Thanks to Aires Hobby Models for sending these excellent diorama figures for review. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them! I am very appreciative of the chance to contribute back to the scale-modeling community.

This review covers four separate releases that complement each other very nicely. The four figures represent WWII U. S. Army aircraft mechanics in the Pacific Theater. One mechanic figure is pushing upward, perhaps against a fuel tank or engine part, another could be wiping down or polishing, and another figure is mopping up. The last figure is taking a rest on a footlocker sipping a bottled beverage. They are all cast in gray resin with protective pour plugs surrounding the figures. I found the resin to have a very nice balance of workability and strength. I had no troubles with brittle parts or needing to do excessive sanding. Flash was minimal and easily removed when present.

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International - Spring 2015 Vol. 46/1- is the first of the journals that will make up Volume 46. C&C I is the quarterly publication of the non-profit UK based organization known as The First World War Aviation Historical Society. They have continuously published these journals since 1970 with the objective of furthering the study of First World War Aviation History. This journal continues the organization’s mission by providing considerable information on a wide range of WWI aviation subjects…this time delivering the interesting history and personal accounts of pilots engaged in reconnaissance flights in the early years of the war, a feature article about the Royal Navy’s ship born kite balloon operations, a tabulation of RFC aircraft supporting the British Expeditionary Force in 1914, and a six-page photo feature of aircraft from albums of the Gerhardt-Japp collection.

Thanks to Aires Hobby Models for sending these excellent diorama accessories and details for review. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them! I am very appreciative of the chance to contribute back to the scale-modeling community.

Whenever dealing with classic 1966 Batman related materials, there’s always a strong urge to get campy. However, for the sake of clarity here I will avoid the usual “holy this” and “gosh that” phrases that come immediately to mind. Growing up in that era, however, let it be noted that the classic Batman series with Adam West left an indelible impression on my young mind. I will always have an abiding fondness for the series, which now possesses an innocent charm lacking in more recent incarnations.

Moebius Models has heard the siren call, and their first new figure kit from the series – Batman himself – is a wonderful beginning to what looks to be a fascinating collection of characters. They have captured Adam West’s appearance to a “T” and expert figure modelers should be able to make real masterpieces of this kit.

Thanks to Caracal Models for sending these excellent decals for review. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for letting me review them! I am very appreciative of the chance to contribute back to the scale-modeling community.

This review covers a new release of decals for the MQ-9 UAV, including the NASA Ikhana version from the long-since sold out inaugural 1:48 scale sheet produced by Caracal. My target kit was the Revell MQ-9 and I chose to model the Ikhana markings. Eight versions representing NASA, USAF, RAF, French and Italian Air Force aircraft between 2013 and 2013 are included with the exception of the Ikhana in 2008. Stenciling is minimal, as it is on the actual Reaper. The decals are crisp and well-registered, printed by Cartograf. The decals responded well to Microscale decal solutions and settled snugly into position with no problems.