Finished

P-47D-25RE Thunderbolt - Advanced Kit

Construction details 5

StuG.III Ausf.G Late December 1944

Assembly complete rear

World of Tanks Cromwell

Main Rotor Mount Detail

HH-34J USAF Combat Rescue

Tail detail

F-4EJ KAI Phantom II Phantom Forever 2020

Tracks Primed

M4A1 Sherman with U.S. Infantry

Finished model

Tiger Shark Show Rod

Completed 6

M114A1 155mm Howitzer (Vietnam)

Underside Rear

F-4J Phantom - Base Kit Construction, Part 1

Clear and resin parts

Yakovlev YAK-1, 1941

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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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Package

PV-1 Ventura Propellers w/Tool
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

Thanks to Aires for this excellent upgrade to the great Revell PV-1 Ventura model, and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review.

This set replaces the incorrectly shaped propellers with new, accurate paddle bladed Ventura props.

Step 1: Remove the prop hub and boss from the pour stub. Carefully mark the base of the hub, then use a razor saw or (better yet) a photoetch saw to cut through the pour base. Lightly sand to bring it all flush and even, and then on to the jig!

Box cover

PV-1 Ventura Correct Cowlings
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$11.50

Thanks to Aires for this excellent upgrade to the great Revell PV-1 Ventura model, and to IPMS leadership for providing it to me for review.

This set simply replaces the three-part kit cowling with a more detailed, one-piece cowling. Read on.

All you have to do is use a sharp knife, some quality CAREUL cutting time, and possibly a razor saw to remove the pour block from the back of the cowing. It uses gravity to ensure a full pour, and the resulting pour block might have utility in other places. I just used the multiple-cut pass method on the extreme-aft recessed panel line. A light draw of a sanding board on the back of the cowl when released, and I was done.

Box art

M65 "Atomic Annie" Gun with Transporters
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$88.00

Thanks up front to Dragon USA and to IPMS leadership for providing this kit to me for review.

This kit is an answer to an oft-repeated wish of the post-WWII armor crowd: A new-tool 1/72 scale atomic cannon. Why 1/72? Because even in transporting position, it is only 1 ½ feet long. The existing, much older and less accurate 1/32 kit from another age, at almost two and a half feet long when in transport position, was just too big to display for many. It had a lot of operating features, and looked like the actual item, but in reality is better served by a 1/72 scale model in my opinion. That said, if Dragon ever scales this thing up. who knows how it will sell?

Product picture

USS Hornet CV-8 Part 2 - Radar Antennas
Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$29.95

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001). This is Part 2 and includes several radar antennas to replace the kit parts. These new antennas simply step in and replace the undersize and under-detailed kit parts.

There are two sets to replace the forward- and aft-gun director antennas, one to replace the main search radar, and another to replace the main air search radar. You also get new doors, ladders and windows for the directors.

Assembly is straight forward but a tad fiddly. There are a bunch of tiny parts that need to be bent and shaped. The antennas for the directors require several complex bends that took a while to get the correct shape. Some of the small parts are hard to hold and glue at the same time.

Product picture

USS Hornet CV-8 Part 1 - Cranes
Review Author
Rick Bellanger
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$34.95

Eduard has come out with several photo etch sets for the 1/200 Scale, Merit, USS Hornet CV-8 (kit# 62001). This is Part 1 of the series, and provides new aircraft and boat cranes for the starboard and port sides, and detail parts to upgrade the ships main aircraft and boat crane on the flight deck.

The new aircraft and boat cranes for the sides are an entire crane assembly. They replace the existing cranes.

The main aircraft and boat crane for the flight deck includes replacement parts for existing kit parts. You get a new boom, hooks, stays, man rails, platforms and ladders.

Assembly is straight-forward but extremely fiddly. There are a bunch of very tiny parts that need to be bent and shaped. Most of the small parts are hard to hold and glue at the same time. This makes for a time consuming and sometimes aggravating assembly. Thank you Eduard for providing some extra parts.