Engine Assembly

P.K.H. Nutcracker "Kampfgruppe BALCK"

Completed Build

"Danger! Mines!" Ukraine, Summer 2022

front view of 5cm gun

Pz.sfl.Ia – 5cm Pak auf VK3.02

Left Side

Marder I 7.5cm Pak.40/1 auf Gw.Lr.s.(f) Sd.Kfz.135

EVS & FLIR Pods

B-52G Stratofortress "Gulf War" 25th Anniversary

Aft engine detail

Do335 A-0 Pfeil - Fuselage and Wing Build, Part 2

Completed Kit Top

Horten Ho 229

6

M2A1 1940 Medium Tank

Assembled Starboard Side

Hurricane Mk.IIC

Nose

F-14A Tomcat

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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.

Box top

USN Barracuda-class Submarine
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
Company
OKB Grigorov
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$35.41

One of the latest items provided to the IPMS-USA Review Corps by OKB Grigorov was this 1/350-scale submarine representing the Barracuda-class of submarines developed after WWII. The boat is 3D printed and is under the Trimotium Historic Miniatures name within the OKB Grigorov company that comes from Bulgaria. The kit contains a total of ten pieces and should not present too much challenge to any modeler familiar with working with either resin or 3D printed kits.

Front of Package

PE/Resin Set for M5A1 Stuart (Tamiya)
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Hauler
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.94

Tamiya kits are known for their ease of building and detail. There are some tradeoffs that come with that philosophy, particularly with engine screens and other small metal parts on the real vehicle. While the base Tamiya kit is great out of the box, there is always room for more detail, and this Hauler kit does not disappoint.

This PE set fills that void and takes the Tamiya 1/48 M5A1 Stuart (Kit No. 32606) to the next level. This set includes two PE frets (A (1 5/8” x 2 ¼”) containing the M1919 MG mount, ammo can, periscope cages, spare track hangers, light guards, grab handles, etc.; and B (1 3/16” x 1 5/16”) containing the four engine screens and tool tie downs, and a resin sprue with onboard tools and M2 HMG.

Cover

P-51 Mustang Part 2: XP-51B through P-51C
Book Author(s)
Bert Kenzey and Haagen Klaus
Review Author
David Horn
Published on
Company
Detail & Scale, Inc.
MSRP
$21.99

Detail & Scale Aviation publications have set the standard for aircraft reference books since 1978. This Paperback publication is 102 pages with B&W and full color, close up detail and “in action” images. Some of these books are also offered in Apple and Kindle digital versions.

The book starts out with the developmental & operational history of the Packard-Merlin powered Mustangs. This section has plenty of photos along with five-view drawings indicating features of the B & C model Mustangs and detailed aircraft measurements. This section is followed by Mustang variants to include P-51B, C, F-6C and Mustang III.

The next sections start off with a gallery of early Merlin mustangs with a mix of B&W and color photos.

Decal Examples

Rafale Export Versions, Part 1 Egypt, Qatar, India Airforces, Part 2 Hellenic Air Force
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Syhart Decal
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.50

Frenchman Sylvain Hautier founded Syhart Decals (SY (Sylvain) HA (Hautier) , ART (design)) in 2006 with the aim of recreating in model form the special aircraft paint schemes that have been developed to celebrate anniversaries, participate in Tiger Meets, and for last flights. He also issues decals for regular schemes for lesser-known and unusual air forces for kits that offer limited decal options.

An example is the 1/48 Rafale C, with the kit issued by Revell offering limited choices. Sylvain’s answer was to release several decal sheets for various air forces, and these two sheets give the modeler four choices between them.

ICM Confession Before the Flight

Confession Before the Flight
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$105.99

ICM has released this kit, which uses the older release American Made truck G7117, now with the addition of the Mobile Field Chapel, figures and accessories. Such chapels were used by British Army Chaplains to perform their duties in all theaters of war. The kit contains:

  • Nine grey Sprues
  • Two clear sprues
  • One Decal sheet
  • One instruction guide

The detail quality is excellent in every way with this kit -- crisp and detailed molding has become the norm for the latest ICM kits.

The assembly is quick and easy as we have come to expect from these kits. It was seamless in every way, so I will not spend time writing about each stage. Instead, here are just a few points and comments.