What's New

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Riich Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$66.00

Even if the German Army was known for their mechanized divisions, they had an incredible number of horses pulling wagons during WWII. This kit represents a horse drawn field kitchen. This is indeed a very valuable kit of an often ignored aspect of military: logistics support for a fighting army.

Upon opening the box you find 12 sprues, two photoetch frets, two 4-inch chains, a piece of thread and a small decal set. Actually it is hard to close the box once you have opened. That is a full meal of a field kitchen model! (pun intended).

Riich is reboxing and adding some sprues to their horse drawn wagon. There are a total of 19 steps for the assembly, but many of the steps include sub-steps, so it is over 100 total steps to fully assemble this kit. Instructions are very clear and well laid out.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Advanced Modeling
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$9.99

According to our friends at Wikipedia, the Vympel R-40 (NATO reporting name AA-6 'Acrid') was a long-range air-to-air missile developed in the 1960s by the Soviet Union specifically for the MiG-25 interceptor, but can also be carried by the later MiG-31. It is the largest air-to-air missile in the world to ever go into production with a length of over 20 feet and a speed approaching Mach 5.

Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
Company
Twobobs Aviation Graphics
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.00

This sheet of markings was put out to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wild Weasel missions. To make it an even better set, they brought back the markings from their “First of the Weasels” set. Markings for the external weapons and pods are also included so you can model the F-16 as it looked when it was rolled out for the anniversary.

The F-16C block 50 represented is:

  • SN 92-0920, 20th Fighter Wing, June 5, 2015, 50th Anniversary WW

Here is a list of the F-4s. They are from the 18th TFW Nov 1972:

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$4.99

Master Model produces finely crafted small detail parts for models which have been damaged or may be subject to rough handling. Their collection of antennas and pitot tubes are invaluable for the modeler whose friends (or former friends) handle models less than carefully. There’s a picture below, which appeared as a cartoon in an early IPMS Quarterly. This particular set is for the cannons of a Spitfire IXc.

The C wing had either one or two cannons in each wing, and possibly two more .303 machine guns outboard. The kit includes two sets of cannon and one set of stubs, so you can do either of the C wing cannon options, depending on how the aircraft you’re modeling was armed.

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Grzywacz
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$5.20

Mushroom Models Publications is now offering a coloring (or colouring) book featuring classic fighters. The book is a soft-cover book with 31 pages. Each fighter is covered in two pages. The first page has the usual data that aircraft fans will recognize. A chart showing the characteristics of the aircraft, performance numbers, and armament are provided in chart form. A description of the aircraft is also provided, usually covered in a couple of sentences.

The second page features a large illustration of the fighter, with black outlines showing national markings, fuselage code numbers, and aircraft features such as landing gear, canopy framing, navigation light covers, and a spinning prop.

The Classic Fighters featured are:

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$30.00

Academy has re-issued their 1/72nd F/A-18C this time as a “Special Edition with limited availability” featuring a striking decal set –printed by Cartograf- to show the aircraft “300” from VFA-82 “Marauders” known as “Aflac” for obvious reasons.

When opening the box you find 4 grey sprues, one for the main fuselage parts, another for the wings and tail area, plus a duplicate sprue which comprises mainly the underwing stores. There is also a single clear sprue, for the canopy that can be posed either closed or open.

The sprues are molded very cleanly and there is no flash anywhere to be found. The recessed panel lines are sharp and thin. There is also delicate rivet detail in the different access panels.

The instructions are very clear and easy to follow; with a total of 16 steps (some have a few substeps). Color callouts are shown through the overall construction for all subassemblies and minor parts.

Book Author(s)
Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$28.00

Originally envisioned as a movie by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, The Frozen Chosen has been released as a book about the First Marine Division and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir. This new book relies heavily on a series of interviews conducted by Cleaver with survivors of the battle resulting from a 1989 reunion of “The Frozen Chosen”. The release online by the US Marine Corps Historical division of the Korean War Project, along with recently released from Korea, Russia, and China finally spurred Thomas McKelvey Cleaver to finish this book.

Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Hub Plott
Published on
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$19.95

The In Action series should be familiar to all. David Doyle continues his update of this series this time focusing on the iconic P-51 Mustang, a plane many would say was the best of the war.

The book begins with the NA-73X prototype designed to help supply Britain in the early part of WWII. The USAAC would only allow North American to export the planes if they provided 2 at no cost to the Army for evaluation. These two became the XP-51 one of which survives today with the EAA in Wisconsin.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$16.95

Product provided by: Ross, CEO of SAC

The metal gear company strikes again! Thanks to Ross at SAC for sending us another of your expansive line of metal landing gear, and thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it to me.

This is becoming a theme; a SAC upgrade to the basic kit plastic! The set consists of 5 parts: Two main struts and side braces, two main strut drag braces, and a one-piece tail wheel fork.

The FLY models Hurricane is a magnificent bit of modeling fun. It is limited issue, short run-design, with resin, plastic that (for the most part) fits with precision (no alignment pins), only needing a bit of practiced hand to construct. I had a few areas requiring putty, but really must rave about one part: the main gear wheel well. This is a fantastic bit of resin, and once prepared and painted, makes a great foundation for the SAC main gear.

Book Author(s)
Andrew Thomas
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$23.00

Osprey Publishing just released the latest installment in the Aircraft of the Aces series: “Spitfire Aces of the Channel Front 1941-1943”.

Typical of the Aircraft of the Aces series, this book is profusely illustrated with period (B&W) pictures, both of the airplanes and their pilots, plus 36 selected color profiles. The book also has many first hand narratives describing individual combats while keeping them in the overall context of the strategic situation.

The book is split into 5 main chapters, as follows

  • Defense to Offence
  • Leaning into Europe
  • Greatest Air Battles
  • The Endless Offensive
  • Preparing for Invasion

The first chapter is very brief and describes the general strategy of “Rhubarbs”, “Rodeos”, “Circuses” and the organization of “Wings” which would typically have a strength of 3 to 4 squadrons