What's New

Review Author
Ken Prager
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$52.99

The 1992 Japanese touring car championship season was the 8th edition of the series. The series was nine events long running April thru November, Finishing up at the Fuji International Speedway in Japan. the series was run under several different regulations during it's existence. The series included international categories such as group A and Super Touring which allowed both Japanese and foreign built cars. Tom's Toyota's were competing against the likes of BMW, Honda, Nissan, Isuzu. Most were factory sponsored and a few were not. There was still some serious competition. Tom's: Tachi Oiwa Motor Sports was founded in 1974 by Nobuide Tachi ad Kiyoshi Oiwa. The pair were able to use TRD with very good results in tuning and modifications to the car and a good long term R&D program with Toyota. As a result of this they were able to go racing with fac- tory sponsorship winning championships in various categories.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$30.59

Special Hobby has released this new tooled kit of the V-1 Fieseler 103. The V-1 was known by the British in World War 2 as the Buzz Bomb due to the unique noise of the pulse engine. The subject has been covered a lot but not at this scale. The kit includes the handling trolley and some photo etch.

In the box is:

  • 3 x light grey sprues
  • 1 small decal sheet
  • 1 photoetch detail set
  • 1 instruction booklet

The kit consists of 3 main sprues; the sprues are very typical of Special Hobby product which are made from a soft plastic. The decals allow you to finish the V-1 in two different versions and paints schemes for three V-1. The instruction booklet is very well laid out and easy to follow.

Construction

Before I started I had decided to build the V-1 on the handling trolley with the wings removed and stowed. Also I opted for a color scheme of the V-1 that missed my Mother’s home in East London in 1944.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$19.51

The photoetch fret arrived in excellent shape in a resealable plastic package with the distinctive Eduard knight logo. The fret is 2.75 x 2.00 inches in size. The color-etched laminated figures are printed on both sides on polished metal. The fret metal is just soft enough to fold the figures, but firm enough to hold shape, whew! The 3D concept is that each figure consists of two halves, joined at the feet. The halves are folded upwards and together, creating a thicker and more-to-scale figure. Properly folded, the shoulders will match, and the boots can be folded to form feet for the figure to stand on. Trimming should be done very carefully, as should the folding. If the folding is not done correctly, it will be difficult to have the shoulders and feet line up.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
AK Interactive
MSRP
$11.00

Thank you to AK-Interactive for providing a U.S. Navy and Marine Corps World War 2 era paint set in their Real Color line. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out some of this new paint line. My review focuses on product application and ease of use. Anyone who builds USN and USMC aircraft and similar subjects from 1943 to the mid 1950’s will appreciate this set.

The 4-bottle paint set arrived in a small box with an attractive weathered motif. The glass bottles each contain 10 ml (1/3 fl oz) of paint, and the caps and bottles are well labeled with background colors matching the paint. The bottles are also low profile making them stable on the bench during use. Read this as “more difficult for me to make a mess!”

Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
Caracal Models
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$13.99

Caracal Models is one of leaders in aviation decals offered in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144 scale with many unique subjects never offered before now. The C-130 is not a new subject to Caracal but a first in 1/144 scale. This launch subject is quite colorful and unique to say the least, which is a welcome sight.

Printed by Cartograph, the sheet is printed perfectly with markings that are very fine, easy to read, and very vibrant colorful portions. Markings included for three schemes of the RAF 47 Squadron, two 100th anniversary, and a 50th anniversary markings on the C-130J C5 Hercules. There are four red/white strips that are used on the propeller tips.

Review Author
Michael Reeves
Published on
Company
Tru-Color Paint
MSRP
$32.95

Tru-Color Paint was formed in 2008 by Rick Galazzo and Scott Cohen, both of whom come from extensive backgrounds in formulating paint on the commercial scale. They set out on their own to develop this paint line of solvent-based paint by reformulating the old Accupaint formulation to flow better and give a more glossy appearance after drying. They currently offer over 600 colors offered with more to follow. Sets and single bottles are available and include lines for railroad, automotive, and military aircraft and armament lines.

The specific set I tested was specifically for NATO and modern armor and includes a sample of their masking frisket papers as well as the following colors in 1 oz. bottles:

Review Author
Chris Renninger
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$56.00

In today’s review we will be doing a Soviet Union Lend lease M10, This Tank was originally released back in 2014 for the 70th anniversary of the Normandy invasion with that being said this new release does have a few things differently such as the decal sheet and the Soviet figures.

Let’s start will the Hull, This kit does offer the interior which is very nicely detailed. Some of the fit needed some work such as the 4 Sponson containers on the sides of the tank. The diamond blade deck was a very tight fit and required some additional sanding to sit in with ought bending the deck. My only real complaint is the lack of an engine for the build. The outside of the Hull is also very nicely detailed with all the little details that are added plus the molded-in features such as the weld lines and positionable crew hatch’s.

Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$12.99

Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for continuing to bring back a tremendous resource for the modeler, in a digital format with print-on-demand paperback format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching history, details, versions, and markings of the F-8/RF-8 Crusader.

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