Welcome to IPMS/USA Reviews

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.

Book Author(s)
N/A
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$19.95

Kagero has started a new series known as “References for Modelers”. This fifth issue is devoted to the Dewoitine D.520 C1. In particular, it covers both the early and late versions of this aircraft.

The references include a few period pictures (black and white) and covers mostly the French service, but there is one picture of the aircraft in Italian markings. There are a handful of color profiles (and 4-view images in some cases) for French service (1940) and two color profiles in Bulgarian markings, one during WW2 and another that is post-war.

The line drawings in 1/48 and 1/72 scale show side views (port and starboard) as well as top and bottom views. The drawings specify if it corresponds to an early or late aircraft, and a brief description of what the differences are (propeller type). The booklet includes a small decal sheet (in 1/48 and 1/72) for a D.520 in French Service during the 1940 campaign.

Book Author(s)
Bill Norton
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

Air-to-air missiles (AAMs) are a part of almost every tactical aircraft and some helicopters these days. If you’re anything like me, they tend to be part of the finishing bits we grind through at the end of a build. Perhaps a deeper understanding of these weapons and their integral connection to the aircraft we build will make finishing those missiles a bit easier. This is the first of six volumes dedicated to the history of air-to-air missiles (AAM). In this first volume, the author, Bill Norton, a former Air Force officer and flight test engineer with 40 years of experience, introduces us to a comprehensive history—in six volumes of these weapons.

Book Author(s)
N/A
Review Author
James Kelley
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$14.50

References for Modelers 19: Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat by Kagero Publishing is a specialized reference book aimed at scale modelers and aviation enthusiasts. It provides detailed visual references, photographs, and technical information about the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat, a prominent World War II U.S. Navy fighter aircraft.

References for Modelers 19: Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat includes:

Review Author
Phil Peterson
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$22.00

The Tamiya F-35 kits are some of the best in any scale so it is not unusual to see aftermarket companies produce parts to try and improve them. In this case, Aires has created a replacement set for the F-35A exhaust nozzle.

The Tamiya kit parts are really nice, so what does Aires offer to make you spend a bit more modeling money? Let’s take a look.

The set includes 3 resin parts, which are almost a direct drop-in replacement for the 4 parts Tamiya molded. The instructions indicate where you need to cut to remove the parts from the supports. You do have to trim a small bit off of kit part A5, but that is easily accomplished.

The resin parts are easily removed from the resin supports with a razor saw. I did this outside while wearing a respirator due to the resin dust created. I sprayed the inside of the exhaust pipe with white and did the detail painting following Tamiya’s instructions, since no painting instructions are included with the resin parts.

Book Author(s)
Ben Skipper
Review Author
Damon Blair
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$29.95

The YB-52, one of two prototypes of the B-52, first flew on October 2, 1952. Little did anyone at Boeing or in the U.S. Air Force conceive that later models of the B-52 would still be flying over 70 years later! A total of 744 B-52s, of 8 different models, were produced by Boeing, with the last one, a B-52H, being rolled off the assembly line on October 26, 1962.

Written by Ben Skipper, this book does an excellent job of covering the B-52 (also known as the “BUFF”), including a modeler’s section. There are 100 pictures, and 24 full-color side views of various B-52s from the A models up to the current operational B-52Hs.