Image 12

USS Carl Vinson

9

Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark

Side Installed Left

Farmer's Cart

Cockpit

B-25J Mitchell 'Glass Nose' - Part 2

Photo 14

SB2C-4 Helldiver

Closeup of the gear.

Saab A32A Lansen

Starboard side top and aft view showing the narrow wingspan, the prominent engines, and the distinctive RAF markings

Gloster Meteor MK 4

Decals

"Q" Ship

P-51D Pre-Paint

P-51D Mustang

Finished, rear view

Renault London Taxi

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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.

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

Box Art

Pz IV F2 (G)
Review Author
Gary Telecsan
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$19.95

Dragon advertises that they squeeze 1/35th detail into 1/72nd scale – and I can testify that they do indeed! The Pz IV F2 was the first of the series to mount a long 75mm gun. Originally designed to carry the short 75mm in an infantry support role, the gun versus armor race in early WWII found the Germans up-gunning the Pz IV to meet the threat posed by heavier Allied tanks. The first Pz IV F2’s, called Mark IV Specials by the British, appeared in March 1942.

Front cover

F.A.Q.: Frequently Asked Questions about techniques used for constructing & painting aircraft
Book Author(s)
J.M.Villalba
Review Author
Bart Cusumano
Published on
Company
Andrea Press
MSRP
$52.95

(Editor’s note: The reviewed publication, published in 2008, has been superseded by “Frequently Asked Questions about Techniques used for Painting Aircraft”. Published in 2010 under the same ISBN Number 978-84-96658-18-9. Despite the slight change in title there is little or no difference according to Casemate.)

Continuing with the now familiar and highly respected F.A.Q series of how-to modeling books from Andrea Press, comes JM. Villalba’s “Frequently Asked Questions about Techniques Used for Constructing & Painting Aircraft”. The 159 page book comes to us in a perfect-bound soft cover, printed in full color (except for the chapter cover pages) in an 11 3/4” x 8 1/4” format.

Box Art

"Steel Navy", Vintage US Navy Warships: 1860s - 1900s (CD)
Book Author(s)
Ray D. Bean
Review Author
Rusty White
Published on
Company
Still Motions Photographics
MSRP
$27.00

I just received the new “Steel Navy”, Vintage US Navy Warships: 1860s – 1900s from Ray Bean. Ray has produced a ton of photo CDs that has helped any number of fellow ship modelers over the years. As a professional photographer, he has a very detailed eye for any photograph that goes out with his name attached. That eye for detail and photographic quality continues with this new photo CD.

The CD comes in a very sturdy envelope along with a full color jewel case insert and contains more than 300 high quality, high resolution images. It will take you at least two or three sittings to go through all of these images. Due to the time frame of the CD, all images are halftone which I expected. In fact, if any of them were “colorized”, I would have been very disappointed.

Box Art

Counterattack, Soviet Infantry, Summer 1941
Review Author
Greg Wise
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$17.95

WOW! These figures are top-notch, high quality beauties. The set comes in a printed end-opening box. On the front side you see a scene of a young Soviet officer leading his stumbling squad across an open wheat field while under artillery fire, very inspiring to say the least. On the reverse side you’ll find the instructions, sprue charts and a Vallejo color guide. A. Karaschuk did the colorful illustrations.

Inside the box you will find 2 sprues in a light shade of brown. Each figure comes with a selection of equipment, and some of them offer alternate heads, arms and weapons choices. Sculptor A. Gagarin is a true master of his art. The high quality soft plastic makes separating the parts a breeze. The majority of the figure parts follow the part numbers in sequence, making it easier to keep building each figure in a next up order.

Box Art

Panzerfahre Fahrendeck mit Gepanzerter Landwasserschlepper (Prototype Nr. 11.)
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$69.95

(Editor's note: This kit is from Dragon's "Smart Kit" line)

History and Performance

During their early offensive operation during WWII the Germans were faced with several river crossings. Taking bridges intact was always a goal, and when that was not available bridging units were brought to the front. The Wehrmacht did not have any true means of amphibious crossings on hand during the war. The Landwasserschlepper was the initial solution to the river crossed challenge.

The Landwasserschlepper was a large amphibious vehicle that carried troops or cargo internally. Several experiments were made with a barge that connected two of these vehicles together. The concept was eventually discarded mid-war as something that was no longer affordable. The vehicle modeled here is the prototype of the armored version.

The Kit

The kit is molded in the grey plastic typical of the current Dragon line.