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
Doug Hamilton
Published on
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Iliad Decals is a firm based in Canada that produces decals for many subjects in both 1/48 and 1/72 scales. Printing is nicely done with all colors in register and true. They’re traditional water slide configuration, are thin and look good.

The sheet carries markings for seven F-104s. All aircraft depicted are combat aircraft.. There are a variety of schemes worn by these warriors, so there is a nice selection of colors and nationalities present. There are three USAF birds, two of which that were flown in the Southeast Asia scheme that were based at Udorn Thailand in 1966-67 during the Viet Nam war and escorted F-105s into action. The third one is a sleek looking bird in white over ADC gray that has an interesting back story, with the pilot being held as a POW in China for about 8 years!!

Review Author
Will Kuhrt
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.95

Thank you to Phil and Bill for all that you do managing and providing review opportunities!

Recommended kit: 1/72 F-35B Lightning II STOVAL (1425) from Italeri

Reviewer’s Comments

This landing gear set from SAC is a direct replacement for the kit parts. The only exception being is that you will add some plastic kits parts to the nose landing gear. The white metal casting is superb as is usual for SAC. The kit consists of seven parts: a replacement cockpit tub and six landing gear parts.

Instructions are not provided, but they are not required as they are intended to be direct replacements for the kit parts. Only three pieces need to be removed from the pour runners, and these came off easily with a nipper.

Review Author
James Binder
Published on
Company
Zoukei-Mura
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$140.00

Part 3 of the 1/32 Nick build is the wings, painting, and final assembly

Construction of the wings began at the very beginning when the full span spar was added but now we’ll flesh them out. The first steps are adding the landing gear well walls and then the fuel tanks and aileron linkage rods. Then attach the lower wing panels. Make sure you drill out the holes in the bottom of each wing before doing so.

Review Author
Tim Hortman
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$53.99

The WWII Soviet T-34 is one of the most recognizable tanks out there. There is nothing about the T-34 that I can tell you that you probably don’t already know.

ICM’s newest release is something that you don’t see too often, and to my knowledge is the first time this variant has appeared in kit form. The ICM #35371 1/35 T-34 “Tyagach” Model 1944 Soviet Recovery Machine. This kit represents the ‘tractor’ version of the T-34 – made by replacing the turret of a damaged tank with a welded plug/hatch. These vehicles were used for towing and recovery operations during the World War II.

The kit comes in a nice study inner box with a hinged lid. The colorful box top comes off from that and has the typical printed information. Inside, this kit has six trees plus the upper and lower hull molded in green, one clear tree, four vinyl track parts, and two vinyl tow cables.

Book Author(s)
Ben Kite
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$44.95

Through Adversity is a detailed account of the British and commonwealth air war during the Second World War. The book covers every aspect from the RAF foundations to the Far east. It is written in a very engrossing way by providing all the facts interweaved with personal accounts.

The chapters cover the following:

  • Antecedents
  • Air Superiority
  • Strike
  • The Air War at Sea

The book is full of extremely good and rare photos that were another highlight for me. I read this book over three nights as it pulled me in and was very informative. This book impressed me from the moment I flicked through the pages when I got it. I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in WWII and the Air War.

Thanks go to Casemate Publishing for providing this book to review and IPMS USA for allowing me to review it.