Finished Model

10.5cm leFH-18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lr.s.[f][Becker]

Box contents

U-9 Grand Prix Car Model

Finished model

SBD-5 "Battle of Philippines Sea"

Left Side

AH-1Z Viper

Mk 1 and Mk 2

Gloster Gladiator Mk. 2

10

McLaren MP4/2C

Rear view of completed vehicle

Husky MKIII VMMD

Bottom

Texaco Bug US Refueling Vehicle

Detail 1

Mitsubishi A6M5a Zero Type 52 Koh Fighter-Bomber

P-400 3D Printed Parts

Cactus Air Force Deluxe Set – F4F-4 Wildcat and P-400/P-39D Over Guadalcanal

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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.

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Box Art

FW 190A-8 - Royal Class
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$99.95

This is the first Royal Class kit I have had the opportunity to build. It’s the latest Eduard FW 190A-8 release in 1/72 scale. This series is great and the addition of the Beer glass and original piece of one of the Aircraft you can build is a wonderful and original idea. The Royal class also comes with enough parts to build four complete kits with PE, Resin, Masks and Decals for lots of versions.

In the box is:

  • 9 x light grey sprues
  • 4 x clear sprue
  • 8 x photoetched details parts
  • 1 mask set
  • 5 x decal sheet
  • 1 instruction booklet
  • Plaque with an original piece of a real FW190A-8
  • Certificate of Authenticity of the piece of Aircraft included
  • Beer Glass with FW 190A-8 emblem

All the sprues are extremely well molded and super fine details we have come to expect from Eduard’s kits.

Cover

USS California: A Visual History of the Golden State Battleship BB-44
Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Ampersand Publishing
MSRP
$32.95

This is Ampersand’s first nautical book, a new series that promises to focus on US capital ships of World War II. It follows the format as David Doyle’s “Flying Wings” and “Consolidated B-36” books, but is in hard cover. 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.

Package

XF5U-1 Flapjack Landing Gear (KH)
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.95

Scale Aircraft Conversions has released a nice set of replacement landing gear for the Kitty Hawk 1/48 Vought XF5U-1. The eleven parts supplied include the tail gear, main gear, torque links, and main gear retraction arms. A side by side evaluation of all the SAC parts shows the similarity with the kit parts. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white metal items. You do need to be very careful to assure proper alignment on all three axes. The SAC landing gear may need to be slightly adjusted to be straight (a benefit of using metal is that you can bend it slightly). Smooth jaw needle nose pliers work wonderfully.

Box Art

1966 Chevy Fleetside Pickup
Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$25.99

The 1966 Chevy Fleetside pickup by Revell was screaming for some old school modifications.

Engine

The 283 ci engine was bored out and I added a high rise manifold with 2 4 barrel carbs and chrome finned valve covers. It’s wired and plumbed.

Interior

Kit interior was pretty basic but that’s the way it would have been in 1966. Door panel and dash engraving was very crisp and easy to detail paint. I tossed the bench seat and added bucket seats and a console. A polished aluminum steering column was made with a gear shifter and turn signal lever added. The interior is also flocked.

Body

Smooth, crisp lines and no flash. Emblems and door handles are provided on the chrome tree. I decided to leave them off for this old school custom. Front and rear pans were rolled and holes drilled for lights. Grill came from the parts box.

Product packaging

SAAB J 21 A-3 Landing Gear
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.00

Scale Aircraft Conversions has released replacement landing gear for the excellent Pilot Replicas 1/48 SAAB J 21 A-3. The 13 parts supplied include the nose gear, main gear, torque links, and main gear retraction arms. A side by side evaluation of all the SAC parts shows the similarity with the kit parts. Ross McMillan has combined two parts by securing the nose gear wheel fork to the nose gear, eliminating a potential point of failure. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new white metal items. You do need to be very careful to assure proper alignment on all three axes. The SAC landing gear may need to be slightly adjusted to be straight (a benefit of using metal is that you can bend it slightly). Smooth jaw needle nose pliers work wonderfully.