflage. Markings for 3 different machines in the squadron were included in the kit.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions now has over thirty years of experience supplying resin and white metal parts to model builders, and their product listing continues to expand. This is the eleventh landing gear set from SAC that I have reviewed, and once again, they have provided an excellent metal option for kit-supplied landing gear. This set is intended for the 1/48 scale MiG-15 released by Tamiya (I have kits 89535 (silver color plated) and 89573 (clear edition) in my stash while other releases include the original 61043, 61080 (clear edition re-release), and 89729 with GAZ-67B)). The purpose of this replacement set is to provide stronger landing gear that is adjustable if necessary to obtain the proper angles. Even with no previous experience in using white metal parts, this set will provide an upgrade that most modelers will have no issue installing.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Meng Model
Scale
1/12
MSRP
$450.00

Ford GT40 Mk.II ‘66

Developed by the Ford Motor Company and Carroll Shelby to end the dominance of Ferrari in the preeminent 24 Hours of LeMans, the Ford GT40 Mk.II become an iconic American built race car. After failing to finish the race in 1965, the Ford GTs finished 1-2-3 in 1966 in a humiliating loss for Ferrari. As three GT40s took the lead in the final laps. Ford executives ordered race leading Ken Miles in the No. 1 car to slow down and let the other two GT40s catch up, for a photo of all three cars crossing the finish line together. When everyone thought Miles had won, the race officials announced that the No. 2 car driven by Bruce McLaren was the winner. Though the two cars crossed the finish line at the same time, the No. 2 car had driven a longer distance as it started about 20 meters behind the No. 1 car. The victory was Ford's first win in the Le Mans 24 Hour race, making Ford the first American manufacturer to win at Le Mans.

Review Author
Ron Bell
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$21.69

The Kit

The kit consists of 14 nicely cast resin pieces, one fret of PE parts and a small decal sheet. I found no bubbles, voids or “mushy” casting, however, as can be seen in the photos, there is more resin contained in the casting blocks than in the kit parts. These are quite frankly huge and removing them is the single biggest chore in assembly. I used a Dremel tool saw to cut the largest parts off, then a Dremel sander to remove most of the rest and sandpaper and files to finish off the job. The PE parts are nicely done, but are tiny! A good Opti-visor or microscope is advisable when working with them. The model is solid, so there is no chance to “open it up” and add an interior.

Book Author(s)
Arkadisuz Wrobel
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$27.95

Information from the Product Web Page

The Bf 109 F (Friedrich) is the successor of the E version with the same engine in the DB 601E version - produced from the turn of 1940/1941. However, the airframe changed the external appearance completely: a new propeller cap was used, the front part of the fuselage was completely changed using a more rounded engine cover and the shape of the wings was changed from rectangular to rounded. The maximum speed at a ceiling of 6,000 m was 635 km/h. It was armed with two MG 17s and one MG 151 cannon.

Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.50

Brengun Models is a scale model and detailing parts manufacturer located in the Czech Republic. Their lines include limited production run multi-media kits and exquisitely detailed photo-etched, turned brass and white metal replacement parts for aircraft in the most commonly produced scales.

Brengun has produced a set of engine nozzles for any 1/72 scale F/A-18E/F Super Hornet kit. The parts should fit the F/A-18G Growler kits as well. Any modeler familiar with resin parts will have no issues installing these exhausts in lieu of the kit parts. A close-up evaluation of the parts (see photos), indicates a simple cut and replace installation that provides realistic scale-detailed exhaust cans and afterburner rings with significantly improved appearance to molded plastic kit parts. The photo comparison is to the exhausts supplied in the 1/72 Hasegawa F/A-18E kit. The Brengun exhausts have superior component detail to those supplied in the Hasegawa kit.