Welcome to IPMS/USA Reviews

Introduction: The primary organization of the IPMS/USA Review website is by IPMS/USA National Contest Class. Within each Class there are sub-menus by kits, decals, books, etc. The Miscellaneous Class is for items that are not class specific or that cross two or more classes.

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Manufacturers, publishers, and other industry members: IPMS/USA is pleased to offer your company the opportunity for product reviews. All product reviews are performed by IPMS/USA members, and are posted in the publicly-accessible section of our website. With very few exceptions, we perform full build reviews of new kit releases, aftermarket products, and supplies. If you would care to provide product samples for review, please contact the IPMS/USA First Vice President.

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Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$34.00

From the Manufacturer’s Website

The de Havilland Mosquito was a versatile twin-engine aircraft that was one of the best aircraft of World War II. Not for nothing was it called the ‘Wooden Wonder’. It was used as a night fighter, fighter-bomber, bomber, reconnaissance, anti-ship or special transport aircraft. The first generation of Mosquitos was powered by Merlin engines with single-stage superchargers. In the spring of 1943, two-stage Merlins with higher performance at higher altitudes were installed in the Mosquito. This resulted in the PR Mk.IX reconnaissance version and the B Mk.IX bomber. They were produced in limited numbers, as they were replaced in production by the mass-produced PR Mk.XVI and B Mk.XVI versions, equipped with a pressurized cockpit. The performance of the PR Mk.XVI version was so high that enemy fighters could hardly threaten it. The PR Mk.XVI reconnaissance Mosquitos operated from the British Isles and Italy over the whole of Europe.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.00

Scale Aircraft Conversions (SAC) has provided the IPMS reviewer corps with a set of 1/48th scale metal landing gear for Great Wall Hobby’s Su-27. These parts are drop-in replacements and provide a more robust landing gear set given its metal properties.

In the Package

The metal pieces are packaged in a clear blister package with cardboard backing. No instructions are provided.

Review Process

The metal landing gear set is used as drop-in replacements for the kit parts as noted:

  • Nose Gear: E4, E13, E18, E19, E20, E23, E29,
  • RHS Gear: E44, E54, E55, E60, E66, E68, E69, E77, E81, E79,
  • LHS Gear: E45, E53, E56, E59, E65, E67, E70, E76, E78, E80,

The metal used is malleable and has some give to allow for any minor bending if needed. Also, seam lines will need to be cleaned up prior to painting just like the plastic kit parts.

Book Author(s)
Daniel Kowalczuk
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Guideline Publications
MSRP
$22.00

Guideline Publications Guideline Publications is the UK's leading publisher of modeling and hobby-related magazines. With a world-class portfolio of titles and an international Social Media presence, Guideline Publications has a dedicated readership that is constantly expanding into new areas. This English language book, Warpaint 152, Junkers Ju 86, is authored by Daniel Kowalczuk with scale drawings by Sam Pearson. The latest Guideline’s Warpaint series, 152, was published in 2026. A digital edition will soon be available. News on Guideline’s publications can be found on Facebook.

Review Author
Paul Dunham
Published on
Company
M Design
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$109.00

Recent advances in 3D design and printing have made it much easier for new kit manufacturers to enter the market with subjects usually avoided by traditional manufacturers. A good example of this is MDesign of Bulgaria. MDesign produces 3D-printed kits of unusual WWI subjects in a variety of scales. In this review I will be examining their new 1/32nd scale kit of the LFG Roland D.II. The Roland D.II was an attempt to develop a fighter from the successful Roland C.II two-seater reconnaissance aircraft. The D.II was not a success, it couldn’t match the performance of contemporary Albatros fighters and was more difficult to fly. The Roland D.II had a very short service life with Germany on the Western Front. The Roland D.II had a much longer career in Bulgarian service.