What's New

Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost has added the correct nose for the F-102A to their line of resin aircraft accessories. This latest addition is molded in a gray resin, it’s smooth, seamless and bubble free. One thing of note is that the package says that it is for the Delta Dart, but it should read for the Delta Dagger.

Comparing the Quickboost parts to the Meng parts is a little hard to see. Once I took a photo I could really see the difference. The kit part looks narrower to the Quickboost part and closer to photos that I looked at. Replacing the nose is actually an easy process because Meng molded their nose as a separate piece. Just remove the Quickboost nose from the mold block and use CA glue to put it into place.

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
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$51.99

History

The main part of the German Wehrmacht autopark during WWII formed 3t cargo trucks. One of the most numerous was the model G917T, which was produced since 1939 in German Ford plants in Cologne. This truck was equipped with a V8 engine and had rear drive only. G917T trucks were widely used in all German arms of service in all theatres up to the end of the war. Roughly 25,000 were produced in German plants from 1939 to 1941.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.95

One of the latest releases from Eduard in their still relatively new Brassin line are a pair of wheels meant to replace the kit provided ones in the Tamiya 1/32 scale F4U-1 Corsair. Consisting of six resin parts and a set of masks to aid in airbrushing the wheels and tires, the set can be used to dress up the appearance of the Tamiya kit, especially for modelers that do not like using rubber tires on their kits.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Plusmodel
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$39.40

Background

U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet

Cushman Airborne Scooter - In the late stages of the war in Europe, Allied paratroopers used scooters like this one to maintain contact between units, increase their mobility and haul small loads. The Cushman Motor Works designed the Model 53 Airborne Scooter to be airdropped by parachute or carried by glider, and it had a hitch to pull a model M3A4 general-purpose utility cart. By adding certain equipment, the cart could be converted to carry a .30-cal. or .50-cal. machine gun or an 81mm mortar, though the scooter often could not pull a heavy load. Cushman made nearly 5,000 airborne scooters for the military beginning in 1944. The rugged, simple Model 53 could travel through a foot of water, climb a 25 percent grade and had a range of about 100 miles.

Review Author
Bart Cusumano
Published on
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$56.00

MiniArt continues to dazzle and amaze us with another in their series of building and ruin kits. This time, in 1:72 scale, we have “Building w/Garage”, kit #72031. This a typical mid-century European automotive service garage building with the residence located up on the top floor. The kit represents a complete, undamaged building and not a ruin. It is also all injection molded styrene with none of the vacuum-formed parts found in some of their 1:35 scale releases in the same genre.

The Box

The 13.5’” by 10.5” by 2.25” box is the preferred top and bottom (lid) type. There is a nice artist’s rendition of the building on the box top which can serve as a helpful painting guide, although colors can ultimately be left to the imagination of the individual modeler. However, considering the weight and quantity of the box contents, I felt that the box was a bit flimsy (mine is coming apart already!).

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Roden
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$24.99

The Aircraft

The Lockheed JetStar was originally developed in the late 1950s by Lockheed as a prototype for a US Air Force light transport. The project was not bought by the Air Force, but the prototype was used by Kelly Johnson of the “Skunk Works” as his personal transport. It was the first dedicated “biz’jet” to enter service.

Later the project was resumed, and the Air Force bought 5 C-140As for Air Force Communications Service to test airport navigational aids. Another 5 were bought as VIP transports, as the JetStar could carry 10 passengers and 2 crew, more than any other jet powered business aircraft of the period. The JetStar was also noted for having four engines in pods in the rear, much like the DC-9 or VC-10 airliners.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Pegasus Hobbies
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$39.95

The Terminator series of movies is iconic especially considering that 2014 is the 30th anniversary of the first movie. There haven't been many mainstream kits of the movies. Pegasus has started their releases with the Aerial Hunter killer tank from the 2nd Terminator movie. At the beginning of the movie, the rebels are being chased by Terminators, tanks and Aerial Hunter killers. Previously, this was only released in vinyl as far as I know.

Let me say up front that the challenge to this kit will be the painting. Looking at shots of the movie on the Internet, the Aerial Hunter Killer is colored somewhere between chrome and polished aluminum. For those with the funds, one of the original props is up for auctions (starting at a mere $47,000) but it gives a great view of the actual prop and can be found here and shows the colors well.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$17.69

Thanks very much to Lifelike decals for providing IPMS USA these review sets. We appreciate your support and look forward to your future efforts!

I had heard of Lifelike decals, but normally don’t work in 1/72nd scale. However, when these showed up, I had to throw my name in the hat… and am very pleased I did.

The first set, 72-029, covers four B-24’s with four different groups in the pacific region. All have very colorful tail markings, and the nose art is particularly striking. The fact I have not seen these before made them a better value.

Markings are included for the following:

Book Author(s)
Andrew Thomas
Review Author
Paul Mahoney
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

One of Osprey’s latest in the “Aircraft of the Aces” series is number 113, covering Allied pilots that shot down 5 or more V1 Flying Bombs.

This book opens with the words of the first pilot to shoot down a V1 (Flt Lt John Musgrove, in a night-fighter Mosquito) on June 16, 1944. Within minutes, 3 more V1s would be shot down that evening by other members of the same Mosquito squadron. After this exciting opening page, the reader is then guided chronologically through the story of the V1 campaign, starting with the development of the “Buzz Bomb” itself and culminating with the last V1 shot down on 28 March 1945.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$30.00

… MORE on of our long review of Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit… thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets…!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The waist section on this set contains several similar panels and gauges for the crew oxygen and intercom system. Ammunition feed chutes are provided for both waist weapons, as are crosshair gunsights, and an unusual modification in the form of spent ammo casing bags for the waist guns. These, by the way, are supposed to be installed with the CURVED section toward the fuselage sides… I must have been distracted.

The Auxiliary power unit is detailed up with placards, and various bits and pieces. You will have to work to see this on the completed model, unless you open the crew access door on the right side of the aircraft.