16

M1 IP Abrams MBT

Front

Spitfire Mk. IXc

Completed model of SA-11

Russian 9K37M1 BUK

Interior 2

Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka K1 KAI Model 43 "Two Seats"

Tank and tail sprues

P-51 Mustang w/Rocket Tubes

Gear well

Arado Ar 234B-2/S3

3

Convair B-36D/F/H/J Peacemaker

Front deck

M109A7 Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzer

Cannon loading section and side detail

M65 "Atomic Annie" Gun with Transporters

Cockpit parts

F-4B Phantom, Part 1 - Wow!

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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.

Detail Parts

P-51 Mustang Wheels, Radial Tread
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Ultracast
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.95

The P-51 has so many options that it is hard to keep up with them all. The wheels are one area where you can have diamond, cross hatch, smooth, and radial tread. Don’t worry, Ultracast has them all in their product line.

Just like the rest of the Ultracast wheels, this set has exquisite detail throughout. Some may go unnoticed, such as the valve stem for adding air to the tire. The radial tread is perfectly proportioned and looks fabulous. When I think of radial tread, I tend to think of modern airplane wheels, so if you are going to do a post-war modern warbird, these wheels are essential.

Highly recommended.

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

Box Art

Head for the Huey Diorama
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Box Ltd
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$12.99

The latest boxing from the Czech company Master Box is a little diorama in a box. It tells the story of a Special Forces team heading back to the Huey from combat with a wounded comrade. This model just speaks Vietnam.

Molded on two sprues of tan plastic, this model has 131 intricate pieces that build up into five figures. The main characters are three soldiers, one wounded, all hobbling back from combat. The other two are covering the withdrawal. The parts are the best that plastic can do. The faces are a little soft but certainly acceptable and will benefit from good painting. The clothing is tiger-striped but could easily be olive drab. The equipment is nicely done, especially the rifles and grenade launchers. The packs and framework are particularly nicely done.

Box Art

F-14 Tomcat Air Intake Covers
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

OK this is the neatest set I’ve seen in a while. You are treated to two intake covers, eight grab handles, and a decal sheet. A decal sheet? Yes printed in white lettering you can customize your cover with the squadron designation. I count over ten units before my eyes went buggy. That is a real neat treat.

The intake covers and handles are molded perfectly in light olive resin. The decal sheet has a protective cover that covers the 2.5 x 3.5 water slide decal sheet. Simply assemble the grab handles to the covers. Paint red. And then add the unit decals. You can weather them as you see fit. The real things are plastic and can get abused.

This is a great way to hide the seam on the intake trunking. Another great product from Quickboost.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Aires and IPMS/USA for the review copy. You can obtain yours by contacting www.quickboost.net or your local hobby shop or online retailer.

Box Art

F-100 Super Sabre Speed Brake – Late Version
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.50

The F-100 is an impressive model. I’ve built the 1/32nd scale F-100 from Trumpeter and I have to tell you that I enjoyed the entire build. I enjoyed it so much that I went out and bought all three versions of the 1/48th scale kit. It is the F-100D and F-100F that this set is designed for.

The later style speed brake had a cut out to allow its use with drop tanks and ordanence on the center line. This set is so easy to use that you would think it would be a Quickboost product. There is no cutting required. Just substitute the resin insert for the kit ones.

Box Art

P-40M/N Warhawk Exhaust-Fishtail
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

I love Hasegawas P-40s. I’ve built two of them and once you get over the segmented construction they are beautiful models. One extra thing to bring them to life is the exhausts. They are very prominent on the nose of the P-40, especially with the fishtail type.

Quickboost takes care of that for us modelers. What they have done is combine the three parts, two exhaust stubs and the base piece, into a single part. This will ensure that the exhaust stacks are aligned. Something that was a little difficult the way Hasegawa manufactured them. The only thing you have to be careful is that you remove them and don’t mix them up. There are right and left exhaust stacks.

The stacks are on six pieces of perfectly formed light grey resin with hollowed ends and the appropriate weld seams. Absolutely gorgeous.

Highly recommended

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