IPMSUpdates
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The book goes into great detail of the development, service, variants, and full history of a classic British World War Two and post-war aircraft manufactured by Vickers under the names Viking, Valetta, and the Varsity. These were aircraft developed in response to the British review of the post-war Civil transportation needs. Later to be known as the Brabazon Committee.
I found this book so informative and full of facts and details of very little-known aircraft.
The articles on the variants that were explored during the development were especially interesting.
The book is full of extremely interesting photos of the aircraft in development, manufacturing, in service, etc. These would be great as references for aircraft enthusiasts.
Another nice touch is the inclusion of the “In Detail” section, showing aircraft profiles and 1/144 scale plans.
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For those unfamiliar with HMH Publications’ line of Duke Hawkings books, they are a series of softcover tomes featuring detailed walk-around photos of individual aircraft types. Their focus leans heavily towards aircraft in European use, with forays into common US aircraft. Today’s book is the first in the Duke Hawkings Presents line: Eagles Rock - 48th Fighter Wing - Where Combat Airpower Livesby Michael Stephan.
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Charlie’s Plastic Models has produced four 3D printed caddies for modelers, each with different holes, receptacles, and spaces to accommodate various modeling supplies we use in our hobby.
My review sample was billed as the “Finishing Caddy” without Micro Set/Sol holes (for those bottles). The photo of this item from his website (www.charliesplasticmodels.com) shows it containing appropriate items like panel washes, Solvaset, cotton swabs and brushes [Photo 1]. I saw another great possibility for my sample and turned it into “Gluey Louie” by loading it with more basic tools to stick one bit of plastic to another: two kinds of liquid cement, CA, and applicators from The Glue Looper. [Photo 2] tweezers and small clamps. This may not be exactly what it was intended for in the first place but boy, it works for me.
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Reviewer’s Comments:Charlie’s Plastic Models has produced four 3D printed caddies for modelers, each with different holes, receptacles, and spaces to accommodate various modeling supplies we use in our hobby.
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Carnation Revolution Volume 2: Coup in Portugal, April 1974 is a part of Helion and Company’s Europe@War series, No. 39 (HEL 11844). This is the third book about Portuguese forces that I have read, authored by José Augusto Matos (he co-authored Sanctuary Lost, Portugal’s Air War for Guinea 1961-1974, Volume 1, with Matthew M. Hurley, reviewed, and the first volume by authors José Augusto Matos and Zelia Oliveira.
For those who have not read Volume 1, or the previous review, a recap is necessary as the title states, this book is the second volume of this coup that re-shaped Portugal’s future and starts where the first volume leaves off.
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A new 3D printed F-104 Starfighter Exhaust Nozzle set in 1/48thscale is provided by Fab Scale as a drop-in replacement for the Hasegawa kit utilizing the “Early” J79 engine.
Note: There is no official website for Fab Scale at the time of this review, but a few foreign hobby websites were selling this product.
In The Package & Product Notes
The sample review came in a small cardboard box and parts were individually wrapped in Ziploc bags.
There are three (3) parts of this exhaust nozzle set printed with pink salmon-colored resin. These parts replace kit parts R26, R27, U6 (2X), and K3. The printed resolution of the exhaust nozzle is very fine with no visible build up layers and the print quality is excellent.
Review Process
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The Sd.Kfz 251D halftrack was primary vehicle in German mechanized formations in the Second World War. The vehicle was developed in 1937-38 and entered production in 1939. The variant that Trumpeter has produced is the last variant, ‘D’. The primary difference between the earlier models is that the back of the vehicle is a single sloping piece of steel. Over 15,000 were produced and continued to serve in various post-war armies.
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A new 3D printed AN/ALE-50 Towed Decoy System in 1/48thscale is provided by Fab Scale as a drop-in replacement for the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon Tamiya kit.
Note: There is no official website for Fab Scale at the time of this review, but a few foreign hobby websites are selling this product.
In The Package & Product Notes
The sample review came in a plastic bag with a cardboard topper for a pegboard display.
Two (2) AN/ALE-50 units are printed with pink salmon-colored resin. These parts replace kit parts J30, J33, and J34. The printed resolution is very fine with no visible build-up layers and the print quality is excellent.
Review Process
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A new 3D printed tool caddy for the model building hobbyist. It has multiple compartments to fit all types of tools and a handy yet convenient addition to any modeler’s benchtop.
In The Package & Product Notes
The tool caddy is molded in gray resin and produced by a 3D printer. The buildup layers are visible (but small), and a nice recessed printed “CPM” logo is located on the backside wall of the caddy. If one wanted to paint it a different color, it can be easily done but I would recommend a good primer coat first.
The footprint measures 7.25” long X 2.56” wide (184 X 65 mm). The back wall is 2.5” tall (63.5 mm), and the lower compartment walls are 1.5” tall (38 mm).
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The Sd.Kfz 251D halftrack was primary vehicle in German mechanized formations in the Second World War. The vehicle was developed in 1937-38 and entered production in 1939. The variant that Trumpeter has produced is the last variant, ‘D’. The primary difference between the earlier models is that the back of the vehicle is a single sloping piece of steel. Over 15,000 were produced and continued to serve in various post-war armies.
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Introduction
This book is the second volume on the history and development of the Mitsubishi Ki-15/C5M high speed reconnaissance aircraft, which was used by the Japanese Army and Navy in numerous roles before and during the course of World War II.
Volume 1, which has already appeared in review on this site, provides an excellent account of the aircraft’s development and service during the war, and the second volume goes into incredible detail on various aspects of this aircraft’s career. The book provides information useful to the historian and modeler, and is profusely illustrated with very impressive drawings and photos of the aircraft in detail.
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“As of October 2023, there were almost 43 thousand female servicemen in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukraine has one of the highest rates of women in the armed forces among the armies of the world, including NATO armies. In the past, women primarily served in auxiliary positions such as doctors, signalmen, or cooks. However, with the onset of full-scale hostilities in February 2022, more and more women have taken on combat roles such as driving combat vehicles, operating grenade launchers, machine guns, snipers, and drones. Many women also serve as commanders of combat vehicles, units, and reconnaissance groups. Lieutenant General Serhiy Naiev, the Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, emphasizes, “What unites them all is that they are true Ukrainian women who could not stay at home when their Motherland cried out for help to the world.
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The Shipcraft series will be familiar to many, but for those who aren’t, the idea behind the books is to provide concise information about a specific subject, providing heavily illustrated reference material and in-depth modelling information including line drawings and color profiles. This latest 64-page paperback volume in the series features a bevvy of British aircraft carriers from the 20s through the 40s, specifically, HMS Hermes, HMS Ark Royal and the Illustrious Class. These ships were the first British carriers designed as such from the beginning, as opposed to others ships that were converted either on the stocks or post-build. Hermes, indeed, was the first in the World to be so designed, although her completion took so long that she wasn’t the first to actually enter service.
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Detail and Wonder is a new aftermarket company; they currently list The F-35 (Tamiya), F-4 (Meng), and recently the F-16 heavyweight (for later F-16C variants, Tamiya and by default, Kinetic) as target improvements for their products, producing landing gear with integral Wheels/tires/struts, Exhaust Nozzles, and some intake/exhaust FOD (Foreign Object Damage) prevention plugs. The subject of this review is the F-35A landing gear set; IPMS USA appreciates D&W providing us this set for review!
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This is the author’s seventh book for Harpia Publications on Chinese military aviation and complements several of his earlier volumes by providing a more in-depth look at the Su-27/J-11 “Flanker” aircraft in Chinese service, including China’s acquisition, development, and operational use of the aircraft.
Since the first satellite images of the prototype Su-27 were released, the aircraft has evolved into one of the most capable and versatile fourth-generation aircraft. Over the years there have multiple variants developed by the Russians – Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, and Su-35. It is often overlooked that the Chinese aviation industry has also developed several variants of its own, some paralleling those of Russia, but others being specifically tailored to China’s needs.
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If you use the Micro Set/Sol combination for decal work like I have for years then you have (if you're honest), tipped the small round bottles they come in. While there are some other holders out there, Charles Plastic Models has given us a truly useful combination holder. Not only are there inserts for the Micro decal solutions, but this product also includes a port for the round Solvaset bottle and two bays for the square decal set bottles from Tamiya or Mr. Hobby. Several panel liner and weather solutions also come in the same size square bottles. Behind these are openings for brushes, tools, and anything else you use for decals and liners.
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Reviewer’s Comments:
Detail and Wonder is a new aftermarket company; they currently list The F-35 (Tamiya), F-4 (Meng), and recently the F-16 heavyweight (for later F-16C variants, Tamiya and by default, Kinetic) as target improvements for their products, producing landing gear with integral Wheels/tires/struts, Exhaust Nozzles, and some intake/exhaust FOD (Foreign Object Damage) prevention plugs. The subject of this review is the F-35A landing gear set; IPMS USA appreciates D&W providing us this set for review!
The packaging is frugal but effective; no parts breakage was noted on my set, and opening them revealed three strut assemblies encased in protective foam inserts to prevent movement and crushing.
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This Hauler detail set will take the Tamiya 1/48 US Howitzer Motor Carrier (HMC) to the next level. The 3” x 5.55”x1” deep box is chock full of two PE frets (2.5”x2” with Parts Nos. 1-30, and 1.5” x 1.5” containing Parts Nos. 1-6 for grills, baskets, and tool clamps) and four resin plugs with Parts Nos. 1-25. The parts arrived safely, with the exception of the two M1 carbines (Part No. 24) that were either short shot or broken in transit.
While the base Tamiya kit is great out of the box, there is always room for more detail, and this Hauler kit does not disappoint, especially in the interior as this is an open top combat vehicle.
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Hauler is well known for its detail sets to accompany new releases. The hedgerow cutter for Tamiya’s 1/48 M8 Howitzer Motor Carrier is no exception. This easy, five-piece PE set (the fret measures 1.25”x 1”) adds great detail with minimal effort (great for PE neophytes such as me). That is not to belay the extra detail that this accessory adds to your M8 to break through the Norman bocage.
The bends are easy 90o angles, one per piece. Assembly is simply cut the piece out, sand, bend, and glue (or solder), and can be complete in a few minutes. One of the best aspects of PE is that it can be “damaged” and/or have manufacturing deficiencies built into it; something that is much harder to do in other mediums.
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This series has been around for many years, and they still continue to come out with new volumes, sometimes of little-covered subjects such as this one.
This is a softcover publication, with 44 pages in a nice, high-quality semi-gloss finish and a stiff outer cover. Publishing quality is first-rate, as is the content itself.
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Hauler continues to produce high detail PE sets for mainstream models. The U.S. Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 - Grills and Basket set complements the recent Tamiya 1/48 M8 HMC.
Tamiya kits are known for their ease of building and detail. There are some tradeoffs that come with that philosophy, particularly with engine screens and lightweight metal baskets. This PE set fills that void and takes the Tamiya kit to the next level. This PE set contains four engine screens, the rear turret basket and, not mentioned in the packaging or instructions, 24 tool straps (Part Nos. 6), all in a small 1.5” x 1.5” fret.
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Aircraft and History
The MQ-1C, known as “Grey Eagle” is a medium-sized Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Based on the MQ-1 “Predator”, the Grey Eagle is a slightly larger airframe and two additional hardpoints (total of 4) for weapons. The engine was upgraded to aheavy fuel piston engine capable of running jet A compared to aviation gasoline used in the Predator. The primary user for the Grey Eagle is the US Army where the Predator was primarily flown by the USAF and now the US Border protection and CIA operate the Predator..
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My love affair with the A-6 began one summer day when I was a boy. Two A-6 Intruders came screaming up the Connecticut coastline while we were at the beach. I suppose they were on a training flight out of the Grumman factory a short distance across Long Island Sound in Calverton NY. Fast forward a few years to 1973 and I had recently arrived at my new duty station of MCAS Cherry Point NC. There on the flight line were A-6’s, lots of them!! Although my squadron were flying TA-4Js Skyhawks, the Intruders next door fascinated me. The bomb loads were staggering and the all-weather capabilities unmatched. Marine A-6’s are the things of legend and to a young Marine the group I was assigned to, MAG-14 had a nice range of aircraft assigned, including the A-6.
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Pig Models is a new manufacturer on the market, and I must confess that they would have done well checking international languages before settling on this label (“Have you seen their latest kit? It’s a real pig.”).
All kidding aside, they have produced an extremely intriguing model that I never thought I’d see in this lifetime – a replica of a very common World War 2 (and beyond) Naval mount for 5-inch secondary armament in my preferred modeling scale. Molded in a Navy gray and clear plastic, this is a highly detailed replica of this formidable weapons system.
New Review: Honda Dax 125
in News and Reviews
Posted
Background
For those unfamiliar, the Honda Dax narrative originated in 1969 with the inaugural ST50 and ST70 Dax models. The moniker is derived from the bike's slight resemblance to a Dachshund (sausage dog), with the model plate on the bike's side showcasing an image of the mentioned hound. This model kit in 2024 signifies Tamiya's debut of a new 1/12th scale tooling for the Honda Dax 125 Limited Edition.
Box
Measuring 11.5” x 7.5” x 2”, the box features a vibrant image of the Honda Dax 125, displaying its striking metallic blue, chrome, black, and metallic hues. Typical Tamiya graphics, showcasing three views of the motorcycle, adorn the sides of the box. Inside, you will find:
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