2

RF-4E Phantom II, JASDF 501st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron

Cabin detail

Kittyhawk UH-1N

finished - Right Side

Tiger I Ausf. H2 7.5cm Kwk 42

Sidewall with wheel of cockpit

Macchi 202 Folgore

Closeup port

Ryan STM-2 / PT-20

Finished model

Jeffery Quad Ammunition Truck

Finished 4

Junkers J.1

Defiant Rear Quarter

U.S.S. Defiant NX-74205

Finished Right

Spitfire Mk. XVI Bubbletop, Profipak Edition

Left Side - From Tail

USMC F-4J Phantom II "VMFA-333 Fighting Shamrocks", Part 2

Previous Next

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.

Front

C-45 Expeditor Part 2
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Caracal Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.99

Caracal Models second release for the ICM 1/48 C-45 Expeditor covers this plane in service outside the United States with a total of five sets of markings. Inside the package, there is a seven page booklet which has full profiles of each plane (left and right as well as top and bottom), a page of color call outs and the cover showing all five variations.

The five options are:

Book Cover

Leyte 1944 Return to the Phillipines
Book Author(s)
Clayton Chun, Illustrated by Giuseppe Rava
Review Author
Steve Zajac
Published on
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$25.95

Osprey Publishing’s latest campaign monograph focuses on the battle waged by the US to regain the Philippine Islands held by the Japanese since 1942. This from the website: "The loss of the Philippines in 1942 was the worst defeat in American military history. General Douglas MacArthur, the 'Lion of Luzon', was evacuated by order of the President just before the fall, but he vowed to return, and in August 1944 he kept his word when he led what, at the time, was the largest amphibious assault of the Pacific War on the island of Leyte. This is the full story of that fateful battle, one of the most ferocious campaigns of World War II and one of huge strategic and symbolic significance. In the face of stubborn Japanese resistance, including the first systematic use of Kamikaze attacks, the US forces ground slowly forwards before another amphibious assault took the vital position of Ormoc in the last decisive battle of the campaign.

Box Art

Tiger I (Late Version)
Review Author
David Wrinkle
Published on
Company
Academy Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$65.00

Academy did a fine job packaging this kit with parts bagged and contained in a sturdy box. Academy is very clear in their instructions to examine the parts (before opening the bags) and contact them if you find any missing or damaged pieces. My kit was complete so let move on. The next thing I noticed was the fact their seemed to be several turrets and hull top pieces. More than what is necessary to build a single Tiger I kit. In fact there are 3 turret tops, two pairs of turret sides, 2 hull top parts sets, 2 glacis plates, 2 pair of fenders and a few extra wheels. I’m not a Tiger expert so I’m not sure what the differences are between Early, Mid and Late but it is obvious this kit covers more than one tank. Included with the styrene parts are a set of photoetch grill covers and a photo etch zimmerit application tool. The kit uses a rubber band track system and what is really cool is the fact the decals were printed by .

PE Fret

PBY-5A Undercarriage Detail Set
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$36.95

Revell’s PBY-5A Catalina has been around for 20 years now and I have seen quite a few built and it looks large and impressive when finished. The kit comes in two style- the “-5” who has no wheel wells and the “-5A” which does. Eduard has released sets for the PBY-5A which allow improvements to the entire airframe. This set (#48825) addresses the wheel bays which are only present in the “-5A” model and cannot be used on the initial “-5” release.

Cover image

F-16C "Florida Makos" 482FW Flagship
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Caracal Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.99

The F-16 Falcon has been around for quite a few years now and it never ceases to amaze me just how many new and interesting ways they have found to mark it. Caracal Models has produced decals for one very interesting and cool set of markings. This sheet provides markings for the specially decorated 2014 flagship F-16C (87-0247) belonging to the 482FW based at Homestead AFB. Complete markings for the spectacular shark decoration and stenciling is provided on the decal sheet. The toothy mouth even sits next to the intake!

Inside the package, you get an excellent reference-sheet indicating just which F-16C to use (Block 30 with GE Engine and a MCID big mouth intake), color call-outs and stencil locations, and the web site for location of the masking templates if you might prefer painting the markings.