Front

Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Model 21

Rear Floor

1961 Jaguar E-Type, Part Three

Step 29 track

Russian Self-Propelled Gun SU-152 (KV-14)

Cockpit-wing sub-component with photo-etch seatbelts

SSW D.III

Mercury capsule

Redstone Rocket with Mercury Spacecraft

Falcon Missiles & Bay

F-106A Delta Dart

Flight deck

USS Essex LHD-2

Lower wing to fuselage joint

Israel IAI Kfir C2/C7

Wing center structure

F4U-1 Corsair, Part 2 – Engines, Wings, and Things

Conning tower

German U-XXIII Coastal Submarine

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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.

Package

ESCAPAC 1G-3 Ejection Seat

Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$18.00

Aires has provided the Reviewer Corps with a resin replacement ejection seat for the A-4M/N Skyhawk in 1/48th scale.

In the Package and Product Notes

The sample review was packaged in a plastic bag with cardboard backing with company labeling. Inside the package are paper instructions, photo-etched fret (seat belts), one poured resin part (the main seat), and a 3-D printed resin part (ejection handles & head padding). The detail and quality are excellent.

Review Process

I started by giving the resin part a warm soapy bath to remove any release agent. Using a razor saw, I removed the seat from the pour stub. The 3D printed parts were removed with good side cutting nippers. CA (Superglue) was used as the bonding agent to attach everything together.

Cover

The Japanese Heavy Cruiser Takao 1937-1946 (Super Drawings in 3D)
Book Author(s)
Waldemar Goralski and Janusz Skulski
Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing

As a regular at IPMS shows, I’ve often seen Kagero’s Super Drawings in 3D series on display, and I’m kicking myself for not picking up a copy sooner. After diving into Takao, the latest installment in this impressive series, I can confidently say that it was well worth the wait.

This softbound book boasts excellent print quality, with full-color gloss A4 pages that bring every detail to life. The vintage photographs have been colorized, offering a fresh perspective on the Takao, and there’s even a few images of a stunningly detailed scale model of the ship.

Front of Package

Macchi MC.202 Seat - Early Version
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$12.00

The 1/32 Italeri Macchi M.C. 202 Folgore (Kit No. 2518) has garnered great attention to a large scale of an important yet often overlooked WWII Italian aircraft. This Aires aftermarket accessory provides everything for an early version seat for the pilot.

The resin and PE are well executed and defined, along with easy-to-follow instructions for construction. The Aires aftermarket seat is designed to integrate into the Italeri kit, using pieces of the seat frame, namely the tubular stand and pilot headrest. Construction of the seat was straight forward, and the use of PE straps gives a lifelike look to the seat, and thus cockpit.

It took a little over an hour to assemble, with most of the time being the removal of the resin pour block without damaging the four delicate seat mounting tabs. The addition of a seat cushion is what sets this seat apart from the kit seat. Painting was straightforward, resulting in a beautiful early seat for an iconic Italian warbird.

Box Art

P-3C Orion, Turboprop Anti-Submarine and Maritime Surveillance Aircraft
Review Author
Phil Pignataro
Published on
Company
X Scale
Scale
1/144
MSRP
$31.98

The P-3 Orion entered US Navy service in the mid-1960’s and is now being slowly replaced by the P-8A Poseidon. I find it interesting both were based on civilian airliners: the Lockheed Electra II and the Boeing B737-800 respectively.

A top-opening box that has an attractively painted P-3 on the cover is chock full of plastic parts. Eight runners hold 158 parts molded in medium gray plastic and another for the clear parts. Surface detail is recessed and very impressive for this scale. There are five decal marking options: two US Navy, one each for the Australian AF, Netherlands Navy, and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. Finally, there is a set of masks for the clear parts and wheels and a full-color instruction booklet which includes a parts map, decal guide for each scheme, and a color guide for Mr Hobby, Tamiya, ICM, and Hataka paints.

Cover image

References for Modelers, North American P-51B Mustang
Book Author(s)
Editor of series, Damian Majsak, color art by Janusz Swiatlon and technical drawings by Mariusz Lukasik
Review Author
Chris Smith
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$15.00

Kagero has issued a series of “References for Modelers”, each focusing on a specific subject. In this case, the P-51B Mustang. The format consists of color artwork, photos, and line drawings in two scales. A bonus decal sheet is included, along with color artwork in the centerfold showing their placement. Up front, the book explains that most of the photos have appeared elsewhere, but this series presents them differently. They have been enlarged enough to show details lost in smaller formats. Two great examples appear on pages four and five, one showing a close-up of the equipment behind the pilot’s seat and the other a nice view of bazooka tubes on a P-51 in China.