Finished

Dardanelles Campaign 1915

Tank

JGSDF Type73 Heavy Tank Transporter and Type 74 Tank

Interior

2015 Corvette C7.R

Completed model

USN JM-1

Pre-paint

U.S. M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun

Mounted missile

Super Etendard/Super Etendard Modernise

Speed Brake

Tornado GR. 4

Overhead stern

IJNMS Yamato, Part 4, Final Assembly

Tailhook recess faired in

Seafire Mk.Ib – Limited Edition

Right rear

Ar-234C-3 with BT700 Anti-Shipping Torpedo

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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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Cover

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #876, September 2013
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$11.00

The feature article of September’s issue covers some of battleships of the Pacific during the Second World War. They use the Hasegawa 1/450th Yamato (there are actually two builds of this particular model by two builders), Fujimi 1/700 Kirishima, Pit Road 1/700 USS North Carolina 1944, Dragon 1/700 USS Pennsylvania 1944, and the HP Models HP 1/700 USS Tennessee 1944 as representatives of some of the vessels that were used by the Allies and Axis. Each model is beautifully built and accompanied with color photographs during the build and b&w in-action photos. This article encompasses thirty six pages of this issue.

Cover

M3 Gun Motor Carriage Detail In Action
Book Author(s)
David Doyle
Review Author
Mike Van Schoonhoven
Published on
Company
Squadron Signal Publications
MSRP
$18.95

The Squadron Detail In Action series was started in 1971. This series covers the development, testing, and production of aircraft, armored vehicles, and ships. The focus of this book is on the M3 Gun Motor Carriage.

At the beginning of World War Two, the United States realized the need for an effective antitank weapon. Through this need, the Military used the M3 halftrack as the base and married it to the M1897A4 75mm gun to create the M3 Gun Motor Carriage. In October, 1941, the first production contract began. By October, 1944, the Gun Motor Carriage was considered obsolete by the U.S. Army. During its career many of these units were used by Great Britain and U.S. Marines well into 1945.

Box Art

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Review Author
Jim Stepanek
Published on
Company
Revell
Scale
1/25
MSRP
$23.95

Jeep must be an American icon. They’ve been around forever and keep on going.

Engine

Well, there isn’t an engine. All you get is an oil pan molded into the chassis.

Chassis

The chassis features nice detail and crisp engraving. The exhaust pipe, front and rear differentials, and springs are separate assemblies. The kit comes with actual springs for springs – they were a very pleasant surprise. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to screw the chassis to the body, but this kit calls for it. Fit is right on and the screw heads are covered by the suspension parts. The kit also has metal axles to hold the wheel/tires to the suspension. Wheels are gorgeous bead-lock units and the no-name tires are just beautiful. I’d like to see the wheels/tires in a Revell Parts Pack that they had years and years ago.

Parts Package

Spitfire Mk.IX Bulkheads
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50

Having just finished the Eduard Royal Class Spitfire Mk.IX kit, I can say that this kit is absolutely perfect; however, that is the Royal Class kit. The Weekend Edition of this kit will be lacking two essential items in plastic – the ballistic bulkheads. The Weekend Edition won’t have the PE parts that the Royal Class kit has. Quickboost calls them bulkheads, but they are actually the ballistic protection plates behind the cockpit.

Molded perfectly in thin light grey resin, these two pieces are easy enough to remove from the pour block, and just need paint to upgrade your cockpit. Your other option is to cut your own bulkheads. We all know what a pain it is to get them perfect. Quickboost does that for you.

This set is essential for the Weekend Edition of the Spitfire. If you have the Royal Class or the Profipack, you will not need it unless you don’t want to deal with the PE parts in the kit.

Highly recommended.

Aires photo

MiG-23ML Flogger G Electronic Bay
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$37.50

You want your Flogger to stand out on the model table? How about opening up the entire nose section? Now we are talking. What can be cooler than complete electronic bays? Normally the whole process would be hours of research, and then hours of scratchbuilding. Thanks to Aires, this will be significantly easier.

You get 25 high-quality light grey resin pieces that feature bulkheads, access panels, and radio/radar equipment. Unlike most Aires sets, this set does not come with any photo etch parts. Everything is rendered perfectly in resin. The bays are deep and have the equipment added from behind. Just exquisite molding.

You think you have to wire the electronics? Nope; miraculously, Aires has even molded the wiring. All the modeler will need to do is artful painting.