Tail

MiG-25BM

Partial cockpit

VH-34D "Marine One" Helicopter

Right rear

British Armored Car Saladin Mk. 2

The Night King

Army of Ice

B Model: underside

F-105B and F-105D (Double Kit)

Desk and stool

U.S. Field Switchboards

6 - complete 2

B-52H Stratofortress

Sprues

A-4M Skyhawk

Left Side View From Rear

Odessa NI Russian Improvised Armored Tractor

Wheel Well Detail

B-29 Enola Gay / Bocks Car

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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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Box Art

RAF Gladiator
Review Author
Brian R. Baker
Published on
Company
Hobby Boss
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$15.99

History

The Gloster Gladiator was one of the most famous RAF biplane fighters, and although outdated from the beginning, served with distinction with the RAF and numerous other air forces during the early stages of World War II. Most modelers should be intimately familiar with the story of the Gladiator, so it need not be repeated here. For backup material, I would suggest the following:

  • Gloster Gladiator in Action, Squadron Signal Publications No. 187
  • Gloster Gladiator Aces, Andrew Thomas, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces, #44.
  • Gloster Gladiator, Alex Crawford, Vols. 1-2.

In addiyion, googling the subject will bring up a number of websites devoted to this aircraft. These include the Wikipedia site, the RSAF site, Hakans Aviation page, and some articles on the IPMS/Stockholm website.

Box Art

US WWII Era Parachutes (2 types)
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Squadron Products
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$9.99

MMD-Squadron has released two unique detail parts in their True Details line that 1/32 scale model builders should find very useful. True Details USAAF WWII Parachute #1 (#32508) is a highly detailed 1/32 scale replica of a Type AN-6510 parachute that is casually posed as an aircrew chute would appear in pre or post-mission repose with integral pack (upturned), cushion, harness and intricate hardware. It is molded in gray resin on a very thin amount of resin molding scrap. This is a perfect accent for any 1930s-WWII US aircraft model. It is posed in the way parachutes were typically placed on the wings or stabilizers of fighter aircraft prior to a mission so pilots could quickly ‘suit up’ for a takeoff. This unique detail part is sculpted with an amazing amount of detail and is packaged on a blister card with a foam pad backing to protect the fragile features of the casting. No assembly is required.

Box Art

USAAF WWII National Insignia Decals (May, 1943 – June, 1943)

Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
SuperScale International
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$12.00

This 1/48 scale decal sheet provides multiple sizes of the type of US Army Air Force national insignia specified for application to aircraft from May 1942 to June 1943. The insignia consisted of a white star on an insignia blue disk. The set includes 41 separate decals sized to scale diameters for 25”, 30”, 35”, 36”, 40”, 45”, 50” and 60” insignias, making them useful for most aircraft in service during that time period.

These decals are manufactured for Squadron by Cartograf. They are crisply printed on thin film. The decals release easily from their paper backing after immersion in warm water for 15 - 20 seconds and should then be applied to a glossy painted surface that has been pre-moistened to allow repositioning. They will respond well to most decal setting solutions (but the solution should not be allowed to puddle on decal or surrounding surface for very long).

Box Art

F-14 Alpha Probe and Angle of Attack Probe
Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$9.00

I would like to thank Master Model for this review sample.

Master Model has been literally “turning” out numerous metal details for the model maker. This latest offering is the Alpha Probe and angle of attack probe for the F-14 in 1/48. The alpha probe is the pitot at the forward end of the radome. For a model this is a very vulnerable place and no doubt, like me, you have managed to bend or snap off the plastic one provided in the kit. Quite frankly, they never look as crisp as the real thing and once the mold seam is removed can be a bit oblong in cross section. The angle of attack probe is the pointy short probe on the left side of the F-14 below and forward of the cockpit. On the Hasegawa kit it is molded with the fuselage. I managed to snap mine off while assembling the model. It is not an easy thing to replicate.

Box Art

Mig-23 Wheel Wells
Review Author
Charles Landrum
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.49

The Trumpeter Mig-23M and MF kits in 1/48 finally give the modeler an alternative to the Esci Mig-23/27 family of kits. While it has its own issues, the Trumpeter kit renders the other one obsolete. One problem with the Trumpeter kit are the main wheel wells. Trumpeter’s wells are under detailed and worse yet are symmetrical from port to starboard. This is not the case with the Mig-23; the wheel wells are quite different from one side to the other. Aires has crafted a solution!