Assembled

OKB Chelomey 16KhA Priboy

Completed

Soviet Heavy Tank T-100

Decals

F6F-5 Hellcat

Kit track detail

Nagmachon Early Heavy APC Israel Defense Forces

Cockpit and Canopy

Gloster Javelin FAW 9/9R

The Val from behind on the left side, showing some cockpit detail, and surface detail in the wing and fuselage

Pearl Harbor 75th Anniversary Set (3 kits) Limited Edition

Ordnance Installed

USMC F-4J Phantom II "VMFA-333 Fighting Shamrocks", Part 2

14

Tom McEwen's Mongoose Rear Engine Dragster

Finished

Fw-189C/V-6

Assembly guide along side of escape tower

Mercury Redstone

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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.

Decal Profiles

Fokker D.VII Decals Part 2
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$16.25

The latest release from Wingnut Wings is the family of Fokker D.VIIs. These late-war beauties are beautifully adorned with artwork and colors. So Lifelike has decided to offer some unique decal options for the modeler.

Lifelike’s website is always updated with things that may have changed since decals have been released. It is nice that they offer updated decals when the markings are found to be different than those included in the original release. Does this mean that Lifelike Decals is wrong? No, not at all. Lifelike is not afraid to make educated guesses based on the latest information. When new information becomes available, they let you know what has changed. This is unlike any other decal supplier in the world. That is just the level of professionalism that Lifelike embodies.

The instructions are printed on two A4 single-sided sheets in full color. You get four views to each aircraft. It is here that you see the unique colors applied to these aircraft.

Decal Profiles

Fokker D.VII Decals Part 1
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$16.25

Wingnut Wings has singlehandedly sparked a resurgence in WWI large scale kits. Their quality and engineering have set a standard by which all other model kits, regardless of scale or era, are judged. Sometimes the biggest problem is what markings to apply – or is it how many kits to buy? Well, Lifelike can help you with one of those problems and hinder the other.

Lifelike has consistently produced first-rate decals for a variety of aircraft. This time they have turned their attention to the latest from Wingnut Wings, the Fokker D.VII. WNW has produced no less than four different versions of the greatest WWI fighter plane, those produced by Fokker, OAW, Albatross, and the Fokker F. Well, you will need some marking help.

Detail Parts

F-100C Super Sabre Early Cockpit Set
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$21.50

The Trumpeter F-100C is a nice kit, but the cockpit could definitely use some improvement. The ejection seat is basic at best.

Aires has a multimedia answer for the kit. Fourteen resin pieces are molded in light grey resin with no blemishes or bubbles anywhere. The resin pieces are impressive with the amount of detail included on them. The control stick is particularly nice. An ejection seat is included, which will include PE belts and buckles upon completion.

Speaking of PE, there is a fret of nickel photo etch. The fret includes canopy rails, as well as the belts and buckles. A film of the instrument panel dials and HUD is also included.

The instructions are printed on typical A4-sized light blue paper. The instructions are easy to understand. Since the ejection sheet takes up a large part of the cockpit, it is the focus of much of the resin and photo etch.

Detail Parts

F-16 Pitot Tube & AOA Probes
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$8.00

Master Model has released a nice detail set for the beautiful F-16. This pitot tube can be used on the 1/32nd scale Tamiya, Hasegawa, or Academy kits. Included in the ziplock bag is a separate bag that holds three pieces: a turned metal pitot tube and two Angle of Attack probes for the sides of the nose cone. Each item is easily attached by drilling a small hole and inserting the metal part.

The reason for using these parts is the susceptibility of the kit’s pitot tube to be broken off during handling. A more reasonable reason to use them is the scale thickness, as well as their strength. There are also no mold lines to clean up so they look much more realistic than plastic pieces.

Master Model continues to produce some of the world’s finest turned metal items. This set is no different.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Master Model and IPMS/USA for the review copy and review opportunity.

Figures

F-4 Phantom II Aircrew
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aero Line
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$14.50

Plusmodel’s Aero Line continues to release excellent figures for the 1/48th scale modeler, and this one is no different. Their latest is not one, but two figures, packaged together in a sturdy plastic sleeve mounted on cardstock. The instructions are in two parts – the front shows the two figures in a small size with all the packaging information, while the back shows the same photo, only much larger and more useful for the modeler.

Inside the plastic holder you get two figures molded in light grey plastic. Each figure is molded as a single piece with minimal flash and no imperfections. The flash is easy to remove, as is the mold pour block. These two figures are perfect for either the first-time figure modeler or the experienced one. Each figure is unique in its pose and both are very natural-looking. The faces are sculpted perfectly, as are the flight suits and speed jeans.