What's New

Review Author
Doug Hamilton
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$34.95

The Revell/Monogram offering of the Tom Daniel Paddy Wagon is a recent release of nostalgia. Originally released in 1968, the Paddy Wagon is one of many collaborations between noted show car designed Tom Daniel and Monogram. Others in the series include The Red Baron, Rommel’s Rod , The Beer Wagon, and The Garbage truck to name but a few. Anyone of a certain age will have fond memories of these kits, and if you’re like me, very happy to see them again on store shelves.

The kit contains 88 parts, and is molded in dark blue plastic, and has one sprue of gold plated parts. Four tires, a clear windscreen and two headlight covers round out the parts list. Then there are the two cop figures, more on these later. The instruction sheet contains nine steps, all of which contain multiple mini steps, and the final step shows decal placement. Paint call outs are part of each step, and are easy to follow.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
GasPatch Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$23.00

GasPatch’s growing line of aftermarket detail parts includes cast metal detail parts that will add considerable detail to rigged aircraft. This line includes a wide array of turnbuckles and anchor points (available in both 1/48 and 1/32 scale) for Allied and Axis WWI aircraft. As a previous review of the Gas Patch product line accurately states: “these items represent a significant and notable advance in the quality of aftermarket parts for WWI aircraft”.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.30

Lifelike Decals has produced another sheet for the Hasegawa/Minicraft/Academy and Eduard 1/72nd B-24s.

Contained in a 6x9 Ziploc baggie, the first thing you will notice is two A4 sized single sheet full color instructions. One sheet contains the front with the profile drawings and the back page has the plan views and references listed where Lifelike got their information from. This is a particularly good idea because if you wanted to verify the information you could. The other thing this does is it allows Lifelike to tell you what they saw. Lifelike is not afraid to make an informed guess if they don’t know something. But unlike other decal companies, Lifelike will tell you if they don’t know something.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$4.99

Product

The gun barrels come packaged in the typical clear cellophane and cardboard insert that Quickboost has become known for. The parts are cast in a light gray resin and feature nice details for the cooling jackets and muzzle. The parts are designed to be used on the Italeri release of the old AMT/Ertl A-20G, which means they can be used on the AMT/Ertl kit if that's in your stash.

Application

When compared to the barrels supplied in the kit, I really feel that it would be a no brainer to use these wonderful barrels. The installation of these barrels require no cutting or modifying the kit parts. Pretty much glue them in and its done. Quickboost provides a quality upgrade for minimal price.

I would like to thank Aires - Quickboost and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review this set.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

The Typhoon was an impressive air to ground fighter. It was made even more formidable with the underwing rockets that it carried. Brassin has taken notice of the this piece of armament and given it the Brassin treatment.

Eight resin missiles are provided in dark grey resin. The pour blocks on the rockets is quite small and will easily be removed. The rockets themselves are perfectly straight and have no mold lines to remove so you know they are perfectly rounded with no work.

What will require the most work will be the photo etch which is supplied on a fret of nickel plated photo etch. The hardest part of the whole upgrade will be folding the mounts which are in photo etch for realistic look. There are two mounts per rocket so that is a lot of photo etching. The electrical connectors and the flutes are easy enough to add.

After that it is just a matter of adding them to the aircraft.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

The Hobby Boss Ta-152C has been released in a number of guises. The Ta-152C, E and H for that matter, could be equipped with different propellers. They could sport either rounded or pointed type of props. On top of that the spinner could be opened for an engine to fire through or a capped nose cone.

Typical of Quickboost the set is cast in blemish free light grey resin. There are six pieces to the set. There is a spinner, three prop blades, prop shaft and a setting tool.

Hobby Boss allows you to choose either one of the props. In this particular set, there are pointed tip blades. The blades are very thin and accurate in shape. The spinner is beautifully accurate with the hole in the tip. The spinner has a small casting block that should be easy enough to remove. The other piece of the set is the setting tool which will allow the modeler to place each prop blade angle and make sure they all line up and allow you to drill out a hole for the prop shaft.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.38

The P-47 just begs for nose art with that big cowling out front. That is exactly what ground crews did and Lifelike has captured in this latest release.

Designed for the Tamiya, Hasegawa, Academy or Revell/Germany kits, the decals and instructions are packaged in a 6”x 9” inch ziplock baggie. The instructions themselves are printed on two A4 pages with full color profiles and plan views. They also include a reference section so if you want to see the real aircraft all you have to do is find the book or website. There is another half sheet that has the stencil locations on one side. I love the instructions. A little history of each aircraft and the markings are included for each aircraft.

Lifelike has no problem letting the modeler know what is known and what is conjecture. That is a very unique approach to decals. I personally like that. They are not afraid to make an educated assumption for the sake of including a peculiarly unique aircraft.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$16.30

The third 1/72nd B-24 sheet from Lifelike contains more colorful nose art. If you are a fan of pinups and nose art these sheets are really impressive.

The decals are contained in a 6”x9” ziplock bag along with two A4 full color instructions. The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf and Microscale. Between those two decal printers you know you have some of the best printed decals in the world. But what about the research? Lifelike is well known for their research. Even Lifelike can make errors as they acknowledge. Lifelike basis their findings on the latest information available and when the information is lacking they base their finding on educated guesses. Some would find this a weakness in the decals but I think it is an asset. They let you know what is known and what is conjecture.

Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$27.00

Designed to accompany the British 25-pdr field gun, the Type 27 ammunition limber carried 32 rounds of ammunition in 16 trays and was towed between the prime mover and the 25-pdr.

Bronco’s rendition of the Type 27 and associated ammo types is an excellent example of the limber in 1/35 scale. Finely molded in tan styrene with an ample fret of PE, the kit parts pack the modest box and seem overwhelming in number at first glance. Detail is crisp and seems accurate compared to limited online resources and other kit offerings of the Type 27.

Review Author
Mike Kellner
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$17.95

When I was first assigned this review I started four P-51D kits thinking I’d get a jump on things, but when the decals arrived I discovered they were meant for two P-51Bs and two Ds. So much for planning ahead.

The decals were on register and looked great in the package. The four aircraft represented are:

  • Aircraft #1: Malcolm Hood P-51B “Salem Representative” flown by Lt. Ralph K. Hofer of the 334FS/4th FG.
  • Aircraft #2: P-51D “Sky Czar” flown by Capt. Fred Munder, Jr. of the 381FS/363rd FG
  • Aircraft #3: Malcolm Hood P-51B “Big Mac Jr.” flown by Capt. John Brown, Jr. of the 382FS/363rd FG.
  • Aircraft #4: P-51D “Nancy Lee” flown by Lt. Richard Baggett of the 402FS/370 FG.

Although there are markings specific for four aircraft, there are common decals for only one. To use the other three nose art markings I used the individual kit decals for the stars and bars, prop markings, walkway stripes, etc..