IPMS/USA Reviews

The normal thanks to Ross at SAC and his working crew for developing and producing an excellent metal set to replace the kit items, and IPMS USA for providing it to me to use!

Once again the jackpot is hit with another SAC gear replacement set. For the unaware, the Italeri 1/32 F-35A is a rather weighty model, and the kit gear is provided in multiple parts, all plastic. SAC does a few modifications such as incorporating the kit side braces into the main gear and nose gear, and molding them in one part each. With 13 total metal parts, including drag braces and extensions, shimmy damper and steering pump, this set makes a simple kit addition. This, when installed and combined with the trunnions and drag braces, makes a sturdy arrangement.

The other thing: once again the actual aircraft has an offset half-fork nose gear, which will not survive construction, much less sitting on a shelf for any length of time. The SAC gear handles this all with a shrug. Let me explain.

This detail set by Hauler provides numerous license plate frames in different shapes for WWII German vehicles. The set is a steel photoetch fret that is 1 1/8"x3 7/8". The PE pieces have a slight curl to them. This set provides only the backing plate for licenses, but no decals or stickers are provided for the actual license plate graphic. Mounting brackets are not provided either.

There are 33 license plates provided in the following sizes in millimeters (width x height):

• 6 - 14x3 rounded corners
• 6 - 9x5 rounded corners
• 3 - 6x4 rounded corners, no edging
• 3 - 10x3 rounded corners, no edging
• 6 - 9x6 notched corners
• 6 - 14x3 square corners
• 3 - 9x6 rounded corners

The photoetch pieces are thin and closer in scale than base kit plastic pieces. These license frames are a good option to replace thick (or lost) plastic kit pieces.

Thanks to Hauler for providing the review sample to IPMS.

I've always liked modern Russian/Soviet aircraft and have several in the works (Su-27, MiG-31, MiG-21). Seeing the opportunity to review this pilot figure sounded like a prime chance to add a little spice to one of them (whenever I get them finished!). Though this particular figure is listed as a Su-27 pilot, my research showed that the uniform and gear is applicable to pilots of most other modern Russian fighter and attack aircraft.

No assembly at all is required on this guy, just a little cleanup, priming, and painting. The cleanup was minimal, with just a few bits of stray resin and what looked like a couple of seam lines along the legs. Just a few minutes with a sharp scalpel blade and a fine grit sanding stick was all that it took to get the figure ready for scrubbing and priming. I usually use Dawn dishwashing soap, hot water, and a toothbrush to clean up and left over mold release agents. That worked well and, after drying for 24 hours, the figure was sprayed with Tamiya Fine primer. Another 24 hour drying time for the primer and it was ready for paint.

Sincere appreciation from IPMS USA goes to Eduard for their having once again provided a sample copy of a long-awaited product, the Multiple Ejector Rack, and the usual wave of thanks to the IPMS USA leadership for ensuring I received it!

First off: when someone develops a B-52F/D for a Vietnam diorama, I'll be ordering an extra two of these sets... because the external weapon pylons on some B-52's used four of these!

The MER was developed along with TER's to increase the number of weapons carried by A-4, F-4, A-6 and others... it uses many common parts with the TER to increase carry from three to six weapons.

This set contains 75 parts for three MER's; the resin bodies and beams in two parts, Sway braces with ejector pins, Two types (early and late) MER hanging lugs and braces to put them on the aircraft carrying beams, and PE Switch plates to put in the hollow end of the MER itself. To finish, you are also provided with a small decal sheet.

Thank you to the Eduard Company for sending this detail set for review, it is always a pleasure to see what your new products bring to the scale modeling world. Thank you also to the IPMS Reviewer Corps staff members who do the hard work in getting us modeling products to review, the reviews posted, and the news spread to the world.

Overall Summary

The polished brass photo-etch fret arrived in a standard cellophane envelope with the colorful Eduard label and cardboard backing. A color assembly guide was neatly folded inside, with bilingual labels. The fret is about 5.65 x 4 inches, hosting 8 major pieces and numerous hinges, pins, and ribs, with the larger parts crisply relief-etched. Kit areas to be modified are indicated in the instructions.