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
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.00

This 1/48 scale decal set, available from Iliad Design, provides markings options for 5 different BF-110’s. They cover 5 variants from a day, night and desert fighter. Of particular interest is a 110 that was specially painted, designed and equipped as the personal fighter of Rudolf Hess when he flew to Scotland.

The five options are:

Book Author(s)
Dariusz Karnas, Artur Juszczak
Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$16.00

One of the most revered World War Two fighters, Republic’s P-47 has long been popular with kit manufacturers and modelers alike. If you favor this machine in its P-47C/D ‘Razorback’ format, Mushroom Model Publishing’s first new book in the Colour & Scale series may be only 16 pages but will have huge appeal in terms of reference… and in directing possible streams of thought concerning potential Colour schemes on your builds.

Pages 1-3 are dedicated to side views of all variants along with upper and lower drawings in 1/72nd scale, while pages 4-6 are dedicated to side views of all variants along with upper and lower drawings in 1/48th scale.

Pages 8-15 cover the camo/paint and nose art of 14 pilots who flew the Jugg. After careful research, I can also tell you that there are aftermarket decals available for all the following pilots or Squadrons.

Book Author(s)
Daniel Taylor
Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$52.95

The book comes in three distinct sections - the first is an in-depth analysis of the German "Westwall" defense system built between 1936 and 1944. This includes the build phases, the organization of the workforce and the political background.

The second section looks at the Allied campaign to overcome the defenses of the Siegfried Line through the winter of 1944/45, focusing on three major operations by the US, British and Canadian armies.

The third section deals with the perception of the Westwall in the eighty years since the war and then outlines a battlefield tour guide of those elements that still survive.

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$50.00

Arma Hobby is a new company to me, so I jumped at the chance to build and review one of their new Hurricanes, the MKIIc. In the box you get 4 plastic sprues (one clear), canopy masks and a decal sheet.

Construction starts with the wheel well and continues with the cockpit seat. Then you are guided to kind of cram the wheel well between the upper and lower wing parts and to assemble the rest of the cockpit. There are little slots for the wheel well to kinda slide the part on top, be sure you get that part aligned just right, or you will have trouble with the cockpit and closing the fuselage halves later.

Review Author
Robert Head
Published on
Company
AOA Decals
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$24.99

Another large and informative decal set from AOA yet again with a wonderful decal set for Naval Search and Rescue birds for the US Navy H-60 Seahawk/Knighthawk family that covers, MH-60S helicopter family.

This 1/35th scale decal sheet Search and Rescue bird covers the following squadrons for the Kitty Hawk family of kits (now owned by Zimi models in China):

MH-60S

  • HSC-2 Fleet Angel
  • NAS Patuxent River
  • NAS Patuxent River Option #2
  • NAS Fallon
  • NAS Fallon Option #2
  • NAS Whidbey Island
  • NAS Lemoore
  • NAS Key West
  • NAS China Lake

In the Package

There are a total of 2 decal sheets provided that have been printed by Microscale Industries. 9 versions of Search and Rescue birds are in this set! The main sheets provide bureau numbers, navy, and special markings. The second sheet has air frame data and stencil markings in low-viz.