Top view

E-2C Hawkeye 2000 VAW-115 Liberty Bells “Sayonara Atsugi”

JDAM

F-35A Lightning II

Turret Interior detail

Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf. E/F

Cockpit

Grunau Baby IIb

Main Gear Wells Assembled

Tempest Mk.V OVERTREES

Cockpit detail and filled gap in the wing to fuselage

Dornier Do 217J-1/J-2

Finished

USS Midway Pt 2: Armament & Ancillaries

Tie Down

Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

Tread Assembly

Russian 9K37M1 BUK

Cover

Jungle Patrol

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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

Time Machine Mark IV (Back To The Future III)

Review Author
Doug Cole
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$33.99

The Kit

This review covers the Time Machine Mark IV (Back To The Future III) 1:25 Scale Polar Lights Model Kit #POL932. A 2015 release, this model is a continuation of the previous Time Machine version offerings. This skill level 2 kit is molded in color in about 60 pieces in gray, clear, chrome, updated brushed steel, metal axles with waterslide and sticker license plate graphics. While the kit is fairly easy to assemble the details are small and difficult to paint. You may also need to find some online sources to supplement the build with homemade decals to really make the model stand out. The completed dimensions are Length: 7”, Width: 3”, Height: 2-1/4” and it comes with a set of rail tracks for display.

Package Front

Early P40s & Tomahawks Decals
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Iliad Design
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.00

Iliad Design has released a new decal sheet in its 72nd scale line devoted to early P-40s and Tomahawks. This sheet provides you with 6 airframes, 3 in American markings and 3 in British markings.

The American options include a natural metal finish, an Olive Drab over Neutral Grey and a Olive Drab/Dark Earth over Neutral Grey. All of them sport red and white stripes in the rudder.

The British options include two Olive Drab/Dark Earth over Neutral Grey, and my personal favorite, Dark Earth/Middle Stone over Azure Blue in North African campaign markings.

The decal sheet instructions do not specify for which kit they are meant to fit (Academy, Airfix, AML, Hasegawa or HobbyBoss). That shouldn’t be an issue for most of the decals, with the exception of the red and white stripes for the rudder which might need to be trimmed to fit depending on which kit you are using.

PE Fret

EE Lightning Photo Etch and Canopy Mask
Review Author
Andrew Birkbeck
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$24.95

There can’t be a modeler on the planet who doesn’t know the brand name Eduard, from the Czech Republic. They launched into the business of providing Photo Etched brass detail parts decades ago, and have expanded into injection molded plastic kits, resin detail parts, cloth seat belt sets, and canopy masks, and I am sure a couple of other lines, and seem to cover every scale, and every model subject out there. This review covers two products designed to be used with the Airfix English Electric Lightning F.2A in 1/72nd scale, an extremely nice kit that has recently been released.

Package

Japanese Navy Ship Equipment Set E
Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Hasegawa
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$28.00

The Japanese Agano-class of light cruisers had a total of 4 ships on its class: Agano, Noshiro, Yahagi and Sakaw. These ships were lightly armored command vessels that operated for destroyer and submarine squadrons.

Hasegawa has released a detail set for its Agano Class in 1/350. This set includes

  • Type-41 twin 15 cm guns (x2)
  • Type-41 twin 15 cm guns with rangefinder (x2)
  • Type-98 twin 8cm hi-angle turret

The Agano class boxing includes the standard Type-41 and Type-98, what is added is the rangefinder and some details parts for the standard turrets to model the Yahagi and Sakawa.

The overall surface detail is excellent –as you expect from Hasegawa- and the molds are completely free of flash. The cannon holes need to be drilled, but that is to be expected of plastic parts.

This detail set is a welcome addition as it allows the base Agano kit to be converted to other ships of the same class.

Book cover

German Aircraft Instrument Panels Vol. 2
Book Author(s)
Dariusz Karnas
Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
Company
Mushroom Model Publications - MMP Books
MSRP
$29.75

This is the second volume of the “Inside” series of books featuring the instrument panels of various German WWII aircraft. MMP Books previously released Vol 1 which covered the Bf-109F-4, Bf-110E, Fi-156 Storch, Fw-190A-3, Hs-123, and the Ju-88A-4.

This second volume covers the Bf-109E, Me-262A, Ju-87A, He-111, Hs-126 and the Do-17.

A special treat awaits the reader. The panel for the Bf-109E-4 is provided, full size, as a poster!

In North America, Casemate is the distributor for MMP.