Finished 8

I-16 Type 10 WWII China Guomindang AF Fighter

Right front

McDonnell Douglas FG.1 Phantom

Details

AH-1G Cobra "US Marines/Navy"

HE-51A 1936

Biplanes of the 1930s and 1940s (Не-51A-1, Ki-10-II, U-2/Po-2VS)

Underside

Short Sunderland Mk. I

Image 11

F6F-5D/K Hellcat "Target Drone"

Gloster 21

Gloster Gladiator Mk.1

Fuselage paneling details

B-17G First Impressions

Figure Finished Side

RAF Pilot (1960’s)

Final Picture

Panzerkampfwagen VI(P) w/Zimmerit

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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.

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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.

AOA Intruder Redux Decals

Intruder Sandbox Redux
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$20.00

AOA Decals has released a decal sheet (#48022) that updates and supersedes their own #48-007 sheet covering A-6 TRAM Intruders during Operation Prairie Fire (Libya, 1986) and Desert Storm (Iraq, 1991), including markings for five aircraft in the Libya strikes and four aircraft in the Iraq strikes.

Provided markings are:

  • VA-34 Blue Blasters, based on the USS America, for the Libya strikes (1986)
  • VA-55 Warhorses, based on the USS Coral Sea, for the Libya strikes (1986)
  • VA-85 Black Falcons, based on the USS Saratoga, for the Libya strikes (1986)
  • VA-35 Black Panthers – based on the USS Saratoga, for the Iraq strikes (1991)
  • VMA(AW)-533 Hawks – based at Sheikh Isa base (Bahrain), for the Iraq strikes (1991)

All the aircraft are in low-viz camouflage with the main difference among them being the squadron markings and any individual marking for the airframe.

Box Art

G7101 in German Service with Infantry
Review Author
Chris Martin
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:35
MSRP
$69.99

Summary

This is a re-boxing of the earlier G7107 1½-ton truck. That kit was reviewed in December 2021 by Mr. Phillip Cavender. I used Mr. Cavender’s review as a “heads-up” for any issues. From reading his review ICM has changed the assembly sequence with this re-boxing. Mr. Cavender noted that the engine is assembled in steps 20-28 after the axles are attached to the frame (steps 16-19). In the current instruction sheet the engine is assembled first (in steps 16-25) and the axles attached after that (steps 26-45).

The only difference with this set is that a new bag with three sprues to create four infantry figures with equipment.

Background

The following is excerpted from the instruction sheet.

HobbyBoss JMSDF

JMSDF Harushio Class Submarine
Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1:700
MSRP
$10.99

Upfront, I want to upfront thank Hobby Boss for producing this kit and MRC for providing it for a review sample. Likewise, I would like to extend to the IPMS/USA a big thank you for allowing me to review the Hobby Boss JMSDF Harushio class submarine.

Background

JS Harushio was laid down at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe Shipyard on 21 April, 1987 as the 1986 plan 2400-ton submarine No. 8098 and it was launched on 26 July, 1989. She was commissioned on 30 November 1990 and homeported in Kure. She belonged to the 5th Submarine of the 1st Submarine Group.

F4U Box Art

F4U1A/2 Corsair

Review Author
Bob LaBouy
Published on
Company
Magic Factory
Scale
1:48
MSRP
$73.00

Overall Evaluation

‘Move over, there’s a new sheriff in town’ – at least as quarter scale Corsairs are concerned. As I have built this F4U-2 kit, I am overjoyed with the kit’s attention to details and overall accuracy. As I previously said: Almost any way you slice it, this is a beautiful kit! And, for the price, you receive two beautiful Corsair kits. These kits are highly recommended both for newer builders interested in the Corsair as well as those who felt the best such kit was the other Japanese company. Now we have a higher bar and it’s a great set of Corsairs.

Now, as for the review itself-

A Very Brief History the Corsair [from manufacturer’s website]

F4U Corsair is a famous carrier-based fighter aircraft deployed by U.S. Navy in WWII. With the first prototype manufactured in 1940 and final variant produced in 1953, it has the longest production run of any U.S. piston-engine fighters.

Cover Arab-Istaeli War of Attrition

The Arab-Israeli War of Attrition, 1967-1973. Volume 1: Aftermath of the Six-Day War, Renewed Combat, West Bank Insurgency and Air Forces
Book Author(s)
Bill Norton
Review Author
Marc K. Blackburn
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Helion has added another volume in their on-going series of modern conflicts in the Middle East. This is the first of a projected three volumes covering the War of Attrition between Israel and its Arab neighbors between the end of the Six Day War in 1967 and the beginning of the Yom Kippur War in 1973. If you have read any of Helion’s books on modern conflicts, this book follows a familiar outline. There are seven chapters providing a broad international context for the war. Events are outlined with an in-depth focus of the forces available with particular attention to the air forces of the various powers. It is richly illustrated with mostly black and white photographs contemporary to the conflict. In the center you will find color profiles of Israeli and Arab armies' ground and air equipment. The book finishes with an extensive bibliography of related works.