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.

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Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1:72
MSRP
$35.00

Upon opening the cover, there is a reinforced white inner box that does a good job of protecting the kit’s seven gray plastic sprues, and decal sheet (I recently heard on the Beyond the Box Art podcast that ICM’s boxes are designed to withstand the rigors of delivery services, and this box definitely meets that standard). The instructions span 12 pages and cover 38 steps. The downloadable instructions are also available separately online at the ICM website. Take care with small pieces (grab handles, etc) as the plastic is fragile and can break when removed from the sprue gates.

This is a former Revell M2/M3 Bradley kit (No. 03143) that was first issued in 2005 (with the hull tub dating to 2001 Kit No. 03124). The ICM boxing uses new decals and keeps it relevant for modern armor builders. The inclusion of decals for four colorful Bradleys, where only one is overall green, is nice and really highlights the M2 Bradley’s early career.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$34.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions (who goes by SAC most of the time) produces white metal replacement landing gear sets for a plethora of planes in all scales. In the case of this review, the gear being reviewed are for the 1/32 Zoukei Mura Ta-152H-1. The parts inside include both main landing gear legs as well as the retraction cylinders and oleo struts for each leg. Also included are the rear tail wheel component and its bracket. All are cast in white metal with no seams per se and are well done. As with many SAC retraction struts, mine were a little warped out of the package but easily straightened.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$38.50

Academy’s newest kit is a wonderful version of the B-2A Spirit in 1/144 scale. This is a great scale for this aircraft as it is a large plane. Looking inside the box, you will find four perfectly crisp gray sprues with no flash and minimal mold lines. One clear sprue is included and also a precut masking set for the canopy and a large decal sheet. Markings and stencils are included for a single plane with five choices:

Book Author(s)
Wen Jian Chung; Illustrators: David Bocquelet
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

From the Introduction,

In battle, the artillery has always had two roles. In defence, its purpose is to destroy the impetus of the enemy’s attacks, and in attack, its task is to destroy the enemy’s will to resist. Just that. And whether you consider the medieval wars or the Napoleonic wars or the great wars that followed them, those two tasks have remained.

– General Sir Thomas Lovett Morony, KCB, OBE, Master Gunner, St James Park (1985)

The author, Wen Jian Chung continues,

Book Author(s)
Ian Baxter
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Pen and Sword Books Ltd
MSRP
$24.95

Ian Baxter is a respected historian and an author I actively seek out for his insight and amazing photographs for World War II. This book continues its amazing legacy, does not disappoint, and is worth the price for the photographs alone.

Following the familiar Pen & Sword Images of War series is the story of Tanks and Armour in Ukraine 1941–1944. Each chapter starts with a brief history of the topic covered, followed by a lot of photographs to complement the text.

This book is composed of the following: