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Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Res-Im
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$3.00

This is a masking set for the Hasegawa F-104G. The masks are cut from yellow tape, similar to Eduard masks and the set includes masks for all three sections of the Hasegawa F-104G as well as masks for each of the tires. There are three separate masks for the three windscreen panels and there are two masks for both of the other two sections of the canopy. As with Eduard’s masks, the masks for the larger portions of the canopy establish the borders or the canopy leaving an open section in the middle that will need to be filled with either liquid mask, scotch tape or some other materials to protect the center of the canopy section.

The set also includes masks for the wheel allowing the tires to be painted black, the masks applied and the for the wheel hubs to be painted. As with the mask for the larger portions of the canopy, the areas outside of mask will need to be covered with some other material to keep paint off of the rest of the wheel.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$9.00

The MiG-19PM was designed as missile carrying aircraft, so the powerful cannons that had been carried by earlier versions of the MiG-19 were deleted. The MiG-19PM’s weapons were the early air-to-air missiles developed by the Soviet Union and were carried on four underwing pylons.

Review Author
Chad Richmond
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

Not too long ago, Trumpeter gave us a brand new, scribed 1/48th scale A-37 to play with and Scale Aircraft Conversions were not very far behind with a white metal landing gear to help support all of the added nose weight to prevent a tail sitter.

There are six total parts on two frets, with the nose gear being separate, The way they are cast makes cleanup of the parts much easier than the plastic kit parts. And, I must say they are every bit as clean and accurate as the kit parts. A cheap and welcome addition to the Trumpeter kit. I highly recommend this gear replacement.

My thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions and IPMS for the review sample.

Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$32.95

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001) and this is one of them. Part 5 provides detail parts to upgrade the 5 inch main guns and the Quad 1.1 inch guns.

For the 5 inchers, there are new man rails, gun sights, seats and elevation and training wheels. You also get new mount stands. For the 1.1 inchers you get detailing for the breeches, sights, seats and a new floor for the gun tub.

Assembly is straight forward but a tad fiddly. There are a bunch of tiny parts that need to be bent and shaped. The seats for the 1.1 inchers require several complex bends that took a while to get the correct shape. Some of the small parts are hard to hold and glue at the same time.

Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$32.95

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001) and this is one of them. Part 4 provides detail parts to upgrade the 20 mm Oerlikon AA Guns.

The set includes a large sheet of photo etch with a lot of little parts. You get new gun shields and brackets, sights, forward and aft ammo drum covers with handles, elevation wheels and a harness for the gunner. Also included is a new deck (nice looking non-skid) that the guns sit on. You get two options one with the expended ammo canister and one without.

Assembly is straight forward but extremely fiddly. There are a bunch of very tiny parts that need to be bent and shaped. Most of the small parts are hard to hold and glue at the same time. This makes for a time consuming and sometimes aggravating assembly. Thank you Eduard for providing extra parts. There are only 30 of these mounts so pace yourself accordingly.

Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$34.95

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001) and this is one of them. Part 3 provides detail parts to upgrade the ships boats and life rafts.

The set includes photo etch parts to upgrade the three gigs and three personnel ship boats. Also included are parts for the life rafts.

For the rafts you get new flooring, brackets and strapping. These make a nice assembly and easy to attach to the hull when finished.

The personnel boat parts include new flooring, engine covers, man rails both forward and aft, lift rings, cleats, steering gear, anchor, hatch cover and a flag staff.

The Gigs include cleats, rails, boat hooks, new midship cockpit and after cockpit flooring and details. Also included are new man and hand hold rails, hatch covers and steering gear. A nice feature is the throttle/ shifting lever for the engine.

Review Author
Paul R. Brown
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.50

This set consists of six resin replacements for the gear doors of the recent Airfix A-4B Skyhawk kit. The new doors are one-for-one replacements of the kit parts.

The parts are cast in a tan colored resin and are delightfully thin. All six doors are attached to a single casting block, but the attachment points are very thin and easily removed. Once removed the only clean-up is to lightly sand the edge where the parts were connected to the casting block. I painted the parts with Tamiya paint which adhered with no problem and was pleased just how well the details popped out with a light black wash.

This set is highly recommended as a nice upgrade to a great little kit of the Scooter.

Thank you to Aires for the review sample and to IMPS/USA for the opportunity to review it.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Thanks to Aires for this excellent upgrade to the great Revell PV-1 Ventura model, and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review.

This set replaces the incorrectly shaped propellers with new, accurate paddle bladed Ventura props.

Step 1: Remove the prop hub and boss from the pour stub. Carefully mark the base of the hub, then use a razor saw or (better yet) a photoetch saw to cut through the pour base. Lightly sand to bring it all flush and even, and then on to the jig!

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.50

Thanks to Aires for this excellent upgrade to the great Revell PV-1 Ventura model, and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review.

This set simply replaces the three-part kit cowling with a more detailed, one-piece cowling. Read on.

All you have to do is use a sharp knife, some quality CAREUL cutting time, and possibly a razor saw to remove the pour block from the back of the cowing. It uses gravity to ensure a full pour, and the resulting pour block might have utility in other places. I just used the multiple-cut pass method on the extreme-aft recessed panel line. A light draw of a sanding board on the back of the cowl when released, and I was done.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$88.00

Thanks up front to Dragon USA and to IPMS leadership for providing this kit to me for review.

This kit is an answer to an oft-repeated wish of the post-WWII armor crowd: A new-tool 1/72 scale atomic cannon. Why 1/72? Because even in transporting position, it is only 1 ½ feet long. The existing, much older and less accurate 1/32 kit from another age, at almost two and a half feet long when in transport position, was just too big to display for many. It had a lot of operating features, and looked like the actual item, but in reality is better served by a 1/72 scale model in my opinion. That said, if Dragon ever scales this thing up. who knows how it will sell?