Welcome to IPMS/USA Reviews

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Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$35.00

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) provides resin and white metal parts for scale model aircraft, most of which are drop-in landing gear replacements. Their standard packaging is a card-backed blister pack that should protect the parts, though one gear leg in one set was slightly bent went I opened the package.

The superb DBMK 1/32 Sea Fury kit was released earlier in 2026 and these sets from SAC are direct copies of that kit’s landing gear, including the main gear legs and various attached and associated parts. The early set, 32199, depicts the original Sea Fury landing gear that featured the Hawker standard landing gear leg, while the late leg, as depicted in set 32198, had an extra oleo section to better cope with shearing forces in cross-wind landings, and to help damp bouncing on landing.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$40.00

First off, a note of thanks to Revell for providing this kit to IPMS/USA!

I have had the fortune to build just about every major manufacturer’s” Battle Penguin” since the mid-2015 period (excluding Tamiya’s, I am a 1/48 guy as I get older), and this new release from Revell Germany is a great example of the lower-cost, simpler variant with an excellent final result… it was a surprisingly easy build, and some features just stood out for me.

(For the uninitiated, the official name “Lightning II” in my opinion is a lazy way to come up with a title, (same for “Beast Mode”, yeah, right) and the aforementioned “Battle Penguin” is what most people I know who work on the jet call it… There is another name that is less flattering in “FA” (look it up); I personally think it looks like a horny toad sitting on the ground, but whatever). Enough…

Book Author(s)
Steve Backer, revised by Les Brown
Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
Company
Seaforth Publishing
MSRP
$28.95

Originally published in 2007, the revised edition was recently issued in 2026. The book's content is well sequenced, beginning with the battlecruiser's design history, the careers of the 3 famous battlecruisers HMS Renown, HMS Repulse and HMS Hood, a comprehensive review of all the well known scale models of these famous ships produced to date, a well photographed model showcase in various scales, five WW2 camouflage schemes for the 3 ships, a summary of modifications and refits for each ship documented by photos, line drawings and a selected reference.

Book Author(s)
Mick Davis
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$114.00

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].

Review Author
Chris Surber
Published on
Company
Reskit
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$51.00

Hasegawa first released their 1/48 A-7E in 1987 with various boxing still available today. To date it is the most accurate offering in shape and features. Where it is lacking and showing its age is in the cockpit assembly. ResKit have come to the rescue with a finely detailed 3D printed cockpit assembly which is an almost drop-in fit. Refer to the pictures that accompany this review to see the amazing level of detail on the ejection seat alone.