Finished

FIAT G.50 bis/AS "Freccia"

Chrome Sprue with Heavy Plating

Jungle Jim Rail Dragster

Completed model right side

M6 Heavy Tank "Black Label Series"

Finished

Lockheed Martin F-35 B Lightning II

Assembly complete

British Nuffield Assault Tank A.T.3

Osprey Nose 1

MV-22B Osprey

Aft right view of finished model

15cm s.IG.33/2 (Sf) auf Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer

EVS Poor Fit

B-52G Stratofortress "Gulf War" 25th Anniversary

Finished Left Front

EA-18G "VAQ-141 Shadowhawks"

Right Side

SdKfz. 2 Kettenkrad

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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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Front cover

Supermarine Spitfire V
Book Author(s)
Robert Grudzien
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$28.00

When one thinks of WWII and the RAF, the Spitfire instantly comes to mind. Author and illustrator Robert Grudzien has created a superb album of Spitfire V profiles in full color.

The illustrations include Spitfire Vs flown by the British, Poles, Australians, USAAF, Soviet, Yugoslavian, Greek, Italian, Egyptian and Turkish Air Forces. Also included is a Spitfire VB in “captured” Luftwaffe markings.

The illustrations are excellent resources for those who are searching for camouflage patterns and some lesser known color schemes and markings. A quad page fold-out shows the port side of probably the best known Spitfire B used by the Poles and flown by S/Ldr Jan Zumbach.

Box art

Sd.Kfz.131 Panzerjäger II für PaK 40/2 "Marder II" Early Production Smart Kit
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$80.00

Background

Despite early and overwhelming success of its armored and mechanized forces during initial conquests in western and eastern Europe early in World War II, the German Wehrmacht found itself in urgent need of an able tank destroyer capability as it began to encounter Soviet T-34 and KV-1 tanks following the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Initial response was to repurpose obsolete tank designs, such as the Panzer II, and refit them as tank destroyers. An incarnation built on the Panzer II chassis, Marder II’s were initially fitted with rechambered Soviet 7.62 cm guns, and were designated Sd. Kfz. 132. Follow-on production examples were fitted with 7.5cm PaK 40’s and designated Sd.Kfz. 131. Their open-top configuration and thin armor limited their utility in urban environments, but their mobility and firepower made them a notable improvement over fixed and towed anti-tank weapons they were designed to replace.

Product Picture

263 Squadron: Gladiators Over the Fjords
Book Author(s)
Alex Crawford , Illustrated by Karolina Hołda
Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$35.00

Scotland native Alex Crawford is back for his sixth book with Mushroom Model Publications and his third on the Gloster Gladiator. This book is an operational review of the squadron’s two disastrous visits to Norway. The first trip ended with the destruction of all of 263 Squadron’s Gladiators after two days of heavy fighting. The squadron was evacuated and re-equipped with more Gladiators and made a return trip to Norway. Improved organization allowed 263 Squadron to perform better for three weeks of fighting before they were once again evacuated. The remaining ten Gladiators were flown on board HMS Glorious for the return to the UK. Disaster struck the next day when during HMS Glorious was attacked and sunk by the German battle crusiers, Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, with the loss of all of 263 Squadrons’ pilots.

Product Picture

A6M Zero Control Surfaces

Review Author
Frank Landrus
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.50

Aires has come out with a nice upgrade for the Hasegawa A6M series of kits with their horizontal control surfaces set. The Aires parts allow you to alter the position of the elevators and provide improved stabilizer to elevator detail. There are no supplied instructions; you simply swap out the kit provided plastic parts with the new Aires replacements.

Aires has molded the stabilizer and elevator perfectly in light grey resin with no apparent bubbles. The Aires stabilizer and elevator are supplied on a single resin sprue with thin resin attachments to the parts that should minimize any cleanup.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin.

Highly recommended!

Product Picture

1965 Plymouth Satellite
Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Moebius Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$32.49

The 1965 Plymouth Satellite kit does not show up on the Moebius website. I’m not able to tell you why it doesn’t. (ed. note - it is listed under the Club Moebius section of their site listed above)

Engine

The Commando 426 engine with TorqueFlite automatic transmission is extremely well done with excellent engraving and separate pieces for the oil filter and Carter carb.

Interior

Moebius did an interior platform with separate side panels and seats that feature wonderful engraving. The well engraved dashboard has decals for gauges and the radio face. The separate console fits very well.