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.

Review Author
Scott Hollingshead
Published on
July 22, 2011
Company
Platz
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$39.98

The General Atomics MQ-1B (L) Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV that is used mostly by the United States Air Force, but units have also been purchased by the Central Intelligence Agency, the Italian Air Force, and the Royal Air Force. Conceived in the early 1990’s as part of the General Atomics GNAT project, the first MQ-1 flew in 1994, and the aircraft have been in service since 1995. The Predators have been deployed to several locations (mostly classified) in the middle-east as well as Bosnia, Serbia, and some African nations. The aircraft has also been used by civilian organizations for border patrols and scientific studies.

Review Author
Dick Montgomery
Published on
July 22, 2011
Company
MiniArt
Scale
1/35
MSRP
$26.00

MiniArt has created a lengthy list of structures, vehicles, and “artifacts” that can be used to enhance dioramas or serve as the main components of a diorama. The Goods Shed features an interesting “front” with windows and a large cargo door, with an attached loading platform and stairs. The structure lends itself to placement near a railroad track but can also just as easily be placed near a street or road.

This particular kit also comes with some extra goodies in the box, not shown on the box top or kit plans. Several lengths of “pipe” are provided in case one wishes to depict fuel or water delivery. Window shutters are included, as are parts for street lamps, iron fencing, and detail parts for the structure such as door hinges, a brick chimney, and other odds and ends.

Assembly:

Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
July 22, 2011
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$29.95

Master from Poland has added to their impressive line of Sea Master Series detailed ship gun barrels with this set of main and secondary guns for the Fujimi battleship Fuso. Included in this set are twelve 14” (360 mm) turned stainless steel barrels, and fourteen 6” (150mm) turned brass barrels. Both the brass and steel barrels are precisely tapered, with petite segmentations along the barrel length and at the ends. Each of the barrels has an ever so slightly flared open end.

Review Author
Bill Kluge
Published on
July 22, 2011
Company
Master Model
Scale
1/350
MSRP
$15.49

These two armament sets from Master Model provide a full range of replacement brass gun barrels for the new Dragon German Destroyer kits. Set contents include:

  • Z-25: Four 150 mm (5.9”); Twelve 37mm; Eighteen 20mm
  • Z-39: Four 150mm (5.9”); Fourteen 37mm; Twelve 20mm

Each of the brass barrels is slightly tapered with very finely defined segmentations. Additionally, all of the 20mm barrels and some of the 37mm barrels in each set (four for the Z-25 and ten for Z-39) have barely discernable (but yet, in scale) flash suppressors at the open ends of the barrels. The very high level of manufacturing craftsmanship is readily visible in all the Master Model products, and these sets are certainly no exception.

My thanks to Master Model for providing IPMS with these review sets.

Review Author
Jack Wade
Published on
July 22, 2011
Company
Aires Hobby Models
Scale
1/72
MSRP
$12.00

This is a superb set of replacement nozzles for the very crude kit parts provided by Hasegawa. The Aires Hobby Models parts are drop fit replacements and are quite easy to use. Other than cutting them off the casting blocks (a five minute task), they require no more effort than the kit parts to use. The photos show the kit parts and their Aires replacement side by side and truly speak for themselves. The interiors have depth that is non-existent on the kit parts and the edges are really thin and sharp. The detail is super on the replacement parts. Another advantage over the kit parts is that they are one piece whereas the nozzles provided in the kit are in two halves which leaves a seam for cleaning; really not a good thing when they are to be finished with a metal color. Using this set actually saves time and adds detail which is most often two mutually exclusive concepts in this hobby.