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
July 11, 2011
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.00

Aerobonus is a new sub-division of Aires that seems to concentrate on the armament of former Soviet Union aircraft. This set contains two rocket pods cast in light grey resin that are perfectly formed with no blemishes or bubbles anywhere. The rocket pods are easy enough to assemble as there are only two pieces to each pod, the front and aerodynamic rear fairing.

Also included are decals for the stenciling and alignment of the sections. The decals are nicely printed and are easy enough to add.

The modeler just needs to add pins to the holes in the mounting lugs and drill a corresponding hole in the model. Painting is easy enough, aluminum with steel for the tubes.

This type of rocket pod was used on the Su-7, Mig-21 and the Mi-8. So you can update your OEM Su-7 or Eduard or Academy Mig-21 or the Hobby Boss Mi-8.

Simple and very effective. You can now change the armament on your Soviet built aircraft without having to rob another kit.

Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
July 11, 2011
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.00

Aerobonus’ latest release is the ‘big’ rocket pod used on a variety of aircraft. For me this rocket pod usually mounted on the Mi-24 Hind helicopter. It was also used on the Mig-21, Mig-23, Mig-27, and Mi-8/17.

Perfectly cast in light grey resin, with no bubbles or imperfections, these rocket pods are beautiful. The tip and the openings are beautiful renderings. The pods are cast in two pieces, the nose cone/center section and the exhaust fairings. Cutting them off and attaching them is easy enough.

Decals are provided for the stencils, alignment marks and the serial number on the side of the pods. The instructions show where they would go.

Painting them is easy, aluminum. Attaching them is easy enough just add pins in the mount lugs and then attach them to the model.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
July 11, 2011
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$24.95

Eduard has put together a bunch of German Radios in 1/35 scale which are very detailed, right down to the tiniest handles and each radio can be made to sit alone as is or have straps supplied to each unit so that it can be attached to a figure to make the figure appear to be actually carrying the radio. Small headphones which attach to each radio by a wire (which you will have to supply) add even more realism. Eduard has painted them in such a way as to depict them as being “well handled”. The detail is so precise and clear which meets their usual standards. There are nine radios all together (some are doubles) and each one is better than the next. Everything is included to make different variations on each one, so the variations are limitless.

Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
July 11, 2011
Company
Minicraft Model Kits
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$36.95

The Aircraft

If you’ve never seen a C-130, and never had a ride in a Herk, you’ve probably been living under a rock somewhere. There are more than 40 variants, serving in 60 countries. The C-130 has been in service with the US Air Force for over 50 years, albeit with several different models and many improvements along the way.

Review Author
Roger Carrano
Published on
July 11, 2011
Company
Afterburner Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.00

The company, Afterburners Decals, deals with mostly 1/48 decals and has many different sets of which most are of the newer and modern jets, although there are a few sets which contain decals for weapons and missiles. There are only three sets of decals in the 1/32 scale. In the past there weren’t many modelers building in 1/32 scale so the demand for decals in this scale wasn’t large enough to justify the need to produce them. But now, since there are many more modelers building kits in the 1/32 scale range, it stands to reason that the amount of kits sold in that scale are increasing as well, so Afterburner Decals have decided to try supplying the large scale decals again. If this works out, Afterburner will be making more sets for the large scale builders.