U-515 closeup

German Submarine U-Boat Type VIIC/IXC 'U-Boat Aces Part 2' (Limited Edition)

Finished

Lockheed Martin F-35 B Lightning II

Misc Image 14

Tu-2T

Finished Model - Amidship Closeup

U.S.S. Long Beach CGN-9 1980

I-15 Starboard

Imperial Japanese Navy Submarine I-15/I-46

Front

SAAB JA 37 Viggen

Finished Model - Right Front

Roland D.VIb

Green shirt back

USN Deck Crew "Vietnam"

The rectangular attachments help with clean cutting and removal.

U.S. Navy UCAS X-47B

3

Russian Medium Tank T-34/85

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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 Packaging

Instrument Dial Decals for Early Soviet Jets
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Airscale Model Aircraft Enhancements
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$8.49

Interested in adding an air of realism to your instrument panel? Well, the easiest way to do that is by using instrument faces. You know you can’t paint them as good as Airscale can print them. Well, at least I can’t.

The latest offering from Airscale is aimed at the latest release of Soviet aircraft. There are no fewer than 31 different instruments represented. Many of the instruments are duplicated so you can use this sheet on a number of models. The fidelity of these sheets is beautiful.

Besides the decals, you also are given a small clear acetate sheet to replicate the glass dial faces. This will require a punch and die set, but it is a nice touch.

How to use the Airscale decals is up to you. You can punch them out and add them as a typical decal on the instrument faces. You can add them behind a transparent instrument panel with Future or other setting solution. You can also add them behind a scratchbuilt instrument panel.

Detail Parts

F-14A Tomcat Exhaust Nozzle – Varied Positions
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$26.50

The F-14, now retired from Navy service, is one of my favorite airplanes. Blame “Top Gun” and “The Final Countdown”. Who can forget the immortal line, “Splash the Zeros!”? Anyhow, the Academy F-14 is a nice kit and much cheaper than the Hasegawa kit. There are a couple of options for those wanting to add more detail. Aires provides three separate options for the turkey feathers – closed, open and varied positioned. This review is for the varied positioned offering.

The F-14 exhaust section can be seen in any of the positions, which is why Aires offers the varied set. Normally, while sitting on the ground following the shutdown procedures, the nozzles are controlled hydraulically. During the shutdown, it is normal for the right nozzle to be closed and the left one opened. It makes for a unique look. Here is a good synopsis of what happens: http://www.anft.net/f-14/f14-detail-engine.htm

Parts Packaging

Bf-110E/F/G Main Undercarriage Wheels
Review Author
Floyd S. Werner Jr.
Published on
Company
Eduard
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$7.95

The Eduard Brassin range of parts continues to grow from strength to strength. The latest set is no exception. Designed for the Eduard Bf-110 series of aircraft, this set includes four main resin parts and a set of masks.

The parts are molded in light grey resin that is perfectly cast. The resin pour blocks are easily removed. The level of detail is superb, including the raised portion of the rubber tires. The wheels are molded in two parts. The wheel where it mounts to the kit axle is perfectly sized for the kit strut. This will ensure that the wheel is properly aligned.

Painting is made easy by the inclusion of a set of Kabuki masks for the wheels. Only one mask per wheel is included, but that is because that is all you need. Since the back part of the wheel hub is separate, it can be painted as such.

Box Art

Rumpler C. IV Late
Review Author
Chris Durden
Published on
Company
Wingnut Wings, Ltd
Scale
1/32
MSRP
$89.00

Having established themselves as the leading manufacturer of WWI aviation kits, Wingnut Wings continues their program of releasing quality kits of previously unavailable subjects in 1/32 scale. The Rumpler C. IV Late does not disappoint in the slightest, providing an intricate model that is a joy to build.

Cover

Windsock Worldwide, Vol. 28, No. 1 - January/February 2012
Review Author
Roger Rasor
Published on
Company
Albatros Productions, Ltd.
MSRP
$11.00

Each quarter, WW I aircraft enthusiasts begin to pace back and forth, nervously waiting for the latest issue of Windsock Worldwide to show up in their mailbox or at their local hobby shop. Now, that may sound like something of an exaggeration, but is an understandable occurrence if it should happen, because Ray Rimell’s labor of love has come to be recognized all over the globe as the single best source for information about WW I aircraft model building. The latest issue, Vol. 28, No. 1, is no exception. It is stocked full of what enthusiasts and model builders are hungry for.