What's New

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$17.90

This is another in the Scooter series of models recently released by Plus Model. The kit is a 30-series Cushman Autoglide and includes Army & Navy markings.

Kit

The Plus Model kit comes in a blister pack containing 12 resin parts, 1 clear plastic part, 4 photoetch parts, brass wire, and decal sheet. The photoetch parts are very small but add nice detail to the scooter.

Assembly

All of the parts have flash and casting blocks that must be removed. The front fork, part #2, is very fragile and I removed the flash before removing the fork from the casting block. None of the parts were deformed or broken. There is not much detail to the engine, but then it is enclosed in the shroud and not very visible.

Finishing

I washed & primed the kit, painted it with Lifecolor Olive Drab Faded, and followed with a MIG Brown Wash. The kit goes together well despite its tiny size and without any fit issues.

Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$22.99

Engine

The kit gives you a couple of engine options. One being a Hemi and the other a 340 or 360. Both fit together pretty well once you get past the flash. I used the Hemi in my build.

Chassis

The chassis is a weird setup. Part of the exhaust is molded into the chassis and the back half is molded to the springs & differential. It also looks to be extremely out of scale. Front suspension – there is none.

Interior

The interior tub is a one piece unit with poor engraving.

Body

The kit supplies a 2 piece hood scoop. The front portion of the scoop was difficult to get positioned properly.

Round2 has been supplying some very sought after kits lately. It’s a pity that they’re reissues of old molds that have seen better days. Thank you to Round2Models and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to build and review a marvelous kit.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Brengun
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$10.85

AZ Models AH-1Gs are the first new Vietnam-era Cobras to hit the market in quite some time. While a nice model, there are some limitations that plastic can’t replicate as well as I would hope. This has to be overcome by photo etch, and Brengun has just what the doctor ordered.

Packaged on card stock to protect the PE, the Brengun single fret of nickel plated metal includes some really nice additions to the kit and replaces things that should be replaced. Brengun includes a lot of things to dress up the cockpit: seatbelts, shoulder harnesses, instrument panels, side consoles, handles and gun sights to name just a few. The armor side panel for the XM-35 20mm weapon system is included as well. Sway braces, ejector racks, and rocket pod front and rears round out the upgrades for the armament.

Review Author
Steve Collins
Published on
Company
UM Models
MSRP
$12.70

The Achilles IIC is the British version of the M10 tank destroyer (TD). It was based on the M4 Sherman chassis and mounted the 17 pounder anti-tank gun.

The kit is molded in a medium green styrene with some minor flash and a few sink marks, though nothing that isn’t easily removed or fixed. If I counted correctly, the kit contains 339 parts. Yes, 339. In 1/72 scale. The good news is that a lot of the parts are for the tracks, not all parts are used, and there are some useful parts left over to detail other kits. The attachment points are a bit larger than some other manufactures, but can be cleaned up with a bit of work. The tracks are link-and-length. I did a bit of research and found that some earlier UM Sherman kits had incorrect road wheels (six spokes instead of five) and the track was too narrow. It seems they fixed the road wheels, but apparently didn’t fix the track. I don’t think it’s too narrow by very much, though.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$18.17

Model Art has done it again. Back in April 2013 they released Air War over Vietnam, U.S. Navy Aircraft Part 1. This Model Art Modeling Magazine special edition, Air War Over Vietnam 2, U.S. Air Force Aircraft Part 1, is the follow up and they have made some changes to the layout from the excellent first issue. The text is mainly in Japanese with some English subtitles throughout. One excellent feature of these magazines is the high quality of the photographs and the models that are used.

The issue starts off with a “New Kit Selection” article. It features the Hasegawa 1/16 Sopwith Camel F.1 and the Tamiya 1/72 Mitsubishi A6M3 "Zero Fighter".

The main feature is next. This consists of eighty seven pages packed full of models, period photos (color and black and white), maps, charts, marking references and color plate drawings.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
SAM Publications
MSRP
$32.00

This offering is a revised and re-printed version of the previously released Modellers Datafile #1. The initial Modellers Datafile #1 contained excellent historical and scale modelling content, and that content is included in this new edition. The new release has been expanded to 176 pages and “included the additional model builds and in-box previews covering the significant new toolings that have appeared in the fifteen years since to series began, along with an updated list of currently available kits, accessories and decals”.

“When the first Datafile was published back in 1998 it was quite rightly regarded as the definitive book on modelling one of the most enduring and iconic aircraft of WWII.” This publication is the perfect companion and reference for a modeller wishing to build a Mosquito kit, regardless of scale.

Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$7.99

Quickboost has added the anti collision lights for the F-102A to their line of resin aircraft accessories. This latest addition is molded in blue, red and clear resin. It’s smooth, seamless and bubble free.

There is no comparison between the Quickboost parts and the Meng parts. The Meng kit has the lights molded on and you are supposed to paint them the appropriate colors. Quickboost has the right idea, just drill out the area where the light is supposed to go and add the proper colored piece with a drop of glue. The best part is that they actually look like a colored light and you don’t have to paint them. I only wish that they had included a small instruction sheet like they did for the antenna and detail set (QB 72-415).

I very highly recommend this product if you want a nice and detailed F-102A. I would like to thank Quickboost and IPMS USA for the chance to do this review.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

With the release of the MiG-21 PFM, Eduard has reestablished them as the industry leader. Even with the best plastic kits there is always room for improvement. The Brassin range is designed by Eduard using the same CAD work as the kit which ensures that they will fit the kit they are designed for.

The exhaust nozzle is a work of art. Six pieces of flawlessly cast grey resin along with a burner ring made out of nickel plated brass. It sounds so simple when you break it down like that but what you get is some exquisite work.

The parts are perfectly cast and seem to be easily removed from the pour blocks. They will just take some careful painting. Assembly is easy enough. The MiG-21 has such a large exhaust nozzle that it is important to have it properly detailed. The kit nozzle is nice but this set is a step above.

I’ll be using this set in my build. We’ll see how it fits.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$34.95

The Eduard MiG-21 family displays some of the best engineering in modeling. The kit cockpit is nice but there are limitations with plastic molding. Luckily for us modelers, Eduard has an answer for that in their Brassin range.

Typical of the Brassin range this set is a mixed media offering with resin and photo etch. The instructions are typical colored pictograph which is quite nice and helpful. There are five pages of actual assembly diagrams.

Also typical of the Brassin range, the resin is cast in light grey resin is perfectly cast with no bubbles or blemishes anywhere. There is one piece of clear resin. The detail is absolutely exquisite. The parts are packaged in a sturdy cardboard box with foam protecting the parts then to further safeguard them the resin parts are held in three bags to keep them safe. There are 29 resin pieces to make this cockpit.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Ultracast
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

Ultracast has been providing replacement wheels for quite some time. The latest offerings are all designed for the Mosquito. What sets Ultracast wheels apart from the rest of the replacement wheels is the bulge. They are realistically bulged and will add an appropriate weight to your model.

Perfectly molded in light caramel color, there are two wheels per set that are molded with unique treads. The pour blocks are small and placed in an inconspicuous place, the flat spot. Adding them to your Airfix, Monogram or Tamiya model is very easy. Remove the wheel from the block, clean up with a sanding stick, then paint and add.

Also when you order from Ultracast directly you will have to add $9.95 CDN for shipping and handling world wide.