Jagdpanther Right Profile

German Tank Destroyer Sd.Kfz. 173 "Jagdpanther Ausf. G1"

Finished

AH-1G Cobra "US Marines/Navy"

Wing tip modifications after upper wing trimmed

Spitfire Mk.IXb Floatplane

11

P-40K-1/5 Warhawk 'Short Fuselage'

Masking installed

Spitfires, Naši se vracejí

Cockpit assembly

MiG-21bis Around the World (Limited Edition)

Roof tile detail

Freight Shed

Fuselage Interior Front

B-17E, F, and Early G: Part 1 - First Look and Interior

Hinge whoops - Note hinge mismatch, but this is easily fixed.

PBM-5A Mariner

Due to separate tail, sanding on the joint was required, and the tiny holes for the rudder actuator have been drilled out.

"Shidenkai no Maki" Kawanishi N1K2-J Shidenkai (George)

Previous Next

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.

IPMS/USA Members: We encourage you to submit reviews, both here and to the Journal. To volunteer for membership in the IPMS/USA "Reviewers Corps" and submit your own reviews, please read the Guidelines For Submitting Product Reviews.

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 John Noack, IPMS/USA 1st VP.

To learn more about IPMS/USA, please see our About Us page.

Package

Jeep Willys SAS, Part 2 – Engine & Chassis
Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
Agora Models
Scale
1/8
MSRP
$1,737.00

Agora Models Willis MB Jeep Engine

The SAS Jeep Engine from Agora is highly detailed and goes together easily. Parts of the engine are included in Packs 1 and 2. I counted 52 parts to the engine assembly, not including numerous screws used for construction. There will be many more parts added to the engine bay in later steps. Having all parts and screws packed separately for each step makes it easy to find the right part for each assembly step. Agora has recently switched to recyclable manila paper envelopes for the parts.

Instructions

Cover image

Cross & Cockade International: Autumn 2025
Book Author(s)
various authors contributed
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
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 publishes 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.

Product

Zero Landing Gear
Review Author
Chris Surber
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$23.00

Border Model added the A6M2 Zero to their 1/35 scale model aircraft collection in 2024. Now a white metal landing gear set has been developed by Scale Aircraft Conversions. This aftermarket set consists of four metal landing gear parts plus the dorsal antenna mast, an unexpected bonus.

The plastic main gear in the border kit builds up similar to the Tamiya 1/32 Zero, with included metal springs which replicate the hydraulic suspension of the life-sized aircraft. In the Border kit, five plastic parts plus the aforementioned spring are required for each main gear assembly.

While detailed and offering an action feature to the kit, this assembly may be judged by some modelers to be too complex and wobbly. The SAC gear set is composed of white metal molded as one piece and no provision is made for the action feature.

Cover

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, A Great and Terrible Program
Book Author(s)
Abraham Abrams
Review Author
Michael Furry
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$40.00

According to the blurb on the back cover, the F-35 was developed under the largest weapons program in history. After reading this book, I can probably agree that is true. In fact, you could add the words “most complex” and “relentless shortcomings” to the above description too.

This in-depth text looks at the F-35 program from a critical standpoint and reads more like a collegiate textbook or government briefing paper. The F-35 program is described in intense detail from its origins, technological trends that have influenced the development, testing, capabilities, global implications, deployment, and the future of the F-35. The text is arranged into eleven chapters, and each chapter is divided into multiple sections via headings.

Package

Metal Landing Gear for Tamiya 1/48 F35C
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$24.95

Once again IPMS/USA provides our thanks to Ross at SAC for providing us one of his gear sets to use and review!

This set provides the usual flexibility of softer metal that can be work-hardened if needed for a strong, reliable (and repairable) option for the kit plastic gear.

Consisting of 11 white metal parts, this gear provides strength where it is needed in holding up the model over time. Additional benefit: the builder can (carefully) bend the gear into position if there are issues with installation, (such as alignment of wheel axles for toe-in/camber), and repair (more on this later.