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.

Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
Company
The Bodi
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$33.56

Krisztine Bodi is a European figure sculptor of some renown who started his professional career producing masters for the likes of Alpine, Young Miniatures and Mantis. As so often happens, Mr. Bodi eventually decided that working for himself might be the smart thing to do, so he set up his own line of figures under the brand name “the bodi”. The range now numbers nearly 100 figures in various scales, most covering the period of the Second World War.

My approach to reviewing these two figures sets (3 figures total) this time around is to provide you with photos taken by myself of the unpainted resin pieces, together with photos borrowed from the producer’s web site. This is because these beautiful sculptures deserve better than my almost non-existent figure painting skills have to offer. I want folks to see the quality of the resin parts, but also see what a good figure painter can then do with them.

Review Author
Eric Christianson
Published on
Company
Airfix
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$149.99

Welcome back! Last time we had just completed the internal framework, engine, lower front end and cockpit of the big 1/24th Scale Airfix Mk.Ib Typhoon. This second installment will bring the wings, fuselage, nose and wheel-wells together, leaving the final assembly and finish for the last segment of this three-part review. To recall: I chose to expose only the starboard wing’s gun bay and starboard engine detail, and to cover up the lower front end encompassing the oil cooler/air intake.

Work is going along very smoothly, with a single exception being the front end of the aircraft. Whether the problems I encountered were self-inflicted or due to some flaw in the kit remains to be determined. More on that later – for now, let’s get back to work!

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
AMT
Scale
1/520
MSRP
$30.95

Background

The USS Akron and Macon were lighter than air (LTA) aircraft carriers built for the US Navy in the 1930’s. Filled with Helium, ach rigid airship was designed to carry five single-seat Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks for scouting or two-seat Fleet N2Y-1 biplanes for training. A gondola was also designed to be lowered through the cloud layer for aerial surveillance. Both rigid airships crashed within two years after becoming operational. There’s a good article on these craft at: https://www.airships.net/us-navy-rigid-airships/uss-akron-macon/ .

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
AMMO by Mig Jimenez
MSRP
$15.00

If you have been involved in modeling for the past ten years there is a good chance that you are familiar with the name Mig Jimenez. If you are not familiar with Mig, he is a Spanish modeler that has really came to the forefront of modeling techniques. Along with the techniques MIg has created a system of washes, filters, pigments and now paints. He also has several great modeling books out as well.

UK Aircraft colors from the 50's to present: This set is comprised of four 17ml bottles with dropper top. The four colors included in this set are as follows FS 36118 Medium Gunship Gray, FS 26173 (BS 638), FS 34079 (BS 641) and FS 36314 (BS 626). I used a single action siphon feed airbrush to apply them to an unprimed plastic card stock. I thinned the paint using the MIG Acrylic thinner at a ratio of about two parts paint to one thinner. Had no issues spraying through the airbrush and it sprayed out in a nice light coat. Took a few layers to build up a solid color.

Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$23.00

Thanks to Eduard for providing more of their excellent aftermarket parts for IPMS USA review, and to IPMS leadership for sending it to me!

Here we go. According to the flight manual, the average Spitfire pilot will retract the flaps as soon as he/she is on the ground because the flap interferes with cooling air exhaust from the radiator, which leads to overheating on the ground. BUT, sometimes flaps must be down for maintenance, which is how Eduard approaches the situation.

This set is not for the faint of heart. it requires patience, dexterity, skill, and a lot of luck to pull off a successful installation. I get four of 10 on this one for my lack of the above.

HOWEVER, many will do just fine with it. Remember rule 1: Metal work hardens every time you bend it. Breakage is a way of life. if you try to bend things more than once, you MIGHT get a second chance.

SO, study your flaps, and develop a course of action!