Finished Cockpit Module View 3

Roland D.VIb

Air intake assembly

Mirage III E/R

Top Left Rear

Sd.Kfz.251/1 Ausf.B

Finished 1

JASDF T-1B Trainer

Completed kit

Japanese Refueling Cart

Parts 25

J2M3 Raiden ‘Jack’ (with Concept Notes)

4

Pz. 38(t) Ausf. E/F with Full Interior

Lower wing detail

IL-2M & Panther D - Two-in-One Kit

Engine

Hawker Hurricane Mk I

Misc Image 2

StuG.III Ausf.G, Part 2

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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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Book cover

Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen: A Visual History of the German Army’s Multi-Purpose Vehicles
Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
The Ampersand Publishing Group
MSRP
$22.95

Ampersand's latest book continues to expand on their Visual History format, as this edition follows up with David Doyle's "251 Half-Track: A Visual History of the German Army's Sd.Kfz 251 Armored Half-Tracks". Ampersand got their start in 1993 when Pat Stansell distributed a free issue of Military Miniatures in Review at the IPMS Nationals in Atlanta. Ampersand joined forces with HobbyLink Japan in 2008 and have continued to expand their military AFV publications ever since.

True to the Visual History Series name, the focus of this book is on the visual, detailing the development and service history of the German Army's Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen. This is slightly expanded from Ampersand's standard 120 page version of their Visual History format, and it runs 136 pages packed with large, clear photographs.

Front Cover

Model Art Japan - German AFV Database #2
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$21.75

Model Art is a Japanese publication that specializes in different aspects of plastic modelling. They have a monthly publication that covers all different genres, but also they publish special issues focusing on a specific topic. In this case the issue is part of a series known as “German AFV Database”.

This issue in particular covers many (if not all) the different AFV that were based on the Panzer IV and the Panzer 38(t) chassis -that have ever been kitted in 1/35 scale.

Be aware that all the text in this special issue is in Japanese. Still the pictures are pretty self-explanatory, including pictures of the model box art plus the sprues of the kit. If you install Google Translate in your smartphone, you can get a machine-based translation for the images captions by simply taking a picture of them.

Product picture

BAE Hawk 100 Turned Brass Replacement Pitot Tube
Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$5.00

Master – Reality in Miniature has produced a replacement nose pitot for the Airfix BAE Hawk 100 kit. The replacement pitot is a clean drop-in for the kit’s plastic part. The supplied item includes a one piece main pitot tube of turned brass.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that provides a much more realistic assembly with a significantly improved abuse tolerance. Painting of the main tube will require a quick touch with silver, aluminum or your favorite metalizer after priming, to transform the brass. Check your references.

No other assembly is required. The tube should be attached to the kit fuselage with CA glue. Using care in handling after assembly would seem to be good advice, as the part will be quite fragile, even though it is metal, and the point will pierce human skin easily, given an opportunity. Heed my experience!

Product Picture

C-130 White Metal Landing Gear
Review Author
Rob Booth
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions has produced replacement gear for the Italeri/Testors 1/72 scale C-130 family of kits. The white metal replacements are an identical fit replacement for the kit plastic parts. The supplied items include two main gear struts and the nose gear assembly. Some other SAC packages include replacement wheels, as well, but this is not the case here. You will need to use the Italeri/Testors kit wheels for your build.

A side by side evaluation (see photos) indicates an identical replacement that should provide a greater strength assembly with a significantly improved weight capacity and abuse tolerance. However, use some care, because in this scale, even cast metal parts are very fine and fragile. I found it easy to accidentally bend them out of shape with my heavy-handedness.

In some cases where original equipment was left in a natural metal finish, painting may not be necessary. As always, check your reference photos.

Front Cover

Model Art – Tips to Improve Airmodels
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$17.75

Model Art is a Japanese publication that specializes in different aspects of plastic modelling. They have a monthly publication that covers all different genres, but also they publish special issues focusing on a specific topic. In this case how to improve your airplane models.

Be aware that all the text in this special issue is in Japanese. Still the step-by-step pictures are self-explanatory and if you install Google Translate in your smartphone, you can get a machine-based translation for the images captions.

This special issue has tips and techniques being applied in the following airplane models