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.

Box Art

Sea Vixen FAW.1
Review Author
Jack Kennedy
Published on
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$46.99

The De Haviland Sea Vixen is one of my favorite aircraft, mostly because it is so unusual looking. I am very happy that Dragon (Cyber Hobbies) has chosen to make a kit of this strange aircraft.

Dragon produced this kit in 126 parts in light grey plastic which is very brittle. I have built several Dragon Golden Wing series aircraft and I am always amazed at all the fine detail they put into their kits. This one is no exception.

Box Art

RMS Titanic - Centenary Anniversary Edition
Review Author
Robert Folden
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/400
MSRP
$199.00

Monday, April 15th, 1912 – While on her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, New York, the White Star ocean liner RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean as a result of striking an iceberg. The tragedy resulted in the loss of 1,517 lives and forever impacted the Ocean liner industry. Billed as the largest passenger ship in the world [at the time], the Olympic-class Titanic was referred to as “unsinkable” due to its compartmented sections and watertight doors. Design flaws, however, rendered these features useless. During the night of April 14th, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg along her starboard side, causing the rivets which held her steel hull plates to break. This opened the hull along multiple compartments, something the designers had not foreseen.

Cover

Panzer VOR! 6
Book Author(s)
Frank V. De Sisto
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Concord Publications Company
MSRP
$19.95

The latest installment of the Panzer VOR! Series (#6) concentrates on the balance between armor and firepower among the AFVs used by the German army in WWII.

Armored fighting vehicles need to have the proper balance between mobility, armor (protection), and firepower. Increasing or decreasing one would affect the other two. The book has a 3-page introduction on how the different parameters were modified during WWII for the Panzer I, II, III, IV, Panther, and Tiger tanks. It is clearly interesting to observe that with each mark (A,B,C, etc) there was an increase in fire-power and armor at the expense of mobility through the period 1939 to 1945.

The book also briefly covers the same “gun vs armor” equation for the allied forces, including the Sherman, Matilda, and T-34, among others.

Cover

Windsock Worldwide, Vol. 27, No. 6 - November/December 2011
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$11.00

Windsock Worldwide is considered to be the “gold standard” by many historians and modelers when the subject matter is World War I aviation, and this issue will not disappoint. This issue is designated by Albatros Productions as a “Special Collector’s Edition.” That designation is well deserved. This issue was expanded to 40 pages. The flyer inserted into this issue best summarizes the contents and reads, “Apart from the World exclusive reviews of the early and late version RAF Fe-2bs and Rumpler C.IVS, there is an extended, highly-detailed, 14 page build log of the early Fe-2b by editor Ray Rimell. This heavily-illustrated stage-by-stage guide also includes contemporary diagrams from the original Parts Schedule to aid modellers seeking extra documentation.

Box Art

M1078 LMTV Special Forces 'War Pig' Detail Set, Part 1
Review Author
Chris Durden
Published on
Company
Pro Art Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$58.99

“Cry ham hock! And let slip the hogs of war!” Okay, so I misquoted Shakespeare, but the sentiment is appropriate for the latest Pro Art Models release. As used by US Special Forces, the ‘War Pig’ is a cross between Pimp My Ride; Extreme Makeovers, and the Road Warrior. The War Pig is designed as a communication and supply vehicle for various small Special Forces vehicles deployed in the field. If that seems familiar, think of the LRDG trucks that served a similar support function for the SAS in the Western desert. Basically a chopped down LMTV, the trucks are fitted with a basic set of modifications and then turned over to individual units for final fitting out, depending on mission and the crew.

Designed to fit the Trumpeter base LMTV kit (#01004), the Pro Art Models conversion will provide the base modifications necessary to give you a War Pig sans equipment. Do not be fooled by the deceptively attractive box photo, as this kit gives you only the basics.