Completed 3

HMS Warspite, 1915 – complete build

Above-rear

Gloster Gladiator, Limited Edition

Finished

Messerschmitt Bf109E Sept. 1940

Rear view

Laffly V15T WWII French Artillery Towing Vehicle

Finished Model - Left Side

USAF KC-135E

Completed 2

Horch 108 Typ 40

Interior on Chassis

2013 Camaro ZL1

Decals

J-15 Chinese Navy – Limited Edition

Bride sub-assemblies

The Bride of Frankenstein

Finished Kit

US Army Field Kitchen

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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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Parts Package

PV-1 Diamond Pattern Wheels with Hubs
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Lone Star Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.00

Thank you, Lone Star Models, for providing a very timely improvement to an excellent recent kit release. Thank you IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps for once again allowing me to evaluate a cool new product!

This product replaces the Revell PV-1 main mount tires and wheels. The product is cast in tan resin, with no mold parting seam lines to be removed. This eliminated the need to rescribe the tread patterns, a common task when gluing together injection molded- wheel halves. The pour plug is in a great place, with minimal sanding required. The pour plug flat spot is eliminated by placing it on the ground contact point! The diamond tire tread detail is much more visible and realistic looking than the kit parts, as is the wheel and hub detailing. The axle holes needed to be deepened a bit to sit correctly on the mounts, but that was a very quick and minor fix.

Detail Part

PV-1 Closed Bomb Bay Doors
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Lone Star Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.00

Thank you, Lone Star Models, for providing a very timely improvement to an excellent recent kit release. Thank you, IPMS/USA Reviewer Corps, for once again allowing me to evaluate a cool new product!

If you wish to build the Revell PV-1 with a closed bomb bay, this conversion part is well worth the time and money. The part is cast in tan resin with minor flash and a couple of insignificant casting marks. It is a single part replacing the accordion folding bomb bay doors included with the kit. The kit doors are excellent, if you choose to build the model with the bay open. However, if you attempt to glue the kit parts in the closed position, you may discover some interesting fit issues. Using the Lone Star closed bomb bay part reduces the fit problems significantly. The part does require some trimming and fitting. It is critical to omit the bomb bay bulkhead (part 126). Otherwise, the closed bay piece will not come close to fitting.

Detail Package

MiG-21SMT Photo Etch Upgrade
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$19.95

Eduard has released a photoetch exterior and interior upgrade for their new 1/144 MiG-21SMT. I’ve reviewed the kit separately.

The Kit

Inside the envelope, you get a 2 ½ by 3 inch PE fret, cockpit and canopy detail decals, and the instruction sheet. There are enough parts on the PE to do one of the two MiGs in the kit, and some “extras” which could be used on the second aircraft, such as the two different sets of chocks or the tailpipe interior which doesn’t need to be installed if you’re using the exhaust cover.

Box Art

MiG-21SMT Dual Combo
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$22.95

This is the third of three reviews of the new Eduard 1/144 MiG-21s. The aircraft here is the MiG-21SMT, the “home grown” MiG. Other versions were for export, but the SMT was the one the Soviets kept for themselves.

The MiG-21 in its various forms has been around for a really long time, entering service in 1959, and it’s still in service. The early versions are considered second generation fighters, but the newer versions, such as the MF, SMT and bis are third generation. That big added hump on the fuselage and upgraded avionics/electronics bring the MiG-21 into the third generation. The SMT has the biggest hump of the three.

The Kit

You get two of every part, with an extra canopy for each one. You also get a pair of Eduard masks for the kit(s). Five different MiGs could be built from the decals, all Soviet, although one was based in Poland. As a change of pace, I decided to build the all-silver one.

Parts Packaging

IJN Chokai Railings and Details
Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$32.95
  • Railings -- Stock # 53054, $32.95
  • Details -- Stock # 53055, $49.95

Having made a variety of generic PE sets for 1/700 and 1/350 scale ship kits, Eduard is now providing us with dedicated complete sets for specific ships. These two sets will provide complete (or nearly complete) coverage of the Aoshima Chokai, and probably for the Fujimi Chokai as well. The set is labeled for the “1944” version of the ship, so check your references carefully if you hope to use it for an earlier version of the vessel. She underwent several refits during her lifetime that altered her structure or equipment significantly. The same goes for attempts to use it on other ships of the class (especially Takao or Atago). Both of these ships received refits that changed them markedly from Chokai. However, chances are that the majority of the parts in these sets will be useful on any version of these vessels.