Right Rear View

Mig-27 Flogger D

Torso

British Officers

Completed 4

T-45 Goshawk Trainer

Construction

Texaco Doodlebug

Fuselage internal structure 3

FE-2b early Part 2

Cockpit 1

Lockheed F-80C Shooting Star

Sprue 1

Lockheed Martin C-130J C5 Hercules, Part I – What’s in the Box

With aircraft added

Pierced Steel Planking and Accessories

Front right quarter view

Hellcat Mk I Weekend Edition

Partly complete rear fuselage before paint and seam touchup showing ribs and bulkheads

The Super Wing Series He 219 Uhu, Fuselage

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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.

Package

MiG-17APF (Fresco A,B,C) - 23mm Gun Barrels Set & Pitot Tubes
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$10.00

The MiG-17 has two prominent pitot tubes on the wing tips. Inevitably, if you are like me, you will knock off one or both of them. Brass pitot tubes will make this harder to do. Included in this set are two pitot tubes, a two part 37mm cannon barrel, and two 23mm cannon barrels.

The pitot tubes are machined perfectly with the proper taper to the tips.

The 37mm cannon is simply gorgeous. Plastic kit makers can only hint at the cooling jacket for the cannon. Master is able to produce a precision machined cooling jacket and barrel. The barrel simply slides precisely into the jacket. Then just prime and paint. A thing of beauty.

The 23mm cannon barrels are different lengths just like the real thing.

Box Art

Star Trek USS Defiant
Review Author
Tom Pope
Published on
Company
Round 2 Models
Scale
1/420
MSRP
$26.99

Introduction

When the space station Deep Space 9 got caught up in the conflict with the Dominion over control of a stable wormhole, one of Starfleet’s responses was to provide support in the shape of the USS Defiant. The Defiant was a new ship design for Starfleet and incorporated new, powerful weapon systems and even a cloaking device. Once the bugs were worked out of the new design, the defiant proved to be a powerful weapon in the fight against the Dominion.

Almost 20 years ago, AMT first released their model kit of the Defiant during the run of TV’s Deep Space 9 series. In January 2014, Round2 rerelease the Defiant under the AMT name. Round2’s re-released Defiant kit, like all those kits from the Star Trek series, are delivered in a sturdy box with colorful new artwork.

I would like to thank Round2/AMT for providing this re-release of Deep Space 9’s, USS Defiant to IPMS USA for review.

Package

SB2C Helldiver Landing Gear (CH/Aca)
Review Author
Perry Downen
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Conversions
MSRP
$11.95

My thanks to Scale Aircraft Conversions for offering this item for review and to IPMS/USA for allowing me to review it.

Designed by the Curtiss Aircraft Manufacturing Company, the SB2C was a huge disappointment initially and for months to follow. It was structurally weak, exhibited poor handling characteristics, and was unstable in a number of flight conditions. But, the Navy and Curtiss stayed with the aircraft and made a number of design changes. The changes added nearly 3,000 lbs. to the aircraft and resulted in one of its not so endearing names - the Big-Tailed Beast. Finally the Navy had the plane they wanted. It became the Navy’s primary attack/bombing aircraft and was responsible for more Japanese targets destroyed than any other aircraft.

Package

Kitty Hawk SH-2F Masks
Review Author
Rob Benson
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$13.00

Thank you to the ever supportive folks at Eduard Model Accessories for providing a yet another great finishing tool. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corp for letting me evaluate one of Eduard’s products. I always enjoy working with Eduard’s offerings and this mask set is no exception.

Kitty Hawk Models recently released a newly tooled 1:48 model of the SH-2F Sea Sprite, a common USN helicopter for a good part of the later 20th century. The design of the helicopter provides excellent visibility for the aviator, which for the modeler means there are lots of clear parts to protect. The masking set reviewed here allows the modeler to easily protect those clear parts during painting.

Box Art

British 6 Pdr Anti-Tank Gun (Airborne) with 1/4 Ton Truck & Crew

Review Author
Pablo Bauleo
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$54.95

Bronco models have repacked its Jeep and airborne anti-tank 6 pdr gun, together with 6 figures into this “full meal” boxing. Actually the vehicle has the necessary part to be the airborne variation used to tow the gun, including all the fittings for the ammo boxes.

When you open the box you find 26 (!) sprues –including one clear-, 3 photo-etch frets, and 3 decal sheets, including one for the soldiers rank. You get all the parts needed to model the airborne variation of the Jeep used to tow the gun, including all the fittings for the ammo boxes. You actually get several extra parts in this boxing and maybe you can model other versions of the Jeep, but I am not sure.

The surface detail is impressive, petite yet well defined. The tires even have the maker letterings in raised detail and would look very good under some dry-brushing.