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.

Reamer

Micro Pyramid – Shanked Reamer RM (2.5mm)
Review Author
Tom Pope
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
MSRP
$5.16

While attending the IPMS Nationals in Madison, WI, in July, I was looking for a few specific tools and came across the UMM-USA (Unique Master Models) tables. They had several tools I had been looking for. UMM-USA is an on-line Store, importing and exporting kits, specialized modeling tools and supplies and consulting services (see web site).

UMM-USA had also provided a few product samples to the IPMS Reviewer Corp for review, so I was able to pick up this small hole reamer they produce and a biplane jig/stand kit they retail for review (see the review titled: Biplane - Wooden Jig Stand & Transport)

Package

Biplane - Wooden Jig Stand & Transport
Review Author
Tom Pope
Published on
Company
JH Models
MSRP
$22.99

I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the IPMS Nationals in Madison, WI, in July and was taken back by the variety of ‘specialist’ vendors providing their tools and techniques to the masses. One of the vendors that caught my eye was UMM-USA (Unique Master Models). UMM-USA is an on-line Store, importing and exporting kits, specialized modeling tools and supplies and consulting services. My main mission at the Nationals this year was to find a few tools I’ve been needing and UMM-USA had several I had been looking for.

Also at the convention, UMM-USA provided a few product review samples to the IPMS Reviewer Corp, so I was able to pick up this JHmodels Biplane-Wooden Jig Stand & Transport and a small hole reamer UMM-USA produces, for review (see the review titled: Micro Pyramid – Shanked Reamer RM (2.5mm))

Package

Bristol Beaufort Mk. I, Bombing Raid (Part 1)
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$99.00

ICM has released a new 1/48th scale Bristol Beaufort Mk. I, Bombing Raid version with decals devoted to No. 22 and No. 217 Squadron. For this boxing, there is an additional Sprue W (3X) that will turn this Mk. I into a bombing raid ordnance configuration versus the torpedo version of the previous boxings (there is no F2 or torpedo trailer sprue in this kit). This is a 2-part review and PART 1 will review the contents of this kit.

In The Box

The kit box is typical top open with a nice illustration, but it does have a heavier cardboard fully enclosed box to protect all plastic inside. The sprues are packaged in a single plastic bag and the styrene is your typical light gray and clear plastic and will bond well with your usual modeling cement.

Package

Rollmade IV "Universal Roller"
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
NA
MSRP
$10.95

UMM-USA has provided the Rollmade IV “Universal Roller” for review. This tool is use for photoetch, brass, copper, and aluminum sheets to create rolls in diameters of 9.0, 10.0, 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0mm. It does NOT come with a roller pin but any wood dowl or metal rod will suffice.

It is made from a harden tempered aluminum and the overall size is: L 90mm x W 20mm x H 10mm. Very compact and easy to store.For this review, I used some leftover brass PE, Eduard metal PE, and soft copper wire along with a metal straw (as a roller) to test. Each piece of material formed with ease in the Rollmade IV. I do recommend using a larger diameter roller versus the straw I used since the “springing action” of the material will want to conform to the roller that is used.

UMM Scriber Tool

Double Beveled Gliding Scriber (2.5 mm)
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
UMM-USA
Scale
N/A
MSRP
$6.95

UMM-USA has provided us with a Double Beveled 2.5 mm Gliding Scriber tool. The scriber is made from hardened steel and will be able to scribe plastic and resin. The double bevel feature will allow the modeler the ability to scribe into tight 90-degree corners that, through the molding process, may have left behind a small radius of material from styrene injection, resin molded parts, or loose printer tolerances of 3-D resin.

On sample parts from my spares box, the scriber cuts effortlessly into plastic. Using a spare wing’s interior side, I used a metal ruler as a guide to make some straight lines and freehanded some other lines.

Using a spare 1/48 scale missile and bomb with molded fins, I was able to create a nice sharp scribed edge where the fins meet the surface of the ordnance. The other fin I left as molded for a visual comparison of how a few swipes of this scriber adds great detail.