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
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
November 13, 2020
Company
Werners Wings
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$45.00

I was given the opportunity to review the Eduard 1/32nd scale “Bf-109E over the Balkans Peninsula” and since I’d already built the Eduard kit I thought why not use it to build the V-13 Record Setter. Luckily for me, IPMS thought why not as well.

Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
February 20, 2012
Company
Zoukei-Mura
MSRP
$59.00

This is Zoukei-mura’s third publication for their SWS model kit range, this one concerning their excellent 1/32 A-1H model. As I write, I can’t recall any other similar publication from a kit manufacturer to complement their kits. The book is broken down into 4 chapters, with a foreword and an afterword section. The photos are some of the best I have ever seen in any publication and I am going to say I've never seen them displayed in any other book. Their quality and crispness is by far a step above many other publications.

The text is 50-50 Japanese and English. At first it was a little hard to read but, after a few minutes there was no problem.

Also included is a very nice decal sheet with data and stencils (only in the first edition for this book).

The Forward

The Forward section deals with the company’s concept to come up with a "Dream Wing" for their "Super Wing Series."

Review Author
Walt Fink
Published on
September 15, 2021
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$24.95

1955 was a milestone year for Chevrolet, with the introduction of an OHV V-8 and all-new styling, and a new wagon in the line – the Nomad 2-door hardtop. The follow-on 1956 Nomad had styling and trim more closely allied with the other cars in the Chevy line and had more pizzazz than the ’55, too.

Revell has re-issued the 1997 Monogram kit in its 2’n1 series, featuring additional customizing parts – wheels, chrome valve covers, alternator, low-profile tires, larger disc brakes, and chassis/suspension parts for the custom build, along with a nice decal sheet with lots of trim and flames.

Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
September 15, 2021
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$65.00

History

The Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C is a two-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter for all-weather, air-to-air, and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions, developed by Russia's Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. The Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family. The design plan was revamped and the name was made official by the Russian Defense Ministry in 1996.

While the original Su-27 had good range, it still did not have sufficient range for the Soviet Air Defense Forces, which needed to cover the vast expanse of the Soviet Union. The development began in 1986 on the Su-27PU, an improved-capability variant of the Su-27 capable of serving as a long-range interceptor or airborne command post. The two-seat Su-27UB combat trainer was selected as the basis for the Su-27PU, because it had the performance of a single-seat Su-27 and long-range missions require two crew members.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
December 18, 2021
Company
Kagero Publishing
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$11.00

These decals are first-rate from several perspectives.

First of all, they’re very well researched, and Kagero seems to have gone out of their way to do subjects which aren’t common among decal makers.

Second, the instructions are head and shoulders above anything I’ve seen as far as color instructions, decal placement instructions, and decal application instructions.

Third, the decals are by Cartograf of Italy, and they are the industry standard for color, registration and ease of application.

First, the subjects: