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
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$56.50

If you haven’t built the Zvezda Bf-109F you have missed out on a real treat. It contains an exceptional amount of detail, including an exposed engine, with extraordinary fit. Sure there are some things that could be better.

One thing that you will notice is that the ailerons only has texture on one side. Not a real big deal but something that they probably should have caught. The other thing is the shape of the engine air intake which is slightly off. Quickboost has fixed both problems with this set.

The three resin pieces are molded in light grey resin and are perfectly formed. The intake is very thin and will look great. Adding the parts is really easy. Just remove them from the pour block and add them.

This is not the first set that Quickboost has offered for the Zvezda kit, but it is the most important. They also offer the fuel injector and exhausts.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$6.50

Quickboost is known for its quick, easy and very well done add-ons to kits. The set reviewed here is a set of six air scoops present on the Trumpeter 1/32 MiG-21 series.

One problem with a lot of kits is that the many of the cooling, air, etc. scoops come in two pieces. To get them correct, you need to glue them together and then sand both the inside and outside for a good fit. On this MiG kit, there are six such scoops. Quickboost has a great time saving idea. They have all of the scoops with a nice recessed depth and no seams. You simply remove the scoops, a light sanding to remove the seam and make it fit and glue in place. It provides the correct cross section for the opening- no worrying about sanding a seam flat. Also, there are no problems on the inside as they are good also.

Book Author(s)
Various
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Air Modeller
MSRP
$14.95

I have loved these magazines since they first arrived. Great photography mixed with great builds. This issue is no exception and has feature articles on:

  • Trumpeter 1/48 Wellington
  • Revell 1/32 Red Arrows Hawk
  • Hasegawa 1/32 Bf109 G-10 Conversion
  • Trumpeter 1/24 Hawker Hurricane Mk. 1
  • Photo Report on AMAC 35 model Show
  • New Product Reviews
  • Llama Models 1/48 FMA Pucara

As an example, the Wellington build is an example of what can be done with photoetch parts as Zbenek Sebesta use Eduard photoetch on the exterior, bomb bays, interior, cockpit, flaps and engines. He uses resin on the Quickboost exhausts, guns and flaps. Griffon parts are used on the wheels and flaps. Various parts were also used from Pavla, Tally-Ho and Rob Taurus. Details pictures show the assembly of these parts and he uses them seamlessly to enhance the detail all around. The final shots are breathtaking.

Review Author
Keenan Chittester
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.95

This set from Scale Aircraft Conversions is designed for the new 1/48 F6F Hellcat kits from Hobby Boss. There are nine beautifully cast metal parts in the set, and the quality is an improvement over the kit parts. Not that the kit parts are bad, but these SAC parts are very nicely done. As usual, there are no instructions provided, but since the metal parts are direct replacements for the plastic parts, it should be no problem for the average modeler to figure out where everything goes. As you probably already know, cyanoacrylate (CA) glue must be used on these parts.

There are very slight mold seams on the metal parts which will require cleanup, but you would have to do that with the kit parts anyway. I test fitted the main gear leg in the hole provided in the upper wing of the kit, and the fit was snug and solid. This set contains some very small and delicate parts and care will need to be taken when handling them.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$54.99

The Hasegawa FW-190 series of models is a very nice series without all the bells and whistles of the Eduard kits and not nearly as expensive as the Trimaster versions. The latest release covers another of Hermann Graf’s aircraft, WkNr. 2594, flown as the Kommandeur of Jagd-Ergazungsgruppe-Ost in France 1943. This particular aircraft is unique in its markings and in its supercharger intakes. I think this is the most colorful machine that Graf flew. The yellow nose with red chevrons with white outlines and RLM 76 cowl ring makes it stand out. If that isn’t enough the same motif is used on the tail and contains red lightning bolts on both sides making this a very unique and colorful aircraft.