House_Top

Vosper MTB 74 with Crew (Part 1)

Completed model

Tupolev G-5 Mod. XIII Torpedo Boat

Sprue detail 7

StuG.III Ausf.G Late December 1944

whirlwind seat and belts

Westland Whirlwind FB Mk.1

Yes, That's A Part!

U.S. Armoured Bulldozer

Engine deck with red box indicating the location of gap requiring filling.

Jagdtiger w/12.8cm PaK 80 (L/66)

And even more parts

F4D-1 Skyray Part 1

Prop and spinner with cannon drilled out

Bf-109F-4 Jabo

Side Water

Vosper MTB 74 with Crew- Part 2

Right Side Rear

German Motorcycle & Sidecar

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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.

Box Art

YB-49 Flying Wing
Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
February 21, 2012
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/200
MSRP
$21.95

Designed by Jack Northrop and built by his company, the YB-49 symbolized the culmination of his work with flying wing designs that began with the N-1M when he started his company in 1939. There were a total of three of these aircraft that actually took to the air, two YB-49s and a single YRB-49A. All were converted from XB-35 airframes, trading in the four Pratt and Whitney R-4360 engines and counter-rotating propellers for eight Allison J-35-A-15 jet engines on the YB-49, or in the case of the YRB-49A, six Allison J-35-A-19 jet engines. The aircraft was 172 feet across, 53 feet 1 inch in length, and stood 15 feet 3 inches tall.

Box Art

USS Albany CG-10
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
February 21, 2012
Company
Cyber-Hobby
Scale
1/700
MSRP
$34.99

Originally commissioned in 1946 as an Oregon-class heavy cruiser, USS Albany (CA-123) was converted to the world’s first guided missile cruiser between 1958 and 1962 and redesignated CG-10. She served in various roles until her decommissioning in 1980, when she was sold for scrap.

CyberHobby’s 1/700 rendition of CA-10 is a beauty! Seven sprues of exquisitely molded gray styrene, plus the 2-piece waterline hull and stand base greet the modeler upon initial opening of the box. To sweeten the deal, CyberHobby tosses in a fret of well-executed PE detail for superstructure railings, search radar, and other delicate items. A small, well-printed, but jam-packed, decal sheet round things out.

Box Art

UH-1B Huey
Review Author
Rod Lees
Published on
February 21, 2012
Company
Revell, Inc.
Scale
1/24
MSRP
$42.99

Thanks once again to our friends at Revell for re-releasing the largest static Huey model kit once again and providing IPMS/USA a copy to review! We certainly appreciate the opportunity…

A bit of history: This kit is a re-release of the former Monogram 1/24th UH-1B “Visible Huey.” Originally released in 1970, it is said supposedly to have been a one-time run due to low sales. That’s sad, because it’s a really great kit of a great aircraft, and the operating features actually worked well. I have provided pictures of my built-up visible Huey next to the new release version for those of you who have not seen one. (It is not for sale, and many parts shown are NOT in the review kit….I provide these pictures for comparison only). I’ve seen these go for over $600 as collector items.

Cover

Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs
Book Author(s)
Steve Davies
Review Author
Ben Guenther
Published on
February 21, 2012
Company
Osprey Publishing
MSRP
$29.95

During the Vietnam War, it became apparent that the tactics used by American pilots were not working well. An effort was made to analyze all US vs. MiG engagements, which became known as the Red Baron reports. The study recommended that Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) was needed and, further, that the Air Force needed to give its fighter pilots realistic training with enemy aircraft or realistic substitutes. Aggressor squadrons were formed, assembled and put to use training and flying T-38s and F-5s to provide the Air Force fighter pilots DACT training. The Navy also formed TOPGUN as an Adversary training squadron to do this same training. The last part of the Red Baron recommendations did come about with the acquisition of MiG assets and American pilots to fly them in realistic training with CONSTANT PEG. The American pilots flew as members of the 4477th Test & Evaluation Flight and became known as the Red Eagles.

Cover

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #838, February 2012

Review Author
Luke R. Bucci, PhD
Published on
February 21, 2012
Company
Model Art
MSRP
$15.00

ModelArt No. 838 monthly update features new kits of the iconic Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) battleship Yamato, as well as the usual new kit reviews and features. Pages 7-49 illustrate five new Yamatos ranging from 1/150 to 1/700 scale. Each model shows new aftermarket details, photoetch sets, and how to use them. Tamiya 1/350 1945 version, Fujimi 1/700 20in version, Tamiya 1/700 Leyte Gulf version, a scratchbuilt 1/150 full hull model, and Fujimi 1/500 1941 with wood deck are featured. Yes, that is right – Fujimi came out with a what-if version of Yamato with twin 20in gunned main turrets replacing the usual 18in turrets, and a new AA fit, including 100mm turrets, 40mm Bofors and quad 20mm mounts. Now you can get a model of Yamato in every modification, even one that never was. The text is in Japanese, but the numerous photographs help decipher what is being done.

The usual features follow: