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.

Book Author(s)
Richard Marmo
Review Author
Chris Vandegrift
Published on
Company
Richard Marmo
MSRP
$3.99

Right off the bat, I was drawn into the book through Richard’s writing style. I felt like we were having a conversation over the modeling bench, discussing the history of big rigs on the road and what was available to build. The discussion on available kits is quite extensive, covering the origins as a snap-tite kit through the different re-pops as a glue kit, even covering box tops which are an interest to many in the modeling world.

The contents of the book include:

Book Author(s)
David Francois
Review Author
Orlando Reyes
Published on
Company
Helion & Company
MSRP
$29.95

This is volume 34 of the Latin America at War Series and the second volume dealing with the conflagration in El Salvador. The book describes the conflagration between 1984 through 1992. The book is divided into 7 chapters, which in turn are divided into sections with an Introduction, conclusion, as well as two sections for abbreviations and selected bibliography.

Book Author(s)
Dennis Oliver
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Pen & Sword
MSRP
$29.95

From the Website

Experience in the Polish and French campaigns had convinced the German high command of the value of fast-moving, armed reconnaissance vehicles. But it was realised that many of the early designs were too lightly-armed and development of a heavy eight-wheeled prototype resulted in the Sdkfz 234 series of armoured cars, the first of which entered service in late 1943. Built by the firm of Büssing-NAG, these sturdy and reliable vehicles were gradually up-armed and served in the infantry support role and eventually as tank killers, largely as the result of Hitler's desperation to arm as many vehicles as possible with anti-tank weapons.

Review Author
Steven J. Corvi
Published on
Company
Arma Hobby
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$41.00

What is in the Box

  • 3 gray injection molded plastic sprues
  • 1 clear sprue
  • 1 set of pre-cut masks
  • 1 decal sheet with 3 markings options
  • 1 instruction book

Construction

The Arma 1/48 Hurricane IIC starts with an unconventional build sequence, wings first, which was like their 1/72 kit. The parts are cleanly molded with crisp detail and accurate scribing. There was no flash, the parts are molded with no sink marks, and what few ejector pin marks I did see were all in areas that were not visible on the model. There is an errata in the kit to change the fit of the wing. It is minor but something to be aware of. Also, there is an error on the ejector ports for the 20mm cannons. One must be filled while another has to move in the same area. This is up to the individual modeler to make an absolutely accurate Hurricane.

Book Author(s)
Tony Buttler
Review Author
Paul Bradley
Published on
Company
Key Publishing Ltd
MSRP
$22.00

Although designed as a fighter to replace the Hawker Hurricane, the Typhoon found fame as a ground attack aircraft and as a rocket-firing tank buster. In this small, mainly photographic volume, acclaimed British author Tony Buttler concisely outlines the development and career of this charismatic aircraft from its inception at the start of World War II to its service demise in 1946. A short span for sure, but the impact of the Typhoon was, as Buttler explains, outstanding.

Many of the photos have been seen before, but the author is also able to draw on the archives of Aeroplane magazine, now owned by Key Publishing, to add some depth with photos that perhaps have not been published since the war. The quality of the images is mostly very good, and reproduction is excellent. Most images are black and white, though there are some period colour images too.

A nice feature is a short chapter featuring the recollections of a former Typhoon pilot with some of his photos.