Merlin engine buildup

De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI: The Build - Part 1

Sprue C

USS Freedom LCS-1

Engine right side

Freightliner Heavy Dump Truck

Finished Rear

BMD-2

Engine

1978 Pacer X

2

RAAF Fighter F/A-18A Hornet NO.77SQ 77th Anniversary

Assembled Track & Suspension

U.S. Armoured Bulldozer

Kit parts

Price of War: European Civilian 1944-1945

Fuselage Internals

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

Engine detail

F4F-4 Wildcat

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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.

Box Art

UH-1 Huey Gunship Crew
Review Author
Ned Ricks
Published on
Company
Werners Wings
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$70.00

History

The Vietnam War was a helicopter war. Many of the most lasting images are of fleets of helicopters, mostly the ubiquitous UH-1 “Huey,” filling the sky. What would newsreel footage of that war be without a sound track of the “whup-whup-whup” of chopper blades?

Among the many uses the UH-1 was put to was as an early version of the gunship, the ancestor of today’s Apache. Those Huey guns took a crew of four: a commissioned or warrant officer pilot (left seat) and copilot, and two enlisted door gunner/crew chief in back. This four figure kit represents the aviators of those gunships employed in that conflict.

Product packaging - 1 of 2

Gama Goat Detail Set
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$36.95

This kit contains 2 sheets of photo Etched parts one small one of pre-colored parts and one large sheet of other parts.

The detail quality of a very high as we have come to expect from Eduard.

This set can be used with either of the Tamiya kits 35330 M561 US 6x6 Cargo truck or 35342 M972 US 6x6 Ambulance Truck.

The set provides photo etch to replace the following parts:

Wipers, windscreen surround, gas tank straps, gas tank filler shields, driver instrument panel, cargo bay floor, plus other small details.

It also provides the addition details for the foot pedals, floor vents, drivers compartment placards, ammo boxes, cargo bay folding foot step, etc.

The parts are very easy to install and add a lot more detail to the already detailed kit. The only problem I encountered was that the access on the cargo floor needed to be removed so the new one can be installed and this was not shown on the instructions.

Box Art

1957 Ford Del Rio Ranch Wagon

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Monogram
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$23.95

The Kit

This review covers the 1957 Ford Del Rio Ranch Wagon 1:25 Scale Model Kit #85-4193. A 2015 release, this model is a collection of past offerings with refreshed trees and some brand new tooling. It is a skill level 3 kit for the 12-year and older builder, molded in 156 pieces of white, clear, transparent red and chrome pieces with waterslide decals and instructions. As you can tell from the piece count it comes with quite a few options. Two complete versions can be built; either the police wagon or a stock version. Both use a highly detailed rendition of the 312 c.i.d. Thunderbird V-8. This kit includes a separate frame for enhanced detailing along with custom wheels and disc brakes. The completed dimensions are Length: 8”, Width: 3”, Height: 2-3/8”

Construction and Detailing

I elected to build the police version of this wagon for its “cool” factor and because the kit pieces were so nicely done in a period accurate manner.

Package

F-101A/C Voodoo Wheel Bays
Review Author
Allan Murrell
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

This set replaces parts D1-5, D1-7, E37, part of C9 and Part of C10 from Kitty Hawk Kit number KH80115. The detail quality is as to the normal high standard of the all Aires products. As usual there was no flash or other imperfections. The parts once removed from the mold base are ready to install. The parts will make a great improvement on the kit parts which has very little detail in these areas of the kit. A great price for such fine additional details for this kit.

Thanks to Aires for providing these for review.

Cover

M42 Duster
Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Ampersand Publishing
MSRP
$22.95

Background

Following the Second World War, the United States Army developed requirements for a modern armored and mobile anti-aircraft platform to deploy with armored and infantry forces. Filling that requirement was the M42 Duster. Based on the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank platform and armed with the Bofors M2A1 dual 40mm anti-aircraft cannon, the M42 became the mainstay of mobile armored anti-aircraft support for both the U.S. Army and Marine Corps from 1953 through the Vietnam War. 3700 Dusters were produced and served with several allied nations in addition to the United States