Finished 3

Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. E/F

Injection Mark Clean up

MaxxPro Dash with SPARK II Mine Roller

completed model

B-26B Marauder

Closeup port side, showing display stand and name plaque

Gato Class Submarine

Cockpit Side

Henschel Hs-129B-2/RIII - Part 1 - Cockpit, Engines, and Fuselage

Completed 1

Mig-31 BM/BSM Foxhound (Limited edition)

Completed Cockpit

MiG-21MF Interceptor ProfiPack

Float wire replacment

OS2U Kingfisher Build

Rear of engine

F-4B Phantom, Part 1 - Wow!

Antenna

Bristol Beaufort Mk.1A

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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.

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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.

Packaging

Scammel Pioneer Instrument Panel
Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
Company
Yahu Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$6.99

Introduction to Yahu

Founded in Poland in 2013, Yahu Model is well-known for their high-quality, pre-painted photo-etched instrument panels. They offer a range of other products as well, including seatbelts, cockpit detail sets, and various enhancements for aircraft and vehicles.

About the Photo-Etch Set

The YML3504 set replicates the Scammell Pioneer’s dashboard and includes the winch placard. With pre-colored details, it makes achieving a realistic look straightforward and easy.

Comparison to the Actual Dashboard

This set provides an excellent representation of the actual Scammell Pioneer dashboard, capturing the look and layout with remarkable accuracy. While the package placard indicates compatibility with both IBG and Thunder Models kits, research and reference checks reveal that the panel is undersized for the Thunder Models dashboard and does not provide a proper fit.

Package

D.H. 98 Mosquito NF Mk. XXX "Night Predator"
Review Author
Pat Villarreal
Published on
Company
Special Hobby
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$36.00

Special Hobby has provided the 1/72nd scale DeHavilland 98 Mosquito NF Mk. XXX “Night Predator” for review. The Mk. XXX was the first night fighter Mosquito variant with Merlin two-stage compressor engines.

Looking at Scalemates.com, this is a brand-new mold for 2025. The decal sheet represents six markings for the following:

Cover

China's Fighter for the World Volume 1, The F-7/FT-7 Family: Origins, Evolution and Variants
Book Author(s)
Holger Müller
Review Author
Andy Taylor
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

I thought the Chinese Chengdu J-7 was a copy of the Soviet MiG-21 (even the NATO names are similar with Fishcan and Fishbed, respectively). This was but the first of many misconceptions put to rest by author Holger Müller. As stated in the Introduction,

The development of the Chinese MiG-21 derivatives is not only an interesting technological history in itself, but also reflects the changes in the politics of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on a smaller scale: from its alliance with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) to rapprochement with the West and the PRC’s own path of state capitalism.

Box top

Ford A Gangster Car
Review Author
Phillip Cavender
Published on
Company
ICM
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$74.99

The following excerpt is taken from ICM’s product website.

The unregulated growth and oversaturation of the United States [stock] market led to the Great Depression, beginning with the October 1929 stock market crash. This economic crisis fueled a rise in banditry, with bank robberies becoming particularly notorious. These crimes were made more effective by gangsters’ use of automobiles. As one analyst observed in the 1920s: “Cars and good roads have dramatically increased certain types of crime. We now see a new kind of automobile bandit who relies entirely on a car—whether robbing banks, breaking into homes, or mugging pedestrians.” The criminals’ success was further enhanced by Thompson submachine guns, which boasted rapid-fire capability, and earned the nickname “Tommy gun.” Notably, these weapons cost around 200 dollars – “about half the price of a Ford Model A automobile.”

Yamato 3D Drawings

The Japanese Battleship Yamato – Super Drawings in 3D
Book Author(s)
Carlo Cestra
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Kagero Publishing
MSRP
$49.00

This is part of a series of books by Kagero on warships and I have a few of these and are truly indispensable when building a model of the subject matter. I was glad I got to review this book now as I am in the middle of building the Very Fire 1/350 Deluxe Edition and it was invaluable in helping with the Photo Etch and finals details on the build.

This book goings into great detail via illustrations of the Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Yamato as it was in 1945.

The book is lavishly illustrated and includes a few 3D drawings, many of which are stunning.

The illustrations give so much details as one could wish for as a modeler or history buff.

I cannot recommend this book enough as its gives as much details as available on Yamato. Thank you to IPMS USA and Kagero for allowing me to review this great book.