The book is a fascinating and remarkable insight into the brief, intense, and crucial Netherlands East Indies (NEI) campaign from the Japanese invasion in December 1941 through capitulation of the NEI. This often overlooked campaign, particularly among Americans who were primarily concerned with the Philippines campaign. Pacific Profiles Volume 17 focuses on the allied air forces in the Netherlands East Indies campaign, including Netherlands East Indies (composing of the ML-KNIL - Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger (Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force) and the MLD – Marine Luchtvaart Dienst (Netherlands Naval Aviation Service)), Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), US Army Air Corps (USAAC) and US Navy (USN).

I have previously reviewed a few other ICM kits, and I would say that this one was perhaps the hardest kit I have attempted from them. Let me first say that this kit has the extremely high quality and detail that I have come to expect from ICM. The reason I say this was the hardest for me would have to be the scale of the kit. This is a very nice and well detailed ship in 1:700 scale, which is quite common for ship models. This is the first 1:700 scale ship I have built. The scale itself is not bad at all. The part I have extreme difficulty with is the small details ICM produced for this scale. This was far more detailed than I expected for this scale (more detail than a 1:350 ship I had built previously), and some of those details were just too small for me to manipulate and fit as they are supposed to.

This is an 8.5 x 11.5, soft-bound book with a glossy heavy card stock cover enclosing 112 pages of glossy heavy weight paper. Along with the test, there are 161 black and white photos and 22 color photos, including 4 color photos on the front and back covers and front panel. Also included are five tables covering technical specifications, Helldiver squadrons, aircraft production numbers, and foreign operators, plus a chart of tail and wing markings used between January 27 and July 27, 1945. This coincides with the period of highest use of the Helldiver.

The first chapter is a detailed history of Curtiss Aircraft from its beginnings through 1951. It goes into some depth of the troubles the company had with corruption and poor quality during the pre-war and war years.

We have more information on Kotare's forthcoming 1/32nd scale Hurricane Mk. I (Early) with a chance to score a pre-release test kit. Check it out in our preview...Read on... »

Squadron, in partnership with MiniArt, released this boxing as a Limited Edition at the IPMS/USA Nationals in Hampton, VA. Utilizing the newly released P-47D-11 Razorback kit with new decals, Squadron has created a rather unique model. Having just built a Tamiya P-47D Razorback I was looking forward to building this kit to see how it stacked up. Packaged in a sturdy cardboard box with a colorful box art with two unique 405 Fighter Group aircraft, one in NMF and the other in OD and Neutral Grey. Let’s see what is in the box because that is what really matters.

Kagero’s newest books are designed around the modeler. These small booklets are really nice. The cover is thick cardstock and contains 26 pages of information.

The pages have one or two large photos per page on high-gloss heavyweight paper. In addition to the thirteen great pages of photos, there are two full-color profiles inside and one on the back cover. There are six pages of line drawings starting with the G-3, G-5, and G-6 variants. The drawings are in 1/72nd and 1/48th scale.

In addition to the great photos, profiles, and line drawings is a decal sheet that features the Bf-109G-6 on the cover, which is also one of the four-view color profiles inside. The decals are in both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale.

I am really enjoying the ICM acrylic paint sets I have added to my repertoire. This is a basic color set that lends itself to many uses, not just wargaming. The “DEEP” colors of red (ICM #1007), blue (1010), and yellow (1003) are very versatile. They are your 3 basic colors, but they are beautifully bright! I wanted to highlight how each of these 3 basic colors reacts with the common primer colors — black, grey, and white. On the black, I used deep red. It was basically a washout, requiring multiple coats to give smooth coverage. I would not recommend the black with these colors. I used the deep blue on the grey, and it was beautiful with just 1 coat. The color covered well and smoothly, and popped! Of course, I used the deep yellow on the white, as I always use yellow over whit (or pink) for the best coverage, and vibrancy of the color.

Ready to turn November into a nationwide model show tour? We line up four standout events—ModelZona in Phoenix, the Cleveland Model Show, Charlotte’s Region 12 contest, and Middle Tennessee’s ModelCon in Murfreesboro—and dig into the details that actually affect your day: judging style, registration windows, vendor-room depth, food, parking, and how fast awards wrap so you’re not stuck in your chair at dusk.

We start in Phoenix with ModelZona’s clean one-room layout near Sky Harbor, a clear first/second/third judging approach, and thoughtful specials like Best 1945 Subject and the Raleigh Williams Craftsmanship Award. Cleveland follows with a Sunday show that truly works: two gyms split contest and vendors, elevated tables for easier viewing and photos, and an eclectic slate of special awards—from Scandinavian subjects to pop-up headlight cars to a people’s choice Gundam/Mecha Pose. Charlotte adds a strong theme—From War to Peace—plus a non-sweeps policy, sold-out vendors, custom-designed Best Of awards, and a legendary Atomic Model Smasher for anyone needing a dramatic reset. Murfreesboro’s ModelCon caps it with smooth flow, full IPMS categories, sold-out vendors across every genre, and Smokin’ Butts BBQ parked out front; last year’s 542 models set the tone for an even bigger turnout.

Along the way we compare what each organizer gets right: editable PDF forms that speed check-in, early registration cutoffs that keep judging on track, separate halls that reduce crowding, and smart awards that celebrate more than just the top category winners. Most of all, we celebrate the real win—camaraderie. These shows are where online friends become real-world collaborators, techniques get traded, and inspiration sends you home itching to build.

Map your route, print your forms, charge your camera, and bring cash for that rare kit you didn’t know you needed. If you enjoy the show, tap follow, share this episode with your club, and leave a quick review to help more modelers find us. Where are you heading first?


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ModelZona 2025
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Adding to the stash since 1968

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This is the 1/48 CollectAire resin F3D Skynight which I built as a Marine EF-10B. I bought the kit second handed with the fuselage already assembled. Unfortunately there were very large gaps (which I filled with strip plastic and superglue) and the original builder didn't add any (or enough) nose weight so I had to add a clear plastic tail prop to keep it on its gear. Otherwise it's a 10 day "quickie" OOTB build just to diminish the stash. The markings are from the kit and I do like the Playboy bunny on the tail fin! On to the rest of the pics! This gives me a gray and white Skynight to go with the all dark blue F3D I already had on the shelf. Questions, comments, and critiques welcome, as always! Gil

There is not enough pain in my life yet, so I'm looking for these kits to build. :) If you have either of these neat vacuform kits you'd like to part with, ping me at bucholtzc (at) aol (dot) com, please! I have plans for 'em. The Hall PH-3 is just a builder - it came up in my random selection process. The AT-10 is for an off the wall club contest called "Build Your Name." That's great if your name is Zeke or Kate, or Ray (Skyray!), or Arthur T. Stratofortress. In my case, there was no Japanese plane codenamed "Chris," and "Bucholtz" doesn't appear in any plane names, obviously. But "Bucholtz" means "Beech Wood" (actually, "Buchholz", as every hotel clerk at every hotel I have ever stayed at in Germany has pointed out). The AT-10 was an all-wood plane built by Beech - I think that would qualify nicely. If you happen to have one of these and your ambition has waned since you picked it up, let me know!

Welcome to Episode 111 of The Modelgeeks Podcast!  

In this episode our main topic of discussion will be on our local model club’s model show, the Southern Maryland Scale Modeler’s PAXCON 2025.

We’ll give you a recap of the show, share some lessons learned and thank all those who made it happen.

We had a few visitors in town for the show, a couple international guests as well. Mr. Robbie Nauffts (aka The Model Guy of YouTube fame) from Calgary Alberta, Canada, and Mr. Kris De Winter who flew in from Groningen, Netherlands. We can’t thank you both enough for making the trip to PAXCON! Take a look at the work these two modelers produce in their respective social media sites:
 
 Robbie Nauffts, TheModelGuy

 Kris De Winter Instagram: @rnlaf_scale_modeling
 
The PAXCON 2025 Decal sheet was well received! With art work produced by Furball Aero-Design, the sheet features aircraft from NAS Patuxent River both past and present with two aircraft on the sheet that have not been done before, VX-23 Strike Test’s T-45C featuring unique blue trim, and VXS-1’s De Havilland  UV-18 Twin Otter. The sheet is available for purchase on the Southern Maryland Scale Modeler’s web page:

 Southern Maryland Scale Modelers PAXCON 2025 Decals
 
Share your work with us and the rest of the scale modeling community through our web page, or through our Facebook community page. We love seeing other people’s work. Who knows who you may inspire someone through your latest masterpiece!

Modelgeeks web page:

 Model Geeks Podcast

Facebook community:

 The ModelGeeks Model Shack

 …and of course you can email us at:

 contact@modelgeekspodcast.com

We also want to thank each of our sponsors for their support. We are very lucky to have their support. When you have the time, pay a visit to their web sites, and have a look at their fine products.

Sponsors:

Furball Aero-Design

Tamiya USA

Detail & Scale

SprueBrothers

LionHeart Hobby

Bases By Bill

Hypersonic Models

Matters Of Scale

Kotare Models
 

If you're a wicked ModelGeek go check out the following links!

IPMS USA Events Page

AMPS

Butch O'Hare Modeling Club

The Interesting Modeling Company

 We are very fortunate to be able to join the scale modeling podcast community and are in the company of several other really GREAT podcasts. Hopefully, someday we’ll earn our wings and be able to keep up with those guys!  Please check them all out at S

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Model Geeks Podcast

We see more detail of the colour choices, decals, masks, sprues & layouts of Tamiya's new 72nd scale "F-14D Tomcat" at the All-Japan Model Show in our preview...Read on... »

Tamiya's new 72nd scale "F-14D Tomcat" was previewed at the All-Japan Model Show this week. We have a look at the built test kit & its features in our preview...Read on... »

Meng adds to their 1/9th scale Ninja range with the newer ZX-10RR superbike, this one comes pre-coloured! We have CAD images with a feature list in our preview...Read on... »

UMM-USA has provided the reviewer core with a riveting tool for 1/32nd and 1/35th scale models.

This is a single row rivet pounce wheel with a rivet pitch (distance between rivets) of 1.10 mm. Its main target use is for larger models of 1/32nd or 1/35th scale. The handle is made from a 3-D printer and the filament is colored white and black. An olive-green dot is colored into the handle and correlates to the size on the sheet packaging for 1.10 mm rivet pitch.

I used this tool on a plastic sheet and then darkened it with a weathering wash to bring out the divot locations. I also placed a steel ruler as reference to see the pitch distance between divots.

Conclusion

This is a neat tool to have which will add more detail to your builds by adding fastener/rivet detail to the surface of your larger scaled kit(s).

Just in time for the Scale Model Challenge, The Bodi Miniatures release the seven figures they have been working on in a big set. We look at them in our preview...Read on... »

Zimi Model upgrade Kittyhawk's little bird with metal barrels, refined moulds & Photo-etch. We look at the art, features, the machines in our preview...Read on... »

Joycraft's second version of the CT-114 Tutor in 32nd scale has been announced. We look at the makeup of the kit & its new features in our preview...Read on... »

Atlantis Models has provided the IPMS/USA reviewer corps with Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen’s “AA” Fuel Dragster (front engine mount) in 1/24th scale. Per Scalemates.com, original mold for this kit is from 1971 by Monogram/Mattel. This review is for the 2024 boxing.

In the Box

The kit is enclosed in a top open box with a painted illustration. The main color is blue with white accent in the middle of the body. There is one white sprue of parts, right and left side body halves, one chrome plated sprue, and one vinyl sprue with tires. Decals are on a single sheet.

Instructions are well illustrated and have ten assembly steps along with a decal placement guide in Step 6.

This is a soft bound book of 26 pages on the Messerschmidt ME 163, Komet. Included is a sheet of decals in both 1/72 and 1/48 scale of the 163 as seen on the front cover. The cover is printed on heavy glossy stock and shows a Messerschmidt ME 163, Werk # 10061 in both top and side view. The book contains little text except for short descriptions of each of the 27 black and white photos that make up the front section of the book. The photos appear to have been taken at an unnamed museum in Europe. There isn’t an author of the book listed. However, the author of the technical drawing that makes up the final section of the book is listed as Marek Rys.