Ambulance

American Expeditionary Forces in Europe, 1918

Completed 3

M114A1 155mm Howitzer (Vietnam)

Main Gear Well

ERA-3B Skywarrior, Part 2

40 Port Stern Quarter

Battleship USS Missouri BB-63, Part 3

Finished 4

VEF Irbitis I-16

Finished 2

Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat

Finished

De Havilland Mosquito B Mk.IX/Mk.XVI

Trolley Detail

Messerschmitt Me 163B "Komet" Rocket-Powered Interceptor

Completed kit 1

Mercedes Benz 2448 Canvas Truck

Finished 4 - Top Wing

Nieuport 17 WW1 Centenary Special Edition

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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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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.

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Cover Art

25 Pdr Ammo Set and No.27 Limber with Canvas Cover
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$27.00

Designed to accompany the British 25-pdr field gun, the Type 27 ammunition limber carried 32 rounds of ammunition in 16 trays and was towed between the prime mover and the 25-pdr.

Bronco’s rendition of the Type 27 and associated ammo types is an excellent example of the limber in 1/35 scale. Finely molded in tan styrene with an ample fret of PE, the kit parts pack the modest box and seem overwhelming in number at first glance. Detail is crisp and seems accurate compared to limited online resources and other kit offerings of the Type 27.

Package Cover Sheet/Placement Guide

North American P-51 Mustang Part 2
Review Author
Mike Kellner
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$17.95

When I was first assigned this review I started four P-51D kits thinking I’d get a jump on things, but when the decals arrived I discovered they were meant for two P-51Bs and two Ds. So much for planning ahead.

The decals were on register and looked great in the package. The four aircraft represented are:

  • Aircraft #1: Malcolm Hood P-51B “Salem Representative” flown by Lt. Ralph K. Hofer of the 334FS/4th FG.
  • Aircraft #2: P-51D “Sky Czar” flown by Capt. Fred Munder, Jr. of the 381FS/363rd FG
  • Aircraft #3: Malcolm Hood P-51B “Big Mac Jr.” flown by Capt. John Brown, Jr. of the 382FS/363rd FG.
  • Aircraft #4: P-51D “Nancy Lee” flown by Lt. Richard Baggett of the 402FS/370 FG.

Although there are markings specific for four aircraft, there are common decals for only one. To use the other three nose art markings I used the individual kit decals for the stars and bars, prop markings, walkway stripes, etc..

32342 Eduard B 17 Undercarriage

B-17G Undercarriage
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$27.00

This is the final stretch reviewing Eduard PE parts for the HK B-17 kit. Even more thanks to Eduard for providing us these sets!

The landing gear set addresses an area frequently neglected by many modelers; the landing gear and wheel wells. Intended for the kit plastic gear, there are numerous straps, tow eyelets, and panels to apply to bring the struts to life. I Purchased and am using a set of SAC gear for strength. The review copy of this gear is to be reviewed by another IPMS member, so I’ll refrain from comment on these other than to say it is a drop fit for strength. In the interim, the kit gear will benefit greatly from Eduard’s efforts.

The tail wheel well gets full treatment, adding brace, side and top panel and rivet detail where none existed on the kit. The same treatment is applied in the main wheel well area; duct braces, additional detail sheets, some boxes, and air flow straighteners. The detail added makes quite a difference.

Exterior details

B-17G Exterior 1/32
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$20.00

This is the final part in the long review of Eduard’s PE for the HK B-17G. We are sincerely and eternally grateful for their support; it’s been a long, rewarding couple of months doing these reviews!

This final set is also a simple one; exterior details that make a noticeable difference in the appearance of the surface sections. Included are oil cooler intake screens, panels, and overwing fuel doors and hinges for the aircraft. Certainly you can modify and open all the refueling doors (remember to keep the cigarettes 50 feet away) to add a lot of life to the model, particularly in a diorama setting.

Small point; the square latch always is toward the tail of the aircraft, in case the door latch failed or was not fully closed. This prevented the door ripping off in the slipstream or allowing a full siphon of fuel from the door in flight.

Box Art

Humber Armoured Car Mk II
Review Author
Tom Moon
Published on
Company
Bronco Models
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$71.00

This kit is a representation of the British Army’s Armoured Car that was developed in 1941 after revisions to make the production easier. It served till replaced by the Humber Mk III or the Daimler Mk I.

This is a multimedia kit but the use of the Photo-Etch is required, there are no optional plastic parts. Please be aware that some of the plastic parts are very, very small and will take a steady hand to get them off of the sprue without damage. And when they are off the sprue these minuscule parts do their very best to hide or get lost in the carpet or even on the work table.

This model has a complete interior for the engine, driving and fighting compartment. The kit has over 500 individual pieces and this gives the model great detail at the expense of time consuming miniscule parts.