Masking installed

Spitfires, Naši se vracejí

Sprue 2

Avro Vulcan B.2

Suspension assembly

Semovente M42 da 75/18

Distressed doors

Shed with Wooden Fence

Finished

M119/L118 105mm Light Howitzer

Finished

Saab JA-37 Viggen

Sprue

Stone, Woods & Cook ’41 Willys

Chassis 2

Where Are the Damned Roads?

Sprue protection

VH-34D "Marine One" Helicopter

Mantle gaps

Su-76i

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Welcome to the IPMS/USA Reviews site!

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.

Packaging

Alpha Precision Abrasives Modeler's Introductory Package
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
July 14, 2011
Company
Alpha Precision Abrasives Inc.
MSRP
$6.99

Alpha Precision Abrasives is a manufacturer of industrial abrasives. It also has selection of abrasive tools for the hobbyist. Master Detail is packaging a selection of Alpha Precision Abrasives products into an introductory package. The package includes

  • 1/8-inch Sanding Files (100/180; 120/240 and 240/320 grit)
  • 3 Plastic Sanding Needles (150, 240 and 320 grit)
  • Micro Finish Cloth Abrasive Sheet (3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12,000)
  • Abrasive Cleaning Disk

The sanding files are really nice. They bend enough as to follow curved parts without damaging or deforming them, while still have enough ‘hardness’ as to get the sanding job done. You can clean them and re-use them several times (see below). They are color coded in each side for a different grid, however the 100/180 are both white, making difficult to know which grit is the one being used.

Kitset part (1-ea included)

NATO Standard Refueling Probe

Review Author
Mike Hinderliter
Published on
July 13, 2011
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$3.25

Editor: this part also comes in other scales. Check Master Model website.

This is the first time that I’ve used one of the turned brass after market pieces from Master Model. The piece that I’m reviewing is the NATO standard Refueling Probe. As their instructions state “NATO Standard refueling probe is the same in every NATO aircraft with air-to-air refueling system, but fitting is different for every aircraft”. The best part is that after that statement they provide 4 black and white photos showing how it should look.

Well I started looking through the stash for some kits that have an exposed refueling probe and I was starting to get a little disappointed at how many don’t have the option for the refueling probe out. Then I started looking for the aircraft that have them permanently out. I decided to install it on the British Buccaneer.

Decal set package cover

P-47 Best Selections Part 1
Review Author
John Yager
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.00

This latest release from Lifelike Decals decal sheet features two different P-47’s one of which is “Tarheel Hal”, the natural metal P-47D bubbletop flown by Lt. Ike Davis of the 366 FS, 358 FG in probably May 1945 at Sandhofen, Germany. The other P-47D, an OD and neutral gray razorback (not reviewed here) is “Lil LO” flown by Major Henry B. Kucheron of the 354 FS, 355 FG in early 1945 at Steeple Morden, England.

Box Art

F84E Thunderjet
Review Author
Ed Kinney
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$86.95

NOTE – In box review only…full build article to following in Journal

I don’t know about you folks, but it seems that every time I make the decision to undertake a major/difficult project, only because there are no alternatives available, someone else comes out with a beautiful kit of the subject and this was no exception.

Kitset contents

German Bordkanone 5cm
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
July 12, 2011
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

Oh where were you when I did a review of the Dragon Me-262 A-1a/U-4? Master Models has released a four part set to replace the large 5cm canon which was added to the Me-262 U-4 and also was part of the Me410 in one variant.

The set consists of a turned aluminum barrel, a turned aluminum barrel head and two brass parts. The brass parts are the end of the barrel which has a perforated tip and a cap. You place the cap on the end and add the parts together and drill a hole in the kit part and you're done. Couldn't be simpler.

The holes drilled in the business end of the barrel are a work or art. I included several pictures and borrowed one from the Master Models site to show size.

In summary, this has superb detail, a very reasonable price, will make sure you don't have sanding and fit issues with the kit parts and is easy. Most highly recommended. My thanks to Piotr and Iwona Czerkasow of Master Model, and IPMS/USA fo this review sample.