Fran

Wow!! I just found this thread!! What amazing build!! I really hope that it has come to an end!!

Nice looking model kit! nad really nice work... Sorry to ask, but on those first pictures, how many WIP do you have on the working table??? 😀

Hi guys.. I will also join in as all others years. As for the gift, I will enter with the 1:32 Eduard Me-109 E-1 https://www.scalemates.com/kits/eduard-3001-bf-109e-1--115282

wow!!! Really Love it Hubert!!!

1:48 AH-1G Cobra and M8A1US Landing Mat ICM Catalogue number 48298 Price tag: 37,60€ Cick here to get one Once again we have the pleasure to bring another ICM release, this time the AH-1G Cobra in 1:48. ICM Models is a Ukrainian manufacturer specializing in high-quality plastic model kits. Established in Kyiv in the early 1990s, with limited run kits and in 2000 they chance hands and they start to working much better and with advanced design technologies, precision molding, and attention to historical detail. And ICM doesn’t rest even in a war scenario, releasing a lot of new models kit every month. This one is a Limited Edition (the first I see in a ICM boxing but there was already the “Ah-G1 Artic Cobra”) as a limited edition also) and the plastic is a total Special hobby work. Nonetheless is a great model kit. If you want just check this video build of it… just fantastic! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULkkGf7VJD8 The box is the typical ICM with a lift-top one with the boxart sleeve remove to check the interior of the box. The kit includes 182 parts (169 parts for the Ah-1G and the rest for the landing mat). The rivets are raised on the rotor tail as it should be. Checking the interior parts of the cockpit it includes detailed instrument panels and controls. The clear canopy allows for an open or closed display, and some mask templates are provided (nice touch). However I would prefer to get some from Art Scale! You will need to sort out some seatbelts as this cockpit is quite open even with the canopy close and at least a seatbelts are most welcome as they are very notice if absence. One really nice add is the towing rack to gives you some diorama ideas. I also like the option of the service doors for the engine compartment. It`s just asking to to be detailed… so if you want you need to get some goodies form the aftermarkers boys. As for the armament and their configuration, ICM gives several weapon configurations (4 actually), including miniguns and grenade launchers. There`s also decals provide for the weapons but the instructions are not clear at all in the placement of smaller decals so you will have to get some info and pictures about those. As for the decal sheet is a quite busy but no large size sheet, with all the markings, insignias, instruments and several stencils. The colour and pigmentation looks quite good. I think that they are ICM productions and they usually work well. There are four options on the decal sheet, all but one in light green-grey, differentiated by their unit markings, the final markings having a dense dark green squiggle camouflage scheme over the green-grey. From the box you can build one of the following: 1. AH-G1 66-15262 “Hulk”, Company D, 227th AHB, 1st Cavalary Division, Phuoc Vinh, Summer 1970; 2. AH-G1 68-17068 “Cindy Ann”, 1st Squadron, 9th Cav, Phuoc Vinh, August 1970; 3. AH-G1 68-17077 “Corsair”, Company D, 227th AHB, 1st Cavalary Division, Lai Khe 1970; 4. AH-G1 68-15101. H Troop. 10th Cav. Pleiku, Autumn 1972 The instructions is a booklet with good drawings, simple to follow and see where all parts goes as usual with the minor report about the weapons decals. The first 3 pages and the last 3 pages are in satin paper. It`s usually like this and I don’t understand why and I don’t see any reason for that. The colour indication. So, all the colour indication are ICM references. There`s not much colour indication (could be better) and the ones that are, are ICM color… I now that ICM already release several acrylic paints and they really work really well but I would like to see other brands but I understand the ICM option. As for the Landing mat, check our review here. Conclusion: The molding quality is excellent, with well-defined panel lines and raised rivet details as it is a great model from Special Hobby and in good time ICM rebox it. A very versatile weapon loadouts and display options is a very good add and I love the markings options given, being quite appealing ones. So you can get a really nice model straight from the box (you really need to sort out some seatbelts) Overall, the ICM 1:48 AH-1G Cobra is a well-designed kit offering an excellent balance of detail and build complexity, making it ideal for both intermediate and advanced modelers looking for a rewarding project My Thanks to ICM for making the Limited Edition. Fran

Love it!! great work!

ICM 1:48 Luftwaffe Airfield Equipament Price Tag: €17,80 Catalogue number 48409 ICM is unstoppable. Now a new important 1:48 for Aircraft modeler to adventure themselves to the diorama world. As you can see in the boxart, inside the box, some 50kg bomb crane, 250kg bomb crane, jerry can, fuel barrel, barrel for lubricants, compressed air cylinder, toolbox and even an airbrush. A LWC 500-IX (finally one in plastic in 1:48) and fabulous field tripod crane. The parts are very detailed even the chain in plastic is well made for 1:48 but if there is anything that is worth upgraded is the chain and it’s an easy upgraded to make. If these wasn’t enough, ICM gives you even more, a road barrier, a watchman`s booth and a small stepladder. To complete this beautifull airfield set, a decal sheet for the crates, barrier and booth. All these plus a full ordnance set. All parts have no flash at all, and the surface detail is very very good as the actual ICM standards. The small parts like a tiny 1:48 airbush are just perfect and very well mold with no flash and very little cleaning or almost none. The connection points sprues in perfect places to make easy the cut from the sprues. BUT, This set has much more to offer than ordnance. We already review part of this set when we took a look on the Luftwaffe ordnance so everything is here too inclusive a large decal sheets for the bombs. Just check here. The instructions are very clear and easy to understand as usual. Th color charts is only with ICM paints. Conclusion Wow! What a set! A Perfect invitation at low cost to all aircraft modeler to make a diorama!! No excuses anymore! Kudos ICM! VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Our sincere thanks to ICM for making this fantastic set. To get one just click here Francisco Guedes www.largescalemodeller.com

Building WWI Aircraft Dioramas in 1:32 Scale Jeroen Veen Publisher: KLP Publishing 106 pages Landscape format (A4 size with softcover) in all digital format 3 full features build Price tag: 15 $AUD (around 9€ and 9,5$) Click here KLP Publishing is an all-digital publisher that have in Kevin Futter is CEO. I think is a one man show and for quite a few year having published several digital books of modelling several subjects that are quite inspiring and gives the modeler reader quite a boos in the mojo. I know because I do have two previous digital books releases by KLP, the Felixstowe and the Fw-189 and they are both great. This time, I had the honour to be asked to make a review of the latest release: Building WWI dioramas by the great modeler (and also friend) Jeroen Veen. This book has 106 pages, is divided in 5 chapters - Introduction - About Jeroen Veen - The Smoke - Crashed - Survivors The book is full with very quality pictures and step by steps of the 3 dioramas named “The Smoke”, “Crashed” and “Survivors” as the chapters name. The first diorama is “The Smoke: Preparations for a Dawn Patrol” and it`s with the a RE.8 “Harry Tate”, probably my favourite British aircraft made by Wingnut Wings and it is always a pleasure to see one full build in such a quality. The author shows every single step of the building with very nice tips for all modellers. I mean it as some of those I already has forgetten and others I never heard about, so I need to try them out! I cant tell you which one as for that you need to get the e-book. The inside wood work and all the busy interior is marvelous. The build goes for more than 30 pages, before it enter to the base diorama itself for more than 10 pages of WIP. Despite of having several figures, there`s nothing about the painting of those. At page 57, starts the “Crashed” It’s a very small vignette, very intriguing but fantastic. Here, the figure has a bit of text to explain the modifications made specially on the hair but there`s not step by step of painting job. On this chapter, the step by step pics are much less and only a few on the engine. However the explaning text is quite rich and comprehensive and you can almost “see” the steps made by the Author. Now moving to my favorite diorama on this book is the “Survivors – Memories from another era” It stars at page 73 until the end of the e-book (pag 106) Here again several step by step on the Fokker DVII build, with a very comprehensive explaning text. It`s a joy to see the step-by step pictures alongside the text.! Really inspiring. For the Page 93 starts the diorama construction but there`s no step by step of it specially for the base itself (the Floor, the wall, figures etc) but you get the display cases scratchbuild, the propeller rack and he Wade Meyer`s painting Conclusion: It´s a great e-book for 9€ (or 9,50$) that gives you good tips and very inspirational stuff along 106 pages. For just 9€, you will have a grat reading and re-reading and watching over and over again all those pictures It´s a great book to all modeler that have some interest in WWI. And also it`s a mojo elevator looking for Jeroen Veen works. Highly Recommend Thanks to Jeroen Veen for the chance of making this review and go to KLP website to get yourself a digital copy – click here.

1:35 Leopard 2A6 with Crew Armed Forces of Ukraine ICM Catalogue # 35013 Available from Art Scale Model for 49€ Click here. ICM is a train at full speed even with a war at their literally, at their door step!! Brave ICM!! So here we are again checking the contents of the new limited edition Leopard 2A6 with Ukranian crew. So the Leopard A26 is the Revell mold, very well rebox in ICM boxing, a big box with 291 parts (246 for the assembly tank and 45 for figures). This release don’t have the green plastic originally release from Revell but the later one, in grey color and much more friendly to work with. Anyway, still Revell plastic and Revell injection and is a very good one. So it`s in fact a very good choice from ICM to rebox it with some figures. Checking the interior of the box, it`s comes in a plastic bag, different of the usually of other ICM boxes. Looks like that it come directly from Revell, and packed on the ICM box. Its my first time seeing the Leopard… it`s not really my cup of tea but I must confess that I`m very impressed. The parts that it impress me the most was the large circular cooling fans on the rear decking are particularly nicely done as separate parts, The parts are flash free (except the muzzle and towling cable in vinyl) and with very nice surface detail like the patches of anti-slip coating on the surfaces. The side suspension also being the side walls of the lower deck and the lower turret are on the sprue A. The side hull along with the lower hull looks like being quite easy to aligned. This is normal daily in AFV plastic kits as you have two bulkheads that sit in the central are of the chassis. The constructions looks like quite straightforward with the wheels and suspension being the step that probably will take more constructions time unless you decided to get some metal tracks. The turret is in one single piece. I think that if it comes in several parts, you could`t get it all aligned properly. The turret is a big one and a bit complex shape but easy to construction. The upper hull come in a single large and big piece with very very good surface details The back end also is given with great surface detail. For me the most impressive detail parts are the engine covers. The small parts are quite good with sharp detail and no flash that is always difficult to remove in such small parts. The side-skirts are model in a single part to make easier for the modeller A clear part is given with a simple acetate sheet. The wheels and suspension system are quite detail Speaking of wheels tracks, the vinyl tracks does have some good details. Personaly, this point is almost a non subject.I always get some AM tracks but it’s a personal choice (details and weathering) as with these vinyl tracks in the model you can get some good results. Two things here: the main barrel and the antennas. Well, the antennas will have to be yourself to build them. As for the barrel, comes in two halves. I don’t like to have a two parts barrel but with care and some work you can get a solid barrel. Or you can get an aftermarket one (I know I will). If with these two things every modeller could live with, I think that the towing cable in vinyl is the worst part in the entire kit. Flash and very hard to paint and weathering so a strong recommendation is to get some AM stuff like XXL Eureka cable. As for the figures set, just check our review - The decal sheet is quite comprehensive and I didn’t don’t know where ICM make their decals but they do have a good color saturation and good printing details, but it’s a quite small decal sheet. So with this decal sheet ICM gives the modeler 6(six) options (with the standard 3-color scheme): 1. Leopard 2A6 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Summer 2023, Zaporizhzhia region 2. Leopard 2A6 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Summer 2023, Robotyne 3. Leopard 2A6 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Autumn 2023, Zaporizhzhia region 4. Leopard 2A6 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, December 2023 5. Leopard 2A6 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, winter 2024 (marking option 1) 6. Leopard 2A6 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, winter 2024 (marking option 2) The instructions booklet. These are in an ICM way, with the first pages in stain paper and the rest on normal paper with 55 steps, quite easy to follow. A small information about the model, and the color references, as always, only with ICM references. I already said in past reviews that it would be nice to have other references as Tamiya or AK. Conclusion This Leopard rebox with figures and Ukranian markings are most welcome to armour modern modellers. The plastic and tolling are not actually from ICM but from Revell. The quality is very good but there`s a little bit of flash in some parts (barrel muzzle) but nothing hard to remove. The figures are very good and an extra to make his box are all in vignette! Highly recommended My sincere thanks to ICM for making this! To purchase directly, click HERE. Fran

An entire new cockpit for the ICM CH-54 from Screaming Toad (price 68 £) And brand new 3D in 132 CAPRONI Ca3!!! and finally a new Re-box from ICM Marauder

@Lusitanian and @HubertB, well, looks like that we will have to have a LSM dinner sometime soon here in Portugal!!

ICM 1:35 Tank Crew Of The Armed Force of Ukraine (Catalogue number: 35756) Price Tag: 13,80€ ICM is a quite prolific model manufacture, releasing AFV, Airplane and figures, in 1:48 and 1:35. This set is n 1:35 and it´s perfect for a diorama in honor in the brave women and men that are in the front in combat again the invasion of their country. And they put the pride on the box, as they should. So you get four figures in the poses that you can see in the box, appropriate for any modern tank, specially the Leopard. But inside the box, you can get five figures (not 4) and an extra dog. All parts have no flash at all, and the surface detail is the best I ever seen from ICM I saw a vast improvement when I had the pleasure to review the 1:48 Sally figures. That quality is also present in this set, with very sutble details on the cloths and on the faces with less seam line from the mold. The figures have the torso in one piece without arms or legs as they are separated No assembly instructions are given… but if you look carefully we see the parts numbers on the figures. So there´s is assembly instructions. Well done ICM and thank you for an extra figure and a dog! Conclusion As usual, ICM delivery are very good product at very good price, despite working every day in their country in war and fight against the invader!! Brave ICM and stay strong! So you can really get a very good figure set, using all together or just one as the posture could be used in several other scenario, with an extra bonus is having an extra figura and a dog that are not expected when you see just the box. Great Work ICM! Keep Then coming! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Our sincere thanks to ICM for making this fantastic figure set. Get yours here. Francisco Guedes www.largescalemodeller.com

For me, one of the best liquid mask is the one from Deluxe Material https://deluxematerials.co.uk/products/masking-magic-opaque-40g

1:48 Art Scale Kit P-51 And Me-109 Insignias Several Sheets Art Scale Kit (also known as ASK) is a model hobby shop and now it known in the modelling world all around for their decals, tools and 3D productions. And ASK can`t stop of releasing decals sheets. Today, I´m going to review two decal sheet from ASK with six striking schemes for the rand new Eduard P-51B and a very useful one: Me-109 insignias! All sets came in a ziplog bag, small A5 size sheet with profiles colors instructions steps how to apply ASK decals. The Me-109 brings the wings and fuselage indication place and which cross to put and where. So let’s looks to the P-51 option schemes first. Here, unlikewise the B-26 sheets (that are an exception) only on picture of one of the schemes is given so theres`s real photo of one of the airplanes that are represented on the decal sheets. P-51 B/C - Part 2 – Europe, foreign services Catalogue number200-D48060 Price: 11,90€ To order, click here. This sheet has 3 schemes options of P-51 B in foreign, more concretely a German, a Sweden and a Swiss scheme. 1 - P-51B Mustang, Wanderzirkus Rosarius, Germany, Hannover-Wunstorf, summer 1944. 2 - P-51B Mustang, Wing-16, Swedish Air Force, April 1945, ex 354th FG USAAF. 3 - P-51B Mustang, s/n 42-106438, Swiss Air Force, July 1944, ex. WD-U flown by Lt. Curtiss Simpson. P-51 B/C Part 3 – Capture birds Catalogue number200-D48061 Price: 11,90€ To order, click here. Here, some striking Mustangs with some unusual markings, like German or Japanese. 1. Mustang P-51B-15-NA, s/n 43-24825, ex. 334th FG (QP-G), Wanderzirkus Rosarius, Neuruppin, Germany, October 1944. 2. Mustang P-51C-11-NT, s/n 44-10816, ex. 51th FG, 2.6th FS, 1st Lt.Oliver E. Strawbridge, China 1945, captured at 16 January 1945 by navigation mistake and emergency landing. Mj. Yasuhiko Kuroe. 3. Mustang P-51B, China Air Force 1945. And finally, a very usefull sheet Me-109 Part 1 – Insignias 1937-1943 Crosses and vertical stabilizers Catalogue number200-D48062 Price: 19,80€ To order, click here. Several swastikas (lets never forget… erasing the past, is the way to repeat it in the future) and several types of Balkenkreuz, all for Me-109 in 1:48 with the clear specification that is for the timeline from 1939 to 1943. So, for sure that this sheet will be a most to all aircraft modeler. ** Checking the decal sheets, as usual the color registration e density is great and a very good definition of the details. The decals have a thin film, in fact looking very thin and delicate. Once again, there is no indication where are they printed so I assume that will be in ASK house. The printing quality is quite good, as they are sharp, with outline very well defined. The instructions are the general ones that are applicable to all decals, it is always important to remember the general principles of decal application. In this case, there is no specific rule for applying these decals. The profiles draws contains lots of information, with side view (both side) and top view with precise decal indication. *** Conclusion: So, theses sheet is quite sparkle with very striking and attractive schemes. Thanks to ASK to keep releasing these decals in the modelling world. The location indication of the decals is quite good and very perceptible. The decals as already said, have a very good colour registration, very thin, with minimum decal film, and they work quite nice! My thanks to Art Scale for producing these fantastic decals. Francisco Guedes .

1:48 Art Scale Kit B-26 Marauder Several Sheets Art Scale Kit (also known as ASK) is a model hobby shop and now it knonwed in the modelling world all around for their decals, tools and 3D productions. Today, I´m going to review two decal sheet from ASK with four strikings schmes for the ICM 1:48 B-26 Marauder. All sets came in a ziplog bag, small A5 size sheet with profiles colors instructions steps how to apply ASK decals. So let’s looks to the option schemes that are offered. But first, one detail that I loved about in all ASK decals sheets. In the applying instructions, in all sheets, theres`a real photo of one of the airplanes that are represented on the decal sheets. I really love that "bonus" B-26 Marauder – Part 1 – Over Europe: Wine, Women and Song and Hard To Get Catalogue number200-D48058 Price: 11,90€ To order, click here. This sheet have 2 schemes options quite famous. My set has a typo error with the “Miss Arkansas” when that belongs to part II. So, the first on is the B-26B-50, s/n 42-95903, 495th BS, 344th BG, 9th AF, Stansted, United Kingdom, July 1944, best known by the sexy pin-up and the lettering “Hard to Get”. The history of this particularly B-26 is well-know but ASK give the modeler a small context and history even so. “The 344th Bombardment Group was established in September, 1942 at MacDill in Florida, and was equipped with the B-26 Marauder. After being relocated to the base at Stansted in United Kingdom as a component unit of the 9th Air Force, missions were conducted against military targets and the transportation network in German occupied France, the Netherlands and Belgium from February 1944. One of the aircraft of the component 597th Bombardment Squadron was this aircraft, once again, one that was decorated with noseart of a scantily clad woman, courtesy of Jack Havener. This Marauder, originally delivered in natural metal, was subsequently camouflaged in Olive Drab on the upper and side surfaces, and photographs indicated peeling of the paint. At this time, the codes were applied in grey.” The second is probably one of my favourite… The B-26B-45, s/n 42-95752, 442nd BS, 320th BG, 12th AF, Decimomannu, Sardinia, August 1944, Well known for the nose art “Wine, Women & Song” ASK gives the modeler also a small history context of this aircraft. “The 320th BG was formed on June 19th, 1942 at MacDill, in Florida, equipped with the B-26 Marauder. At the end of 1942, the entire 320th Bombardment Group was transferred to Algeria, ground personnel arriving by sea while flight personnel flew their aircraft in over the south Atlantic to Africa. After the occupation of the territory, operations were switched over to Sicily and Italy.The units gradually left their Algerian bases, and from November 1943, they flew just shy of a full year from the former Italian base at Decimomannu in Sardinia. This aircraft, named Wine, Women & Song', was adorned with noseart depicting a nude woman in a glass, and the unit marking consisting of Donald Duck holding a bomb in his hand. A standard USAAF camouflage scheme of Olive Drab on the upper surfaces with supplemental fields of medium green on the wings and tail surfaces was carried. The bottom surfaces were painted Neutral Grey. The yellow band forward of the rear gun position was the 320th BG, 42nd BW identifier. B-26 Marauder Part 2 – Miss Arkansas over Europe Catalogue number200-D48059 Price: 11,90€ To order, click here. The second sheet also have quite famous and attractive schemes. So the first one: B-26C-45, s/n 42-107752, 444th BS, 320th BG, 12th AF, Decimomannu, Sardinia, August 1944. “Miss Arkansas” It’s a fantastic delivery so you can get a very attractive B-26. Love it! Here ASK also give us a brief history “The beginnings of the 397th Bombardment Group hails back to April 20th, 1943, at MacDill in Florida, where the unit began to train on the B-26 Marauder. After relocating to Great Britain, the first combat mission was an attack on a V-1 base in the vicinity of Pas de Calais, exactly a year after the formation of the unit. Natural metal aircraft of the 397th BG carried markings that included a yellow diagonal band across the vertical tail surfaces. At the time of the invasion, the so-called D-Day stripes were added to the fuselage and wings. Unit members added a silhouette of the United States on the nose of this aircraft, along with a well endowed lady with the inscription THE MILK RUN SPECIAL. Bomb silhouettes symbolized the number of bombing missions. The second scheme, is the B-26B-55, s/n 42-96071, 584nd BS, 394th BG, 9th AF, Cambrai/Niergnies, May 1945. The “Ish-Tak-Ha-Ba” “Ish-Tak Ha Ba (Dakota language meaning ‚Sleepy Eye') was named by the aircraft's captain, Joseph E. Farrell, and he also had the head of an Indian Chief painted on the airplane's nose. Joseph Farrell hailed from the small town of Sleepy Eye, and he joined the USAAC after the beginning of the war. He underwent pilot training, after which he was assigned to the 584th BS, a unit equipped with the Marauder. After being relocated to Europe, Joseph Farrell flew a total of 67 combat missions before the end of the war. In September 1945, he joined Northwest Airlines, where he flew until he was sixty, and even after retirement, he never left flying. Checking the decal sheets, as usual the color registration e density is great and a very good definition of the details. The decals have a thin film, in fact looking very thin and delicate. Once again, there is no indication where are they printed so I assume that will be in ASK house. The printing quality is quite good, as they are sharp, with outline very well defined. The instructions are the general ones that are applicable to all decals, it is always important to remember the general principles of decal application. In this case, there is no specific rule for applying these decals. The profiles draws contains lots of information, with side view (both side) and top view with precise decal indication. *** Conclusion: So, theses sheet is quite sparkle with very striking and attractive schemes. I will need another B-26 to build at least two of these. Thanks to ASK to keep releasing these decals in the modelling world. The location indication of the decals is quite good and very perceptible. The decals as already said, have a very good colour registration, very thin, with minimum decal film, and they work quite nice! My thanks to Art Scale for producing these fantastic decals. Francisco Guedes .