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.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
February 10, 2020
Company
Acrylicos Vallejo

Vallejo has introduced a series of eighteen metallic colors in their Metal Colors line. This also includes a glossy black primer and a gloss protective varnish. Each bottle is 32ml (1.08 ounces) and has an excellent pour dropper which is angled. MSRP is $10.99 per bottle.

The colors reviewed are:

Review Author
Bill O'Malley
Published on
October 17, 2016
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$5.23

This is a nice set of jerry can holders that can replace the usually over-scaled plastic holders on military vehicles. The photoetch comes on one small fret that is about 1 ½ in. x 1 5/8 in. Four holders are provided with the photoetch. Each holder consists of seven parts: the holder, four bolts, and two straps for the jerry cans.

The bolt heads are actually six-sided hexagons and are microscopic. I soldered the first bolt head into place, but the solder obscured the shape of the head. The subsequent bolt heads were glued into place with superglue, which worked much better.

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
October 17, 2016
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$10.31

Model Art Issue 950 is typical of other Model Art magazines in that it is written entirely in Japanese, with occasional English words, usually in article titles or in captions. The Model Art magazine is a monthly issue that has evolved from their first issues in 1966 that focuses on all modeling subjects. I’ve attempted to capture the contents below, but please be aware of translation difficulties. There are about 40 pages of advertising, out of the 160 pages, showing what is available and new, always useful for building up that wish list. Nearly all the articles are supported with color photos. A few of the ongoing series are supported with black and white drawings and photos

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
October 16, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$19.95

Eduard continues to bring out superb sets meant to help modelers detail kits. This set consists of 100 individual instruments meant for 1/32 WWII Luftwaffe planes. There are multiples of each instrument. The printing on the instruments is awesome and clear.

The instructions show the needed folds and the like. This set will require the modeler to research and determine which instrument goes where. These will let you replace or fabricate a new instrument panel easily. To test them, I sprayed a piece of styrene with RLM 66 paint. I then added the instruments and folded them. You’ll note in the pictures that I got a little heavy-handed with the glue. Once attached, I folded and glued the needed instruments flat. This gives them a nice three-dimensional look. Once glued, I flat-coated the instruments and then added a drop of Kristal Kleer to the instruments to look like the glass.

Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
October 14, 2016
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.95

This is a photoetch steel seatbelt set for the ICM Ju88A-4 which has no seatbelts and really needs them. This set is colored and also made of steel which means they are better for forming. They are very realistic and accurate and really make the cockpit stand out.

In the packet is:

  • 1 colored photoetch steel sheet
  • 1 instruction sheet

Summary

This is a fantastic set for the set for a kit that needs them.

Thanks go to Eduard for providing this set to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it for them.