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.

Book Author(s)
Andrzej Glass
Review Author
Tomasz Menert
Published on
Company
Wydawnictwo STRATUS
MSRP
$9.95

This book offers a detailed development history of the PWS-10 fighter designed by Polish engineers from the Podlaska Aircraft Factory in 1928. The reader will find a brief development story of the plane and details about the aircraft’s design. The first prototype of the PWS-10 was flown in 1930.

There was a competing design of the PZL P.1 aircraft (later developed into the P.7, P.11, and P.24 fighters that soldiered during the WWII) in the process of development but required additional refinement. Facing a lack of a better alternative for a fighter plane at the time, the military authorities decided to go with the PWS-10. The PWS-10 did not have a good reputation among pilots due to its flying characteristics and being prone to catching fire. Nevertheless, it briefly served the needs of the young Polish Air Force.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$27.95

UMM-USA has provided the reviewer core with a riveting tool for 1/144th and 1/72nd scale models.

This is a single row rivet pounce wheel with a rivet pitch (distance between rivets) of 0.40 mm. Its main target use is for smaller scale models. The handle is made from a 3-D print and the filament is colored white and black. A yellow dot is colored into the handle and correlates to the size on the sheet packaging for 0.40 mm rivet pitch.

I used this tool on a 1/144th scale spare F/A-18 Hornet kit and quickly riveted on only the RHS. The look is to scale and adds more detail and interest versus the LHS that is not riveted.

Conclusions

This is a neat tool to have which will add more detail to your builds by adding fastener/rivet detail to the surface of your smaller scaled kit(s).

I want to thankUMM-USA for providing The Riveter Single Rivet Wheel and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Book Author(s)
Managing Editor: Mick Davis
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Cross & Cockade International
MSRP
$50.00

Cross & Cockade International is a non-profit UK based group known as the First World War Aviation Historical Society that publishes their journal four times a year. Issues are available as printed as well as digital copies (or both). They also provide a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front.

Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:24
MSRP
$74.00

ICM continues to bring us modern tooled kits of subject’s modelers really want. Produced from 1927 to 1932, the Ford Model A followed up on the success of the model T. Several body styles were mounted on a chassis powered by a four-cylinder 201 cubic inch engine making 40hp. Coupled with a three-speed manual transmission, the Model A was capable of speeds up to 65mph. Almost five million Models were sold in the US when production ended in 1932.

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$12.99

UMM-USA has provided the reviewer corps with a side cutting Sprue/Wire “ROUND” cutter. It is labeled “Round” because the cutting jaw is circular at the tip.

The cutter is made from hardened steel and the “tweezer-like action” allows for precise cutting to remove small parts from sprues with a flush cut which will reduce sanding at the attached point. Also, it has a tapered edge and will allow access in tight places for parts removal.

Reading the description on the website (UMM-USA.com), the cutter can also be used on resin, soft wires and photo-etch.

For my sample, I cut some parts from a current project on my hobby bench. As advertised it cuts well and very close to the edge. A little soft sanding may be needed to remove the remaining sprue attach nub but overall, a close cut at the surface. Its small size makes it a very handy tool to have resting next to your tweezers or sanding sticks and will not take up too much space.