Parts

Honest John Tactical Missile

Starboard

Battlestar Gallactica SD (Super-Deformed) Viper Mark 2

Finished

WWII German Torpedo Trailer

Finished Magach 3 model

IDF Magach 3 w/ERA

Parts

Hasegawa J2M2 Raiden (Jack) Prototype

Superstructure detail

USS Pittsburgh CA-72

Major Sub-Assemblies

I-153 Luftwaffe with Pilots and Ground Personnel

Floor and Backdrop with Kit

Aircraft Hangar Display Base with Background

12

M2A1 1940 Medium Tank

Finished

Bristol Beaufort Mk.1A (With Tropical Filters)

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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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Detail Packaging

Su-33 Flanker D Control Lever
Review Author
Clarence Wentzel
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$4.25

The Su-33 Flanker D is an all-weather carrier-based air defense fighter based on the Su-27. The airplane had a production run of 24 units. Hasegawa has produced a kit of this interesting aircraft for modelers. As usual, Quickboost has added several items to improve the accuracy of the basic Su-33 Flanker D kit.

This part is a corrected Control Lever for the model. The attached photo shows the excellent level of detail of the Quickboost part. Three copies of the lever are provided. The control lever is the correct shape for the model and is interchangeable with the kit part. It is molded in brownish-gray colored resin and is smooth, seamless, and bubble free.

I highly recommend this product if you want a really superior-looking model. Since this part is interchangeable with the kit parts, it can be recommended for all levels of modelers.

Detail Packaging

MiG-23 Pitot Tube
Review Author
Jim Pearsall
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$5.00

Here’s another of those little add-ons that can really make your project look good. It’s just one part, but with very little fiddling you can replace the kit part with a really good looking brass part. Airfix, Hasegawa, Heller, and Zvezda all have 1/72 MiG-23s, but I’ve only built the Hasegawa Flogger. Twice. Once as DDR (East German) and one Czech.

After I pulled the DDR plane off the shelf and washed all that dust off of it, I checked the pitot. I had replaced the Hasegawa plastic pitot with part of a straight pin, much more durable than the plastic part.

It was the work of only a few minutes to pull out the pin, ream the hole slightly, and insert the new pitot. It fits nicely, and with just a dot of CA, it stays in place.

After an application of flat black, the new pitot really looks good. I might say it looks sharp, as the point really is sharp. Be careful handling the plane, as you can puncture yourself with the new pitot.

Detail Packaging

IJN Aircraft Seatbelts Sets
Review Author
Dan Mackay
Published on
Company
Fine Molds
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$32.00

I am presently working on the new Airfix A6M2 Zero right now; the Fine Molds 1/72 IJN seatbelt set came just in time for me to incorporate them into the cockpit. This new seatbelt set comes four in the package, molded in ABS plastic, and can be formed to the contours of the seat. Be very careful when bending these belts as they can be broken easily, I used brass rod of various diameters to bend the belts. I started by using a larger diameter rod first and gently rolled the belt around it, using progressively smaller diameter rods until I got the desired bend. Once the belts are bent as desired, they keep their shape. I used superglue to fix the belts to the seat with no problems.

Cover

Building the Wingnut Wings Albatros D.V/D.Va
Book Author(s)
Ray Rimell
Review Author
Nick Buro
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$31.95

This 48 page booklet is the answer to a maiden/builder’s prayers! There are ten parts to the book that cover all that the casual to dedicated builder can desire.

  1. A survey of all the parts in the box.
  2. A D.Va “quick” build for those not so inclined, to an in-depth build for those who are.
  3. Step-by-step instructions accompanied by a plethora of very useful photographs.
  4. A “walk around” section of photos of the actual aircraft.
  5. A “décor” part with 12 alternate color schemes! However, decals are not provided in the kit for any of these.

Part 7 has info for what I would call super-detailing. Again, great photos accompany it with adequate instructions.

Part 9, Decals and Accessories, provides all the material needed for that super-detailing! I’ve already purchased the Pheon decals and the RB Productions rigging turnbuckles!

Detail Parts

F-14A Early Version Nose Tip and AOA Probe
Review Author
Michael Novosad
Published on
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$3.99

Background.

Some plastic model kits may include the Angle of Attack (AOA) sensors as teeny, tiny separate parts that are most difficult to remove from the sprue, with clean up of the attachment point being most challenging. Oftentimes, these tiny parts are lost or broken while being transported from cleanup to the model. Some kits reproduce the AOA as merely a non-descript bump on the surface. Master Model has a whole different approach.

The Company