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
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$14.95

Thanks to SAC for developing a metal gear set for this new kit; and thanks to the IPMS leadership for sending it on!

These SAC reviews may be the proverbial broken record; stronger, metal version of the kit’s gear, “form/fit/function” replacement. Bottom line is the SAC gear improves on the strength of the long kit legs.

Review Author
Keith Gervasi
Published on
Company
Monogram
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$25.99

History

During WWII, the use of tanks revolutionized the way war would be fought. It was known as “Blitzkrieg”, and the German Panzer tank was the key vehicle in this new style of war. The Panzer medium tank had a number of major modifications during the course of the war. The MK IV featured a 75mm main cannon and two 7.9mm machine guns. However, the MK IV was not heavily armored and suffered greater losses as the war developed. The PZKW was conceived in 1934 and went into limited production by 1936. The MK IV version went into full production in 1943 and reached large production numbers. After the first version of the PZKW, the MK IV became the basis for numerous armored vehicles, ranging from self-propelled guns to munitions carriers and bridge-layer tanks. Its poor armor protection was supplemented by armor skirts on the sides and around the turret.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
The Great War Aviation Society
MSRP
$14.00

The latest journal of Cross & Cockade International is Autumn 2014. It is the third of four journals that make up Volume 45. C&C I is the quarterly publication of a non-profit UK based organization known as The First World War Aviation Historical Society. This organization has been publishing these journals since 1970 with the objective of furthering the study of First World War Aviation History. This journal continues the organization’s mission by providing a wealth of information on varied WWI aviation subjects…this time venturing into the realm of WWI Italian aviation before covering a substantial number of more typical Allied and Axis subjects. The cover of this journal features a painting by Ken Farmer of a pair of First Section AnsaldoSVAson patrol. It serves as a precursor to the lead six-page article about the missions flown by the Ansaldo First Section.

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
A.M.D.G. Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$16.95

The second Republic P-47D Thunderbolt decal set recently released by A.M.D.G. Decals is #A48-006. It provides markings for one Razorback and three Bubbletop P-47Ds from four different fighter groups flying in the European theater. If a Thunderbolt is not already on your bucket list, this set may force you to reconsider the omission. As a matter of fact, it may motivate you to pencil in more than one P-47 project because all four schemes are very tempting candidates, and this set provides everything needed to complete each of the tempting subjects.

Review Author
Mike Hoekstra
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/9
MSRP
$71.69

Making his first appearance in comic books in 1941, Captain American began fighting the Axis Powers as a patriotic superhero. Fast-forward to today and Captain America (Steve Rogers) has had his own movie, been a member of The Avengers movie, and most recently again held the main stage in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.