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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Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$20.95

The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow) was a heavy fighter built in later World War II. It was a unique twin engine design with its push-pull configuration and the lower aerodynamic drag of the in-line alignment of the two engines, and it was considered one of the fastest piston-engined aircraft ever flown.

Sources differ, but only 37 to 48 Do 335s were built and none were known to have flown in combat. The Do 335B-2 was to be a heavily armed Zerstorer (destroyer) with its main feature being two wing mounted 30 mm Mk 103 cannons contained in special fairings with 70 rounds per gun in addition to the normal engine mounted Mk 103 and two 20 mm MG 151/20s in the nose cowl. Due to the increased weight, the B series also standardized on larger tires which required the nose wheel to rotate 45o for stowage during retraction, and an armored windscreen. Less than five Do 335B-2s were in production at the end of the war.

Book Author(s)
Michael John Claringbould
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Avonmore Books
MSRP
$43.00

In his extensive series of earlier works, Pacific Profiles and Pacific Adversaries, covering the air war over the southwest Pacific, author/illustrator Michael John Claringbould has described the operations of specific fighter, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft as flown by their particular unit, or specific conflicts between individual pilots and aircraft. In this latest series he ties these operations together in a chronological history of the Japanese Air Army (JAAF) in the New Guinea and Solomon Islands theatres.

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$22.00

A standard S-64 helicopter crew consists of two or three members. The pilot-in-command (seated on the left) flies the helicopter and operates the water discharge system in fire-fighting operations. The copilot, seated on the right, assists the command pilot and can relieve the pilot if necessary. When required for lifting operations, a third crew member equipped with a complete set of flight controls occupies the rear station. The operator maintains direct visual contact of lifting operations through a rear-facing canopy.

This ICM kit includes three figures, pilot, copilot, and engineer or crane operator. Molded in light gray plastic, the parts have good detail, but it is a little soft. Each of the figures have different expressions on their faces. The figures are molded with separate legs, torso, arms, and head. There are mold seams and sprue nubs that will need to be cleaned up.

Book Author(s)
Tony Butler
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Crecy Publishing, Ltd.
MSRP
$45.00

Established in 1997, Crécy Publishing is one of Europe’s leading publishers of transport and military history titles. We have a strong emphasis on aviation titles and, since the acquisition of the Ian Allan Publishing list, we are also the world’s leading railway book publisher. Starting with the publication of a single book, our company has grown through a mixture of organic growth and the acquisition of quality publishing lists. Today, Crécy Publishing imprints include ABC guides, Classic, Goodall, Hikoki Publications, OPC (Oxford Publishing Company) Pilot’s Notes. Imprints we have absorbed into our list include Air Data, Flight Recorder, Ian Allan, Noodle Books and Nostalgia Road. Crécy Publishing Ltd. Books are distributed in North America by Casemate Publications. Check out their Facebook page for additional information.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Squadron Products
MSRP
$3.89

Originally founded in 1968, Squadron/Squadron Signal/MMD is back in business again after bankruptcy and are now based out of Ringgold, Georgia. Their web page was re-activated in January 2022 for plastic kits. A retail store was opened in 2025 at their Ringgold address and is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. They have invited The Chattanooga Scale Modelers Club to meet at their warehouse, which occurs on the third Monday of the month. If you can’t make it, be sure to check out their YouTube channel where Brandon and guests are live every Wednesday night. Brandon Lowe and his father, Russ Lowe, re-acquired the Squadron Tools Product Line and are now marketing them once again.