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
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$19.95

At the start of WWII, the U-boat packs operated with impunity in the North Atlantic and while their torpedoes sunk a lot of ships, their deck guns did a lot of damage also. This ended with the advent or air patrols and small carriers. Eduard has produced an excellent resin and photoetch kit of the 8.8cm gun used on the Type VII U-boats. My only recommendation is to check references in that on the later Type VII's, the gun was removed due to its ineffectiveness due to the threat of aircraft.

Eduard kit consists of 14 perfect resin parts and 15 photoetch parts on a single fret. The first dozen of these parts actually forms the gun sight alone. Fit is excellent but the parts are small with some being 2mm long and requiring bends. The rest of the gun assembly is smooth with the resin parts coming off the pour stubs easily and fitting perfectly. Add the adjustment wheels and tampion (gun plug) and its clamp and the gun can be set aside.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.95

Eduard's Brassin resin line continues adding top quality armament with this latest release, an AGM-65 Maverick in 1/48th scale. The set contains parts for 2 missiles and consists of 10 gray resin parts, 2 clear resin parts for the seeker cover and a set of decals. The parts allow for three versions to be built, the B, E or H and have decals to cover all the types along with an excellent painting guide.

Book Author(s)
Jay Laverty
Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
Scale Aircraft Modelling
MSRP
$7.50

Each issue of Scale Aircraft Modeling has been a basic design and format but they changed it up with the last issue. There are some changes again in that while there were usually two Feature Articles, in this issue, there are five, an Aviation in Profile piece, and a usual series of Compact Build Reviews.

The Feature articles for this issue start with a Hasegawa 1/48 A-7D Corsair II in bright Bicentennial markings by Karl Robinson. Special attention is paid to the paint scheme and producing the inert ordnance. Mr. Robinson also shows how to produce FOD guards and air show labels for the ordnance.

Next up is the Hobbyboss 1/48 A-7D by Jay Laverty made up with TwoBobs "Molar Mauler" decals which have a huge set of teeth on each side of the intake. The kit is weathered and looks superb.

Review Author
Dave Morrissette
Published on
Company
PJ Production
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$14.00

PJ Production of Belgium makes some awesome products and from figures to conversions in all the popular scales. This items is 1/32 NATO pilot seated in his aircraft. The kit is simple with three parts (two arms and body). Cut off the pour spouts and glue the arms on to start. I used a little Squadron white putty to insure the gaps were sealed and then cleaned the putty off with lacquer thinner for a smooth finish. The kit was primed and set aside to cure and we were ready to paint.

Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$10.59

Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty-six years.

The July issue of model features a main article on vehicles mounted with an 88mm gun, a special article continued from June on the Tamiya 1/32 F-4J Black Bunny, one show report and several monthly short articles.

The issue starts of with a new product report from the Shizuoka Hobby Show 2014. Following that is the special article on the Tamiya 1/32 F-4J "Black Bunny" full detail up. This is continued from the June issue. Anything and everything that could be detailed has been. Next is the IJA/N Airplane illustrated. This month covers mounted fuel tanks from a "Zero". Several color photos and color artwork.