6

American Sport Car Drivers (1910's)

Fuselage halves

Gloster Meteor F.4

Image of car on pavement in sunlight showing off the House of Color Purple Kandy vinyl top

Custom Cadillac Lowrider

Replacement Flaps

TBD-1A on Floats

Rear wheel

1988 Honda NSR 250R Motorcycle

Completed 6

Mig-31 BM/BSM Foxhound (Limited edition)

Finished

Soviet Tupolev TB-1 Heavy Bomber

Bomb bay

Ki-21-Ib "Sally" Japanese Heavy Bomber

Cockpit Assembly

F-4J Phantom II United States Marine Corp

Right Side

7.5cm PaK 40/4 auf RSO mit Allwetterverdeck

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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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Decal Subjects

Messerschmitt Bf-109 Decals Part 3
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$13.00

It comes as no surprise that the 109 is my favorite airplane, and this sheet is one of the reasons why. The amount of color options for the airplane is staggering. This sheet contains markings for two G-6s, one E-1, and one F-2, so there is something there for everyone.

The instructions are printed on two single-sided full-color A4-sized sheets. You get a three-view drawing for each aircraft. The instructions are what really help set Lifelike Decals apart. They are not afraid to tell you what they know and what they don’t know. The other thing that you don’t normally get is the history of the aircraft. The reference section shows you where Lifelike got their interpretation from. There is a half A4 sheet showing you where stencils go.

The decals are printed on two small sheets. The main sheet is 5.5 x 4 and contains most of the markings for the aircraft. The second sheet is 1.5 x 2.5 and has some very small markings and the JG54 badge.

Decal Subjects

Albatros D.III/V Decals Part 2
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.00

Another great sheet for the Eduard Albatros kit. This one will be a pleasure to many WWI modelers. WWI aircraft have always been colorful, but finding good quality decals has been a pain in the past. Lifelike has helped fix that with their latest two sheets.

The instructions are printed on two single-sided A4 sheets in full color. The one thing I like is that Lifelike isn’t afraid to offer an educated guess when some marking is in question. They let you know what is speculative and how they came to their conclusions. A very professional and non-pompous way to do business.

This particular release, like 48-039 Albatros Part 1, has a sheet of the major propeller types used on German fighters in WWI. This is a very valuable asset and shows the difference to the props and the manufacturers.

Decal Subjects

Albatros D.III/V Decals Part 1
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Lifelike Decals
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$17.00

Lifelike Decals continues to produce some of the finest, most colorful decals out there. In this release they have turned their attention to the Eduard Albatros. There are four colorful aircraft depicted.

There are two decal sheets with this release. One decal sheet is printed by Microscale, so if you use their decal products you should have no problem. All the decals are printed in register with good color opacity. The other, slightly smaller sheet is printed in Japan and contains the gorgeous markings for the aircraft, such as the coat of arms.

The instructions are printed on two single-sided A4 sheets in full color. The one thing I like is that Lifelike isn’t afraid to offer an educated guess when some marking is in question. They let you know what is speculative and how they came to their conclusions, a very professional and non-pompous way to do business.

Parts Packaging

Hawker Hurricane Mk. I Engine Covers
Review Author
Dave Koukol
Published on
Company
Quickboost
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.99

Another fine offering from Quickboost comes in the form of a pair of cast resin engine covers for the Tamiya/Italeri Hurricane Mk. I.

Crisply and delicately cast, these shrouds for the ‘Cane’s Merlin cleanly capture the shape and internal and external detail of the Mk. I’s engine covers, and are ideally suited for display in the removed position, as the fastener holes are finely captured. Compared to Eduard’s photoetch panel inserts reviewed earlier, the Quickboost version far better captures scale thickness and interior surface detail, as shown in the photo below. Not to knock the Eduard set (which is superb overall), but if you want to display your Hurricane with the engine exposed with the removed panels nearby, the Quickboost parts are the better option.

Box Art

Panther Ausf. D, Early Production
Review Author
Tracy Palmer
Published on
Company
Dragon Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$23.50

The Panther. Do I really need to say more about the history of this tank? If you do desire more information, I suggest you go to Wikipedia, Google, Dog Pile, or Bing and research it. You will find more than you can digest! Come on…it’s a Panther!!!

On to the kit. The box says it is a Panther Ausf. D early production, kit number 7494. The kit has over 80 parts on 4 sprues and DS tracks. Five different painting and decal choices are available to mix the color pallet up for everybody’s taste. The directions are in color (and on very nice paper) and have 8 steps for assembling the model, starting with the running gear.