After previously reviewing a 1:700 Ship model from ICM (Kaiser’s Steel Fist) I have decided to return to something that better fits my skill set, and have chosen the ICM Do 217M-1, which I will do in a “Night Bomber” scheme.

This rather imposing triple kit package of the G7117, Studebaker US6-U3, and Studebaker US6-U5 trucks, comes in an average sized box with a nice artist rendering of the three trucks on the outside, with several pictures and a detailed description of what you get inside. Inside there are three stuffed plastic bags containing the individual, and the three instruction manuals that correspond to them. The sprues at first glance look well packaged with cushioning tape wrapped around the delicate parts, no etched fret, but a well rendered Decal Sheet for multiple marking options.

Bottom line up front: The title states this is a reference for the Curtiss P-40B/C, but actually, it is a reference for the P-40E with a few photos and color plates for the P-40B/C. The accompanying decals are for a P-40B/C.

The soft-cover booklet is 1-1/2” x 11-3/4” with 24 pages. There are ten black & white aircraft photos, twelve detail photos, six color profiles, a four-view color profile for the aircraft covered in the decals, and twenty-two line drawings of P-40Es and Kittyhawk IAs. The price on the Kagero website is Euro 12.95.

The decals cover a single P-40B/C in both 1/72 and 1/48th scale. They are in good register, the colors are solid and crisp, and the carrier film is thin.

From the publisher’s website:

Nearly forty years have passed since the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant - the most severe nuclear accident in history and one of the gravest man-made disasters ever recorded. Countless books, documentaries, and films have examined the catastrophe and its aftermath. Yet, despite this abundance of material, a crucial aspect of the story has remained largely overlooked in English-language accounts: the immense contribution of Soviet aviation to the response effort.

Packaging

Inside the handsome packaging is delivered the Gaahleri Mobius-TG Premium Series Airbrush complete with a 0.5mm needle and both fan cap and round cap as well as a large capacity 2-3 oz gravity fluid cup. The reverse of the package gives a complete teardown of the brush showing the full disassembly procedure and parts naming.

The packaging also provides some basic details about the airbrush and it’s intended use, i.e. it is intended for Medium to Extra wide spray pattern, and is part of Gaahleri’s Premium series (other series include Classic, Advanced, Ace and Supreme).

Packaging:

Inside the handsome packaging is delivered the Gaahleri Mobius-TG Premium Series Airbrush complete with a 0.5mm needle and both fan cap and round cap as well as a large capacity 2-3 oz gravity fluid cup. The reverse of the package gives a complete teardown of the brush showing the full disassembly procedure and parts naming.

The packaging also provides some basic details about the airbrush and it’s intended use, i.e. it is intended for Medium to Extra wide spray pattern, and is part of Gaahleri’s Premium series (other series include Classic, Advanced, Ace and Supreme).

The IPMS/USA recently began receiving items for review from Gaahleri. The company is relatively new and first introduced airbrushes and has since expanded into the production of their own line of paints. Kaleido ColorWorks is their premium sub-brand of water-based paints, which are developed with RapidAir Technology. In addition to all the individual colors, Gaahleri also has sets of paints available for consumers.

Once again, IPMS/USA expresses our thanks to Ross at Scale Aircraft Conversions for providing one of his metal gear sets to use and review! This is a basic metal upgrade for Kotare’s magnificent Bf-109K. What does the SAC gear bring to the fight? Two main gears with the torque links installed, and the extended stroke tail wheel assembly. Three parts guaranteed to take care of your investment in Kotare’s excellent work.

The Kotare design allows you to install the gear at the end of your build, which is a perfect solution, and the metal gear will add resilience in case of shelf rash. This set is well worth the extra bit of cash to enhance your model!

Packaging

The Gaahleri conversion kit for the Mobius-TG Premium Series comes well-packed in a small hanger box for the needle, which contains a foam insert containing the secured needle. The packaging indicates the needle size and SKU on a sticker on the rear of the packaging. The cap and nozzle are both contained in sturdy blister packs that are also suitable for hanging. Each component is labeled with the Gaahleri SKU and component size for the 0.3mm cap and nozzle.

The Components

The components are well packaged and come with no damage or irregularity. Once removed from the packaging, the process of applying the conversion began.

This set provides a sound basis for replacing the more delicate parts of the complex Jaguar’s landing gear. Designed for the newly-released Airfix kit, it addresses an area on the model where a bit more strength is appropriate.

Made up of nine cast metal parts, these bits are flexible enough for initial installation, while work-hardening if required for additional stiffness, such as the offset nose strut axle and bow. Brass is nice, but I find it rather unforgiving where alignment is concerned… to each his/her own.

Gaahleri is a company that burst onto the North America scene first back in 2023 with a new line of airbrushes that quickly became very popular among modelers and artists. I received a Gaahleri Mobius this past Christmas, and it has quickly become my new go-to airbrush. When I found out they were releasing the new Kaleido Colorworks paint line, I had to jump on the chance to check them out.

Reviewer’s Comments:

AOA Decals has provided the IPMS/USA Review Corps with a wonderful decal set for Vietnam War-era markings for the US Marine Corps F-4B/F-4J Phantom. This is part one of a two-part set you can purchase from AOA Decals for the Phantom (72-014 & 72-015).

This 1/72 decal sheet covers six USMC F-4 Phantom squadrons during the Vietnam War:

Background

From Review Insert:

Iliad Design has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with a wonderful decal set of Hollywood stars who served in the USAAC (WWII) & USMC (Korean War) and the planes they served in.

The following Hollywood stars are:

1. Jimmy Stewart: B-24H Liberator “Male Call”, 703rd BS, 453rd BG, .
2. Gene Roddenberry: B-17E Flying Fortress “Yankee Doodle”, 5th BG, 394th BS.
3. Selar Shaik Sabu: B-24L Liberator “Janie”, 307th BG, 424th BS.
4. Clark Gable: B-17F Flying Fortress “The 8 Ball”, 351st BG, 350th BS.

5. Ed McMahon: Cessna L-19 Bird Dog, VMO-6 (USMC, Korean War)

In the Package

For us, geriatric modelers fixed on detailing some of the venerable kits of our youth, Scale Aircraft Conversions can be exceedingly useful in a number of circumstances. For many, this may be as simple as replacing fragile styrene components with sturdier metal items. In other cases, some extra features are added.

The set for the Hawker Typhoon Mk. 1b of classic Revell fame is a good example. This pack features both main landing gear legs as well as the tailwheel fork, replacement radio mast, and a nice set of 20mm Hispano-Suiza cannons without the early shrouds. In terms of modifications, the two-part tail wheel fork has been rendered into a single piece, and the shroudless cannons are a very nice alternative to the kit items. I’d been thinking of attempting this modest conversion myself anyway, but these eliminated the need for scratch-building.

The non-profit UK based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes their journal, Cross & Cockade International, four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 80 pages plus centerfold] as well as digital copies (or both). A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance. The Great War Aviation Society also is on Facebook and on X [Twitter].

This is the second in a six-volume history of air-to-air missiles (AAM). In the first volume (see my review on this website), the author Bill Norton laid down the basic terminology and operating concepts used in designing and employing these weapons. In this second volume, He begins a generational examination of the weapons by their countries of origin. The book is divided into three sections. In the first, the efforts of Germany, Great Britain, and the United States during the latter part of WWII are covered. Although no guided AAM was fielded before the war ended, their progress in propulsion and guidance systems laid the groundwork for what would happen in the post war period. Germany certainly got close with their X-4 missile, guided by wire controls that trailed the missile after launch.

The title says it all. This book is a comprehensive look at air campaign over Guadalcanal from November to December 1942. The text is organized into eleven chapters, conclusion three appendices, sources/acknowledgements and an index of names, ships, and military units.

For a hobbyist like me, there’s nothing more exciting than opening the box from a new manufacturer. The anticipation of learning what they did differently, how the plastic cuts, what level of detail did they achieve and myriad others questions we all banter back and forth are answered when you open the box. The new Beacon Hobby multimedia ship kit of the Jack H. Lucas and their associated upgrade kit is the subject of these very questions. This appears to be Beacon Hobby’s first ship kit as far as I could see. They came out swinging with this release by not only launching the Arleigh Burke flight III ship, but an upgrade kit designed and produced by the manufacturer. This was really exciting for me because I expected everything to fit and be designed to mate up exactly. I can tell you that they did not disappoint me!

This is volume 2 of this series, Vol. 1 of which focused on the process of how the current Royal Army has evolved since WW II. The subject of this volume is the current and possible future structure and equipment of this army.